With an average occupancy rate of 76.24 percent for the month of June, 2009, the Santa Clarita Valley ranked among the top five hotel markets in the Los Angeles region. The ranking came by way of the latest Trends report by PKF Consulting, a leading tourism and hospitality research firm.

Santa Clarita ranked ahead of other top destination locations in the region, including downtown Los Angeles, which posted an occupancy rate of 63.22 percent; West Hollywood, 70.64 percent; and Beverly Hills, 64.49 percent.

Santa Clarita’s highly successful June ranking can be attributed to numerous factors, including the area’s landmark attraction- Six Flags Magic Mountain- which debuted the new Terminator Salvation The Ride in May. The City also served as host to the Western States Police & Fire Games from June 13-20. Attracting more than 6,000 visitors from around the U.S., the Games were also a large contributing factor to June’s successful tourism numbers. Additionally, the Antelope Valley’s Lancaster Soccer Center hosted national games at their local facility that month, resulting in overflow at Santa Clarita hotels from vacation-seeking families. 

“June was a great month for the Santa Clarita Valley’s tourism industry,” said a City official.  “We work hard to attract premier sporting events to our community to not only heighten awareness about Santa Clarita as an ideal sporting destination, but to help our tourism businesses by developing new tourism markets.  Sports tourism is a big part of Santa Clarita’s future and served as a key reason for our area’s soaring hotel market performance in June.” 

July should be another strong summer month for the Santa Clarita Valley in terms of hotel occupancy, as visitors continue to enjoy Six Flags Magic Mountain and Hurricane Harbor.  In addition, the City also hosted the Southern California Swimming Junior Olympics event at its Aquatics Center, bringing thousands of competitors and their families to the area for several days. 

Sports tourism remains an important focus for the City of Santa Clarita. The direct economic benefit local businesses receive from visitor dollars, as well as the positive name recognition Santa Clarita enjoys from its association with premier events, are the City’s driving factors when it comes to event attraction. The City of Santa Clarita continues to work with local, state, and national agencies to encourage sporting events, both small and large, to call Santa Clarita home and in turn maintain higher hotel occupancy levels.

For additional information about Santa Clarita, including details about annual events and year-round attractions, please log on to www.VisitSantaClarita.com or contact the Tourism Office at (661) 286-4084.