New slogan adopted for the city of angels

New slogan adopted for the city of angels

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles has unveiled a new marketing campaign built around the slogan “That’s So LA” to keep tourists coming despite the nation’s economic turndown.

The campaign will feature ads spotlighting unique sites in the city, its major attractions and images of celebrities including Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, basketball stars Kobe Bryant of the Lakers and Baron Davis of the Clippers, soccer star David Beckham and Lauren Conrad of MTV’s “The Hills.”

City officials say tourism is the second-largest industry in Los Angeles and supports more than a quarter-million jobs.

In the past year, tourism brought in $14.2 billion and 26 million visitors, according to the mayor’s office.

Free beer samples at theme parks run dry

ORLANDO, Fla. — There are no free lunches in life, but one could always count on free beer at Anheuser-Busch theme parks. Until now.

The brewer has stopped giving free samples in hospitality centers at its SeaWorld theme parks in Orlando, San Antonio and San Diego and its Busch Gardens parks in Tampa and Williamsburg, Va.

Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks spokesman Fred Jacobs says the free samples had a narrow appeal among park customers.

The brewer plans to build more restaurants and other venues geared toward families with children.

Customers can still buy beer at some of the parks’ existing venues.

Rules to begin for those who don’t need visa

LONDON — U.S. officials say people from countries that do not need visas to enter the United States must begin registering under a new travel authorization program before making their journey.

Travelers from the 35 countries are asked to obtain an authorization from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security at least 72 hours before their flight departs to the U.S.

The program has been voluntary since August but is now mandatory.

U.S. Embassy spokesman Dick Custin in Britain said that approval has been granted in nearly all of the cases involving voluntary participants.

Associated Press