Congratulations To Our 19 New UCLA trained Los Angeles Experts!

Well, every previous LATA student's dream has come true!
As of today, Monday, April 19th, our 19 freshly minted Los Angeles Travel Experts are still stuck in town, due to the Icelandic volcano eruption and volcano ash cloud.
4 extra days in Los Angeles are fun but I am sure though that everyone is anxious to get home soon.

However, Congratulations to our 2010 UCLA Extension/LA Inc. certified
Los Angeles Travel Experts for successfully completing the program!
These are our new agents and you will find their contact links very soon on
www.discoverlosangeles.com.

* Amanda Berry * Andrew Cookson * Helen Ellinas * Sarah Eltham

* Kayleigh Flower * Lindsey Ingham * Graham Johnstone * Cara Martin
* Sam Palmer * Diane Pickston * Lorena Pinney * Melanie Priest
* Craig Rapley * Aaron Smart * Jennifer Swanton * Graeme Watson
* Julie Welfare * Carly Wilkes * Charlotte Winter

The Los Angeles Travel Academy is a collaborative program between L.A. Inc and UCLA Extension. It consists of three mornings of classroom instruction and four afternoons and evenings of field trips throughout Los Angeles. The goal is to familiarize travel agents from foreign countries with our area so they can assist their customers more efficiently and increase their sales of L.A. as a destination.
L.A. Inc. Manager of Travel Industry Sales and Marketing Tamy Ly and Diana Rojas planned and coordinated this Academy and we got to see all the very latest sites! The course curriculum was developed in collaboration with UCLA Extension’s academic staff and the course fulfills UCLA’s academic standards. I am the instructor and guide for the 4 to 5 days of the Academy.
Our students get tested and they receive a UCLA Extension Certificate! Students all tell us that this course is unique in the travel industry.

It's hard work, from 7AM to 10PM every day, right after the long flight to L.A. but we do have a lot of fun!

Yes, it is a real exam! No cheating allowed!

On top of the famous Beverly Hilton Hotel

with Terry Rao, Assistant Director of International Sales

On the go with Gerry Chaves/L.A. Tours

A BIG Thank You to all of our sponsors and hosts. We were treated like VIPs!
Host hotel: Crowne Plaza Beverly Hills, walking distance to Rodeo Drive, yet/ nice and quiet and very centrally located to every part of town.

Tamy Ly, L.A. Inc. and Hayley French, from L.A. Inc.'s London office
in the brand new Ritz Carlton at L.A. Live which opened just days earlier.

We had a really fun visit to Madame Tussauds on Hollywood Boulevard
which opened in August 2009.
Of course, everyone had to get the shot on their camera! We created a visitor jam down the street!

Our agents flew here courtesy of Air New Zealand. Jennifer Swanton from ANZ's London office

introduced us to their new Tiki Tour. Reading about their very favorable seat pitch, I already booked my next flight with ANZ. Now let's just hope the airports open!

Lunch and Shopping at the Orginal Farmer's Market

Thursday, April 15th: Stuck in Los Angeles!
Thankfully,the Custom Hotel near LAX had rooms available.

We also got to visit the new W Hotel in Hollywood. Alas, the roof top was closed because HBO was filming "Entourage" there. To think that we were that close to "Vince Chase"!
Nicole Ritchie was even closer. We had drinks standing basically right next to her in the lobby bar The Living Room.

Never miss the Hollywood Sign view from Hollywood and Highland.