Hello Lodi communit y
Wow—can you believe we’re already three months into 2025? They say time flies when you’re having fun, and that certainly feels true! As I reflect on my first six months in this role, I’m amazed by how much our team has accomplished. And we’re not slowing down—the next few months are packed with exciting projects and initiatives as we head into the busy season.
The good news? Lodi saw an increase in overnight stays in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year. Each month so far has seen room demand grow by 15% or more, outpacing all our surrounding markets. While that’s encouraging, we remain mindful of the uncertainty ahead. Nationally, we’re seeing signs of economic softening, and California is expected to feel the impact of a significant drop in Canadian visitation—Canada being the second-largest international market for both Lodi and the state. Still, our team is working hard to keep Lodi top of mind, and we’re optimistic about the summer season.
Here are a few updates on our current projects:
Sports Tourism Feasibility Study:
Phase one is complete. Our consultants at the Huddle Up Group just visited Lodi and toured our sports and recreation facilities. We expect to receive a draft report with findings for internal review in May.
Official Lodi Visitors Guide:
Our team is hard at work creating fresh content and doing a full redesign as we bring the guide production in-house. Ad sales have begun, and we’re pleased to share that we’ve reduced investment costs for advertising opportunities by 30%.
Website Redesign:
We’re putting the finishing touches on a light brand refresh, and the creative development of our new website begins in April. We’re actively reviewing listings and building content each week. We’re on track for a September launch.
Destination Master Plan:
We’re collaborating with Clarity of Place to strengthen alignment among Lodi’s tourism stakeholders and define key strategic initiatives for Visit Lodi over the next five years and beyond. Their team will be in Lodi in early May for stakeholder engagement.
We’re excited to keep you informed as these projects move forward, and we’ll be reaching out to many of you to participate in the Destination Master Plan process. If we haven’t met yet, feel free to drop me an email at wes@ visitlodi.com—I’d be happy to connect and learn more about your Lodi story.
Also, if you’re planning to attend the Lodi Street Fair on Sunday, May 4th, stop by and say hello! We’ll be set up in front of our School Street offices, spreading the good word and showing off some new merch.
In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to reach out if there’s anything I can help with.
Best wishes for a successful summer, Wes
Wes Rhea President & CEO, Visit Lodi
Visit Lodi on the road
IMM
Visit Lodi attended International Media Marketplace (IMM), hosted by TravMedia, at New York City’s Jacob Javits Center to promote our region to domestic and international media. We held 18 meetings with freelance writers specializing in travel, food, and wine, offering a snapshot of what Lodi has to offer. We look forward to hosting these writers in Lodi and sharing the best of our region’s wine, culinary, activities, and outdoor adventure through digital and print media narratives.
Visit Lodi at Los Angeles and Bay Area Travel & Adventure Show
In Q1 2025, Visit Lodi hit the road to represent our region at the Travel & Adventure Shows in Los Angeles and the Bay Area. These two-day events attracted a broad audience of travel writers, content creators, travel professionals, and enthusiasts. Our team shared Visit Lodi’s materials and highlighted the unique attractions and events that make our destination special. We’re excited to welcome new visitors who discovered Lodi through these shows in the year ahead.
Palm Desert Food & Wine Festival
Visit Lodi teamed up with the Lodi Winegrape Commission at the Palm Desert Food & Wine Festival in Southern California to bring a taste of our region to a new audience. Together, we highlighted the best of Lodi, including award-winning wines, culinary experiences, and outdoor adventures.
New Downtown Banners
If you’ve strolled through Downtown Lodi lately, you may have noticed something new on the streets – our vibrant street banners are now hanging along School Street! Featuring a welcome greeting in a variety of languages, these banners celebrate the diversity of our visitors and community. We’re excited to introduce them to our annual rotation as a colorful and inviting addition to the heart of downtown.
Ambassadors around town
In March, the Lodi Tourism Ambassadors gathered for an exclusive behind-the-scenes IDOL Beer Works tour led by owner Grant Hamilton. Ambassadors were given a bird’s-eye view of the meticulous brewing process and the passion that Grant and his team pour into every batch. The group also learned about the wide range of events IDOL hosts throughout the year and their strong commitment to supporting the local community. The Visit Lodi team thanks Grant and the IDOL Beer Works crew for their time, hospitality, and dedication to craft and community.
Are you interested in becoming a Lodi Tourism Ambassador? Join us for our upcoming class at Wine & Roses on Wednesday, April 23rd, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.! Whether you’re a lifelong Lodi resident or a newcomer to our region, you’re guaranteed to have a great time while learning about the many things Lodi offers, all while connecting with fellow community members who share your passion for our region. The Lodi Tourism Ambassador program is a great opportunity to learn, network, and help share the story of Lodi with visitors from near and far.
• Drive More Visitors to Lodi – The more businesses interlink, the stronger our online presence becomes, increasing traffic for everyone.
• Encourage Visitor Exploration – Visitors researching Lodi often look for a complete experience. A link to VisitLodi.com ensures they find more reasons to visit, stay longer, and discover your business.
How to Add a Visit Lodi Link
Strengthen Lodi together with reciprocal linking
Do You Link to Visit Lodi.com?
At Visit Lodi, our mission is to showcase the best of Lodi and drive visitors to our local businesses. As part of this effort, our website, VisitLodi.com, provides direct links to hotels, short-term rentals, wineries, attractions, restaurants, and shops, which helps potential visitors discover everything our destination offers. We want to take this further by encouraging reciprocal linking, a simple but effective way for Visit Lodi and your business to improve their online visibility and search rankings.
Why Add a Link to VisitLodi.com?
Boost Your Website’s SEO – Search engines prioritize websites with quality outbound and inbound links. Linking to VisitLodi.com (a highly relevant, locally focused website) can enhance your organic ranking.
It’s easy! Simply place a link to VisitLodi.com on your website, this could be in your footer, an “Explore Lodi” page, or within your visitor resources. If you’d like assistance or need a suggested link placement, we’re happy to help!
Working together strengthens our local tourism economy and creates more opportunities for everyone in our community. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Thank you for your partnership and for helping make Lodi a must-visit destination!
PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS IN THE OFFICIAL LODI VISITOR GUIDE
In today’s economy, visibility matters—and we’re here to help. That is why we are offering ad rates for the 2025 Lodi Visitors Guide at 30% off last year’s pricing this year.
Now more than ever, it is important to connect with high-value visitors who are ready to spend. The Official Lodi Visitors Guide is the premier resource for travelers planning their trip and discovering our region—and your business can be right in front of them when they do.
Why advertise?
♦ 25,000 copies printed and distributed at hotels, wineries, attractions, and local businesses
♦ Direct mailed to potential visitors and distributed at travel & wine shows
♦ Available digitally for an even greater reach
♦ Distributed at local hotels, short-term rentals, wineries, and attractions—capturing attention while visitors are in-market
♦ Packed with content on where to stay, sip, dine, shop, and explore
Whether you’re a winery, restaurant, shop, or local attraction, this is the perfect way to reach your audience when they are making decisions.
The space reservation deadline is May 1, and the guide hits stands (and inboxes) July 1—just in time for peak visitor season. Please email info@visitlodi.com for a media kit and more information. Let’s work together to make sure your business stands out in 2025.
