Lunch & Learns are monthly informational trainings with a variety of subjects aimed to help benefit your business.
See below for a list of past topics
Sustainable Santa Barbara – Discover the latest in sustainable tourism initiatives shaping our community and gain valuable insights from Beth Olson, Director of Sales at Visit Santa Barbara. Learn how local efforts are paving the way for responsible travel while connecting with fellow members who share a passion for sustainability. (April 2025)
The Santa Barbara Zoo Experience – Gain exclusive insights into the Santa Barbara Zoo’s guest engagement, accessibility initiatives, and partnership opportunities while meeting new CEO Charles Hopper and enjoying an up-close animal encounter. (March 2025)
Centennial of the 1925 Earthquake – Explore the lasting impact of the 1925 earthquake on Santa Barbara’s architecture and community at Old Mission Santa Barbara, featuring expert presentations and rare access to the Mission Archive Library. (February 2025)
Holiday Showcase – Kick off the holiday season at 28 Vic with a festive showcase of holiday-themed offerings from VSB members, complete with product sampling, networking, and refreshments from High Seas Mead. (November 2024)
Wildfire Preparedness for the Hospitality Industry – Learn essential wildfire preparedness strategies for businesses and hospitality professionals from the Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council, including evacuation planning and guest communication best practices. (October 2024)
Deep Dive into the Channel Islands & Whale Heritage Area – Discover the rich maritime history and conservation efforts of the Santa Barbara Channel at the Maritime Museum with experts from the Whale Heritage Area and Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies program. (October 2024)
History of Old Spanish Days Fiesta Centennial Anniversary – Celebrate 100 years of Old Spanish Days Fiesta with a deep dive into its history, tourism impact, and visual storytelling, followed by a guided tour of the Santa Barbara Historical Museum’s Project Fiesta! exhibition. (August 2024)
Leisure Sales – Overview of the VSB leisure sales department and how you can collaborate with tour operators and agencies to position your business within the travel market (July 2024)
Advertising Program – Learn more about your advertising opportunities as a member, with tips on how to plan your campaign strategy and tap into VSB’s vast social media network (May 2024)
Understanding Generative AI – Hear from Sparkloft Media on how Generative AI is reshaping approaches to marketing and creative communications, sharing strategies and techniques to effectively utilize Generative AI tools (April 2024)
Holiday Showcase – Explore a variety of holiday-themed products and offerings presented by 12 Visit Santa Barbara members, hosted at the Hilton Beachfront Resort (November 2023)
Cannabis and Tourism – Hear from Farmacy Dispensary to learn about the laws and regulations surrounding legal cannabis in California, the types of products that are available to discerning consumers and the surprising demographics that are frequenting cannabis dispensaries (October 2023)
Sunflower Hidden Disability Program – Learn more about the initiative and hear from the Santa Barbara Airport who recently adopted this program (September 2023)
Working with Group Sales – Overview of the VSB sales department and the variety of activities throughout the year where members can gain more exposure with the meeting planners (August 2023)
Maximizing Your Membership – Learn about current VSB member benefits and how to obtain the utmost value from your membership, designed for both new members and those who would like a refresher on the current offerings (July 2023 & July 2024)
Wine Seminar – Learn more about our unique wine region with a wine tasting and lesson on our diverse AVAs, led by the Santa Barbara Vintners (April 2023)
Exclusive TBID Co-Op Advertising Opportunities – Overview of special co-op advertising placements for TBID properties (March 2023)
Design with Intention – Elevate your organization’s branding with the latest and greatest in easy-to-use design tools (February 2023)
Cruise Ship & Waterfront Department Updates – Overview of the latest waterfront and cruise ship developments (January 2023)
Air Service Developments & Updates – Overview of the latest updates on the airline industry at a national, state and local level (November 2022)
Hotel Performance Data – Review hotel performance data, STR Reports and introduce upcoming research tools from VSB (October 2022)
Public Relations – How to effectively partner with VSB and the media on press trips (September 2022)
Understanding Travel Trade – What is travel trade and how can it benefit your business? (August 2022)
Understanding TikTok – How businesses can optimize this new and emerging social media platform (July 2022)
Contact [email protected] for a copy of the presentation or recording.