14th Annual Los Angeles Times Travel Show NAMED ONE OF THE TOP TEN TRADE SHOWS & CONVENTIONS IN BIZBASH'S SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TOP 100 EVENTS LIST!

The Los Angeles Times’ 14th-annual Travel Show and inaugural industry conference, January 27-29, convened more than 24,300 celebrity speakers, travel professionals, industry leaders, members of the media and consumers at the L.A. Convention Center, smashing the previous attendance record by more than 21 percent and officially making it the must-attend Southern California travel event of the year. The Times partnered with MSE Management and IMG Worldwide to produce the three-day event, launching an all-day industry conference, as well as a design and programming upgrade. Of note was the quality and variety of featured speakers, including Lisa Ling, Rick Steves, Arthur Frommer, Adam Richman, Rudy Maxa, Don Wildman, Josh Gates and Johnny Jet, alongside experts from National Geographic Channel, LivingSocial Escapes, Travelzoo, Cooking Channel, leading industry organizations and The Times award-winning travel and photo staff.

More than 2,000 travel professionals seized the business-to-business opportunity of attending the new industry conference sessions, a show floor preview and the consumer event. An exit survey conducted by The Times indicated that a wide range of travelers were in attendance, with nearly 60 percent visiting for the first time. Consumers spent an average of four hours exploring the show floor, with 90 percent seeking information about potential destinations and 94 percent planning to travel within the year. Standout exhibitors Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Ecuador Ministry of Tourism, Mexico Tourism Board and Visit Newport Beach were presented with awards from the show organizers.

The Los Angeles Times Travel Show and industry conference returns to the L.A. Convention Center February 22-24, 2013. For information about sponsorship or exhibiting, visit latimes.com/travelshow.

Octavius Tower at Caesars Palace Now Offers Innovative In-Room Guest Technology

Exclusive web application and multimedia hub put guests in control

Octavius Tower, the sixth hotel tower at Caesars Palace, which opened to the public on Jan. 2, 2012, will raise the industry standard with an innovative technology package. The exclusive Octavius Tower web application and in-room technology features create a unique, interactive and high-=touch service experience for hotel guests, unlike any other on the Las Vegas Strip.

With the addition of Octavius Tower, Caesars Palace will offer guests a private, luxury boutique hotel experience within the resort. Upon arrival, Octavius Tower guests will have immediate access to the exclusive interactive guest directory bringing the wondrous offerings of the world-class destination resort direct to their fingertips. Accessible through any mobile browser, the web application, developed by Runtriz, allows direct communication with concierge, housekeeping, room service, transportation, valet, bell and butler services, along with resort information and insider offers.

Additionally, the in-room MediaHub allows even the most tech-savvy guests of Octavius Tower to feel right at home. The user-friendly multimedia device offers convenient plug-and-play capabilities allowing guests to connect and stream direct from any mobile device to the 42-inch high-definition television screen. Guests will have the ability to watch videos, play music, browse the internet, check emails, give presentations and much more with USB, VGA, HDMI, iDock and audio-visual connectivity options. The technology automatically senses when a guest connects a device and switches to the correct input allowing seamless integration; when a device is disconnected the technology automatically switches the television back to its previous state. The MediaHub is compatible with any iDevice and works with popular customer apps including Pandora, Netflix, Hulu and Keynote.

Octavius Tower rooms are on-sale now. The 668-room hotel tower offers guests a private entrance, separate hotel lobby and direct access to the Garden of the Gods pool oasis and gardens. The opening of Octavius Tower marks a major milestone in the two-year renaissance of Caesars Palace, which began in March 2011 with the return of Celine Dion, and encompasses the recent launches of Elton John and Rod Stewart at The Colosseum and the recent openings of Central Michel Richard, by its namesake award-winning chef, and Old Homestead Steakhouse (opened December 2011). Newly announced projects also include, Nobu Hotel, Restaurant and Lounge (to open fall 2012) and Shania Twain's Colosseum headlining residency (to premiere December 2012). For more information on the Caesars Palace renaissance, visit The ARC.

Colorado will welcome the world's best cyclists and millions of eager fans and tourists to the 680-mile USA Pro Cycling Challenge professional cycling stage race August 20-26. With record-setting attendance of more than 1 million spectators in the inaugural year, and more than 22 percent of those people traveling from outside the state, race organizers are getting ready to welcome people back with VIP travel packages suited for every type of fan.

An economic impact study conducted by IFM reported that the out-of-state visitors traveled from at least 39 states and 16 countries, with 71.6 percent stating the USA Pro Challenge as the reason for their trip. With 94 percent of those surveyed reporting they would likely or very likely return for the 2012 race, the USA Pro Challenge already has a solid fan base to build on. Overseeing the official race travel packages for the second year, Gutowsky has been creating consumer and corporate programs for VeloSport Vacations, one of the top cycling tour operators, for more than twenty years. Building on the experience of managing programs in conjunction with world-renown cycling races, such as the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia, Gutowsky designed the USA Pro Challenge travel packages to provide fans with the same exceptional guest experiences. The 2012 USA Pro Challenge will provide the opportunity to relax and take in the beauty of Colorado in the summertime while witnessing a world-class sporting event. The travel experiences are carefully designed to take in key portions of the racing action, while including a variety of unique opportunities only available through the race organization. For each package, guests may choose between various levels of accommodations and benefits. Cyclists who want to get in on the action also will have the opportunity to challenge themselves on portions of the race routes, while enjoying full support from the professional guide staff.

The Grand Depart - August 17-20

The 2012 race kicks off in Durango and the beautiful Four Corners region of southwestern Colorado. As the teams arrive several days before the start, people who participate in this experience will mingle with the entourage while final race preparations are made, enjoy special organized rides through amazing western scenery, attend the official team presentation and enjoy Stage 1 from the VIP tent.

Midweek in the Mountains - August 20-23

Based out of the beautiful mountain town of Aspen, this over-the-top program includes unprecedented access to the critical, high-altitude mountain stages. It kicks off with a spectacular round-trip private charter flight to Crested Butte for live viewing of the Stage 2 finish. The following day, guests will stroll a few steps from their Aspen hotel to the Stage 3 finish line and VIP seating with live television feed. It all wraps up with the Stage 4 start and a relaxed morning with the entourage in downtown Aspen.

The Final Weekend - August 24-27

With this year's race ending with a dramatic time-trial, race fans will be flocking to Denver for the final weekend. The final weekend trips will include an option to see the Colorado Springs finish, as well as the possibility of seeing both the Golden start and the Boulder finish on Saturday. Sunday's dramatic time trial showdown will round out the experience, as the exclusive VIP seating is perfectly placed to see riders starting and finishing.

About the USA Pro Cycling Challenge

For seven consecutive days, the world's top athletes race through the majestic Colorado Rockies, reaching higher altitudes than they've ever had to endure as they ascend over three mountain passes, each exceeding 12,000 ft. in elevation. After attracting more than 1 million spectators in 2011, making it one of the largest cycling events in U.S. history, the USA Pro Cycling Challenge is back for 2012. Featuring a challenging, 683-mile course with more than 42,000 ft. of vertical climbing, the second annual race will spotlight the best of the best in professional cycling and some of America's most beautiful scenery.

Referred to as "America's Race," the USA Pro Cycling Challenge will take place August 20-26, 2012, a week proclaimed by Governor John Hickenlooper as "Colorado Cycling Holiday," and travel through 12 host cities from Durango to Denver.