San Diego Tourism Marketing District

11/06/2026

ICYMI, Old Town San Diego State Historic Park was bursting with color over the weekend as Día de los Mu***os brought people together to celebrate a cherished Mexican tradition. The Old Town Chamber of Commerce and community partners filled the neighborhood with beautiful ofrendas honoring loved ones who have passed. A candlelit procession also lit up the streets in a moving tribute to those no longer with us.

With SDTMD marketing support, the event is projected to generate more than $286,000 in hotel revenue, a nearly 6:1 ROI, from the many visitors who stayed overnight in local hotels.

Día de los Mu***os, or Day of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday that brings families and communities together to celebrate the lives and memories of those no longer with us.

10/19/2026

Old Town San Diego will be bursting with color, music and marigolds this Halloween weekend as Día de Los Mu***os returns Oct. 31–Nov. 2. 💀🌼

Hosted by the Old Town San Diego Chamber of Commerce, the free, family friendly celebration fills the historic neighborhood with vibrant altars, art, music and traditions that honor loved ones who have passed.

The three-day celebration brings more than color to Old Town, too. With $50,000 in SDTMD funding supporting event marketing, organizers expect to generate more than 1,200 hotel room nights and $286,000 in room revenue. That's a projected 5.7:1 return on investment.

It's just one more reason for visitors to turn a day trip into an overnight stay.

09/29/2026

For San Diego Bayfest, attracting more overnight visitors meant looking beyond the audience already in its backyard. As an FY27 SDTMD funding recipient, the festival is using funding to market beyond San Diego, including to audiences in Arizona with an affinity for its mix of live music and beach culture.

With FY28 application season underway, organizer Mikey Beats (aka Michael Beltran) shares what Mission Bayfest learned from the process and his advice for other San Diego event organizers considering applying.

Read more here: https://tinyurl.com/48x9xwb6

09/23/2026

Application season is here! 📣

The latest SDTMD eNewsletter has what San Diego tourism organizations need to know as they look ahead to FY2028. Also inside: a look at four SDTMD-supported events coming up this fall.

Catch up on the latest and get ready for what’s ahead: https://conta.cc/3Sr0BPH

09/17/2026

When San Diego Bayfair returns to Mission Bay this weekend, it will bring hydroplane racing, waterfront crowds and out-of-town visitors to one of San Diego’s most popular event settings: our waterfront.

The event is projected to generate more than 17,000 total room nights- including 2,500 new hotel room nights- at a $279 average daily rate. That adds up to nearly $4.9 million in projected return and a 32.7:1 ROI from SDTMD’s investment.

More here: www.https://sandiegobayfair.org/

08/07/2026

Congratulations to SDTMD Vice Chair Summer Shoemaker on being named a 2026 Women in Tourism & Hospitality San Diego Honoree!

San Diego Women in Tourism and Hospitality recognizes industry leaders who pair imagination and generosity with action. Summer is a perfect example of the game changers, rule breakers and trailblazers who are helping shape the future of tourism and hospitality. She embodies that spirit through her leadership in San Diego’s hospitality community, from her service on the SDTMD Board of Directors to her role as General Manager for San Diego Mission Bay Resort.

Learn more: https://www.sdwithit.com/2026-honorees

07/15/2026

The FY27 Report of Activities is here, and it reflects both the resilience and forward momentum of San Diego’s tourism economy.

Among the highlights:
• A proposed $56.4 million investment to drive tourism demand, destination marketing and industry growth across San Diego
• More than 4.4 million projected hotel room nights generated through SDTA sales and marketing efforts.

This year's report also outlines how tourism leaders are navigating evolving travel trends, economic uncertainty and international competition while positioning San Diego for long-term growth.

Read the full report: https://sdtmd.org/reports/

06/23/2026

San Diego's visitor economy supports jobs, businesses and experiences that benefit our entire region. As we head into one of the busiest travel periods of the year, we're excited to see visitors and residents alike enjoying all that our beautiful destination has to offer.

Thanks to Visit San Diego for highlighting what's around the corner in celebration of .

Red, white, and views. 🦞🐚🌊

Fourth of July is officially one month away, and celebrations are already filling the calendar. Whether you're looking for a waterfront fireworks show, a hometown parade, or a full day of festivities, here are a few events to have on your radar: https://bit.ly/4fZ84i3

Summer's biggest celebration will be here before you know it. 🇺🇸☀️

📷 IG: brianjolliffe

06/05/2026

San Diego’s ability to attract visitors from nearby drive markets supports resilience in our tourism economy when broader travel costs and market conditions shift.

Through long-term, consistent investment, SDTMD helps keep San Diego top of mind in high-value regional markets like Los Angeles and Phoenix, supporting steady demand for hotel stays.

Learn more about about SDTMD's investment in visitor demand in the FY 2026 Report of Activities: https://sdtmd.org/reports/

05/20/2026

The US Police and Fire Championships brings together athletes from across the country representing law enforcement, firefighters and officers from corrections, probation, border protection, immigration and customs meet in San Diego for a week of intense competition June 13-20.

The weeklong event, projected to fill more than 12,000 room nights in SDTMD hotels, boasts an ROI of nearly 35:1.

Learn more about the competition: https://uspfc.org/