san diego tourism commercial

• Cities & Destinations
• San Diego Tourism Authority

San Diego Tourism TV Spot, 'If You're Happy and You Know It, Show It' Song by Michael Franti

Get free access to the data below for 10 ads, there's a better way to measure tv & streaming ad roi.

• Real-Time Ad Measurement Across Linear and CTV
• TV Ad Attribution & Benchmarking
• Marketing Stack Integrations and Multi-Touch Attribution
• Real-Time Video Ad Creative Assessment

San Diego Tourism encourages you to find your happiness in its city, offering various activities and sceneries to enjoy.

Have questions about this ad or our catalog? Check out our FAQ Page .

• Submissions should come only from actors, their parent/legal guardian or casting agency.
• Submit ONCE per commercial, and allow 48 to 72 hours for your request to be processed.
• Once verified, the information you provide will be displayed on our site.

• Adweek Network
• Social Pro Daily

• Advertising
• Adweek Media Kit
• Subscribe to Adweek
• Visit Adweek.com
• Newsletters
• Search Jobs
• Terms of Use

San Diego Tourism Campaign Gets Happy With Michael Franti Soundtrack

By Kyle O'Brien   on Jan. 28, 2022 - 10:00 AM

Everyone wants to have a happy and sunny vacation and San Diego is just the place to do that, according to a new campaign from The Shipyard for the San Diego Tourism Authority.

California’s sunny and southern-most travel destination is highlighted in the campaign with a bunch of really ecstatic people joyfully enjoying the beaches, boardwalks and sights of the city. “Happy and You Know It” debuts in February and targets tourists seeking a relaxing getaway. It features a tune by musician, humanitarian and California native Michael Franti .

A full-length version of the featured song, “Out in the Sun,” will be released in February by Franti and his band Spearhead and will be available for download on sandiego.org .

“Happy and You Know It” will launch Saturday, debuting on national TV during the Farmers Insurance Open. The SDTA plans to spend $8 million promoting San Diego through the end of June, with $6.27 million dedicated to “Happy and You Know It.”

The integrated campaign includes 30-second spots on TV, out of home and traditional radio across key markets, including Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco and Sacramento. The TV spot will air during high-ratings programming, including the Olympics, Super Bowl pre-game and will continue into the Spring during high-profile season premieres. Additionally, the campaign will be complemented with digital and social messaging.

Client – San Diego Tourism

Chief Executive Officer – Julie Coker

Chief Operating Officer – Kerri Verbeke Kapich

Brand Marketing Manager – Kayla Yap

Agency – The Shipyard

Vice Chairman – Dave Mering

Chief Creative Officer – Dave Sonderman

Executive Creative Director – Kerry Krasts

VP of Production – Liz Ross

Agency Producer – Jamie Apodaca

Art Director – Brendan Rice

Copywriter – Schuyler Vanden Bergh

Executive Producer – Christina Staal

Production Coordinator – Brittany Bartle

Group Account Director – Christine Neville

Account Manager – Karle’e Gleghorn

Director of Research & Insights – Cori Boone

Account Planner – Ahnie Mosle

Chief Media Officer – John Mergen

Production Company – Bean Dog Films

Director – Shaun Boyte

Executive Producer – Kelsey Boyte

Production Company Producer – Mike Grace + Ebony Powell

Production Design – Ester Kim

Photography – Ali Vagnini

Editing/Post Production/Special Effects

Editorial Company – Red Hydrant

Editorial Company Producer – Christina Staal

Editor – Matt Falkenthal

Music Director – Michael Frick

Musician – Michael Franti + Spearhead

Post Production Company – COM3

• Privacy Policy

“OUT IN THE SUN” OUT NOW!

by admin | Feb 3, 2022 | Music , Travel

What’s up Soulrockers?! The full length version of this featured song, “Out In The Sun,” is OUT NOW in partnership with San Diego tourism 🌞 You can listen to the full song + check out the San Diego Tourism commercial the song is featured in via the links below!

Listen To “Out In The Sun”: https://orcd.co/outinthesun

Watch San Diego Tourism Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GogUhYu3fy8

The Travel Vertical

Weekly stories curated exclusively for digital tourism marketers

If You’re Happy & You Know It (Go to San Diego)

February 1, 2022 by Laurie Jo Miller Farr Leave a Comment

San Diego Tourism Authority has announced plans to spend $8 million on an advertising campaign to promote the destination. Roughly $6.27 million is dedicated to the new theme song and branded content, “Happy and You Know It,” (a modern take on a nursery rhyme), that’s running through the end of June.

“San Diego just makes you feel good. From head to toe and inside and out. From the sandy beaches to the rugged cliffs and everywhere in between. And once you experience that feeling, it’s hard to contain your excitement. it’s hard to contain your excitement. So, why try? This is San Diego, where you don’t just find happiness…it calls to you. Plan your trip today at https://www.sandiego.org .”

