Cannabis Travel Weekly - No. 40
Brian Applegarth
CLIO Award-Winning Travel Innovator & Visitor Economy Strategist | Founder of the Cannabis Travel Association Int'l, Applegarth Strategies, and The Cannabis Trail >>> brianapplegarth.com | thecannabistrail.com
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FIFTH FUTURISTIC CANNABIS LOUNGE JOINS THE EMERALD VILLAGE SCENE
Summation: Private Reserve’s menu showcases 20 to 30 different dried cannabis flower strains. “We wanted something that was focused on the cannabis, not on food,” says Haddadi. “It’s more like an upscale cocktail bar"...seating 85 people across six booths and another 25 at the horseshoe-shaped bar. There’s also a stage for DJs and large plants hanging from the ceiling that overflow to the floor. With glowing neon lights stationed throughout, Private Reserve has a dark, moody, and loungey vibe. When visiting Private Reserve, there is a time limit of 90 minutes." by Eater Los Angeles
Commentary: Experience centers like this are a new asset and addition to the cannabis experience ecosystem, which means an addition to the travel experience suite for visitors. Los Angeles Tourism reports that in 2023, the destination of Los Angeles welcomed a total of 49.1 million visitors, representing a 97% recovery compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019. The tourism industry in Los Angeles generated $40.4 billion in total business sales, and generated 30.2 million hotel room-nights sold in 2023. This is economic impact from the visitor economy, and that spills over into cannabis spends at events, shops, lounges, and more. Destination marketing strategies are vital to tourism strategies.
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA - CANNABIS IS A LIGHTNING ROD TO DESTINATIONS WITH TOURISM-BASED ECONOMIES
Summation: Santa Barbara County released its crop report this week, and it showed that more than 9 million pounds of the plant was grown in the county in 2023 — which is worth more than $328 million. According to SFGate, the total weight of cannabis production was up 45% from 2022. The only crop more valuable in Santa Barbara County in 2023 were strawberries.
Commentary: Santa Barbara is a global brand. Quaint, scenic, and luxurious - Santa Barbara is known world-wide as the American Riviera. The north county grape growing wine region of the Santa Ynez Valley, with its organic craft ag roots, is now emerging as a leader in cannabis and hemp cultivation. According to the Santa Barbara Conference & Visitors Bureau, the city welcomes approximately 7.2 million visitors annually, with an average of 20,000 tourists per day. These visitors spend a staggering $2.24 billion each year. And generated $82.9 million in local tax revenues in 2023.
ENGLAND + GERMANY - CAN CANNABIS CONSUMPTION, INCLUDING BEVERAGES, HELP CALM UNRULY CROWDS AT EVENTS
Summation: Tourists following their teams at Euro 2024 can smoke joints, thanks to new German laws.
领英推荐
Commentary: The notion of this article is important because it opens discussions related to human behavior at cannabis-inclusive events. What are the impacts, both positive and negative, of cannabis at events. The Portland Pickles Baseball team in Oregon recently announced they are now selling THC-rich seltzer beverages at their ball games. Years back I interviewed security guards on the last and final day of The Emerald Cup cannabis event, and the findings were what many would expert. Few incidents, happy calm people, a good mellow vibe - a far safe situation and calmer setting that alcohol infused gatherings. So what does this mean for insurance? Will we deal in reality and make smart and logical data-driven decisions in the spirit of safe access, harm reduction, and public safety, or will it be all about money and who gets more? Time will tell, and it will likely vary destination to destination, country to country.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - GREEN RUSH HOTEL BACK UP FOR SALE
Summation: The Lexi Hotel in Las Vegas, a trailblazer in cannabis-friendly hospitality, is on the market once more. Owners, Elevations Hotels and Resorts, have discreetly listed the property for sale...Elevations acquired the hotel from Siegel Group in 2022 and rebranded it as The Lexi in 2023 after a $3-$4 million renovation, according to Vital Vegas. This rebranding was not merely cosmetic but strategic, introducing the hotel as Las Vegas’s first cannabis-friendly establishment. The Lexi dedicated its fourth floor to cannabis enthusiasts, equipped with advanced air filtration systems to contain smoke. by Benzinga
Commentary: The Lexi wasn't a trailblazer of cannabis hotels. That's inaccurate. John R. Thatcher of Desert Hot Springs Inn was the pioneer and trail blazer and he is still innovating ahead of the pack in the Coachella Valley area. Mine and Farm are other pioneers, based in Sonoma County. The story of the Lexi Hotel is a story of the green rush happening in travel and tourism, in this instance, a hotel. Completely transactional, from what I witnessed. Cannabis was the intended 'hook' and it flopped. My experience at the Lexi was pretty awful. I was on an assignment in Las Vegas and figured I would stay at the Lexi and do a review on the 360 Lexi cannabis experience, every touch point. Upon arrival, it took all of 15 minutes to know I was not going to stay the night there and I didn't. Dirty, poor service, not as advertised.
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - EXPLORING A LEGAL MARKET, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A WIDENING OF THE CANNABIS TOURISM LANDSCAPE
Summation: An ongoing trial by the Dutch government to regulate the adult-use cannabis industry has been extended to include another 8 cities, taking the total number involved to 10. The trial was designed to replace the current system of tolerance, which ignores the illegality of soft drug possession. The practice of Gedogen, roughly translating to illegal but not illegal has led many people across the world to form the common misconception that cannabis has long been legal in The Netherlands.?The extension of the ongoing trial means that...The consumer is able to purchase legal, regulated cannabis from the coffeeshop. Consumers can be assured of the quality and origin of cannabis products available.?
Commentary: The story of Amsterdam is an interesting one. A tourism audience study in 2016 revealed that one in four visitors to Amsterdam visited a coffeeshop while in town, and one in ten visitors cited cannabis coffeeshop experiences as a driver of their destination travel decision. Amsterdam is arguably the most mature cannabis tourism market in the world, however California is quickly catching up and competing. You may be surprised to know that Amsterdam is a gray market cannabis model, and not being truly fully regulated and accepted has it's downfalls, like hindering innovation. Because Amsterdam's cannabis scene was built in a gray market 'don't ask, don't tell' style industry model, it has largely stayed isolated to smoking and inhalation experience innovation. A lot has been left on the table, and California is running with it. The cannabis spas, culinary experiences, farm tours, and more are defining a new fully legal style era. Amsterdam and California will learn from each other and continue to innovate the leading edge of mainstream cannabis travel experience innovation.