President & CEO Julie Coker said the new campaign builds on the “Sunny Outlook” branding the organization has been cultivating for the past decade.

“Now more than ever, travelers are looking for places with diverse communities and people where they can escape and explore, and San Diego fits the bill for so many would-be visitors. Our natural beauty, our outdoor offerings, world class arts and cultural attractions and our near-perfect weather makes for a vacation that is both happy and healthy.”

Debuting this month, the integrated campaign includes 30-sec. spots on TV, plus out-of-home, and traditional radio across key markets, including Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco and Sacramento, complemented by digital and social media messaging. The TV spot will broadcast during high-ratings programming, including the Olympics and Super Bowl pre-game.

The campaign via The Shipyard features California native Michael Franti , rapper, musician, poet, activist, documentarian, and singer-songwriter. A full-length version of the featured song, “Out in the Sun,” is being released by Franti and his band Spearhead, available for download at sandiego.org .

The DMO indicated that data from  Destination Analysts suggests that over the next 12 months, Americans will be interested in scenic beauty, warm weather outdoor activities, road trips, dining in regional restaurants, visiting historical sites and enjoying street food during their travels.

“Those type of experiences is exactly what San Diego has to offer,” Coker said. “This campaign will be key in getting that message out to potential visitors to ensure San Diego has strong visitation throughout the busy spring and summer months so our tourism industry can continue its ongoing recovery.”

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Times of San Diego

Local News and Opinion for San Diego

MarketInk: ‘Happy and You Know It’ in San Diego Is Theme of $8 Million Tourism Campaign

Share this:

• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)

The San Diego Tourism Authority , a publicly funded nonprofit, has announced plans to spend $8 million in advertising to promote San Diego as a tourist destination through the end of June.

The majority of the expenditures, roughly $6.27 million, will be dedicated to a new advertising campaign called “Happy and You Know It.”

The campaign is anchored by a 30-second TV commercial , which debuted this past Saturday during the final round of Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament, when much of the country was enduring freezing cold temperatures. The spot features scenes of surfers, kayakers, roller skaters and bicyclists with the Pacific Ocean as backdrop.

The theme song for the spot features a modernized version of the catchy nursery rhyme song performed by Michael Franti & Spearhead .

The spring media buy also will include the spot airing during the Super Bowl pre-game coverage, Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, NCAA college basketball March Madness tournament games and National Basketball Association regular season, as well as other primetime programming in select markets.

The campaign’s multi-media approach will include TV, digital, radio and billboards intended to reach western regional and national audiences with a focus on the key markets of Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco and Sacramento. The tourism authority expects the campaign to deliver 250.4 million impressions over the course of the next five months.

Julie Coker, president and CEO of the authority, said the new campaign builds on the “Sunny Outlook” brand the organization has been cultivating the past decade.

“Now more than ever, travelers are looking for places with diverse communities and people where they can escape and explore, and San Diego fits the bill for so many would-be visitors,” Coker said. “Our natural beauty, our outdoor offerings, world class arts and cultural attractions and our near-perfect weather makes for a vacation that is both happy and healthy.”

The tourism authority said data from Destination Analysts , a market research firm that surveys U.S. travel attitudes and behaviors, showed that Americans will be interested over the next 12 months in enjoying scenic beauty, warm weather outdoor activities, road trips, dining in regional restaurants, visiting historical sites and enjoying street food during their travels.

“Those type of experiences is exactly what San Diego has to offer,” Coker said. “This campaign will be key in getting that message out to potential visitors to ensure San Diego has strong visitation throughout the busy spring and summer months so our tourism industry can continue its ongoing recovery.” The tourism authority said its “Happy and You Know It” campaign was developed after brand research conducted over the past year by its advertising agency, The Shipyard , an advertising agency that was previously called Mering in San Diego until its sale in December 2020 to The Shipyard, based in Columbus, Ohio. Dave Mering had operated the agency since 1985.

According to the tourism authority, focus groups consisting of leisure travelers in California, the West, Northeast, Southeast and Midwest were interviewed to determine attitudes and perceptions about the San Diego brand. The findings were that San Diego has a well-defined brand with focus-group participants describing San Diego as a “feel-good, friendly, vibrant place that is both laid back and lively,” said Kerri Kaptich, the tourism authority’s COO who oversees marketing efforts.

“The vibe and the product are in complete alignment with consumers’ sentiment, travel motivators and what is emotionally connecting them with a destination,” Kapich said. “San Diego’s brand has emerged stronger than it was before the pandemic, which means we have an opportunity to attract more visitors with our sunny skies and positive outlook.”

The tourism authority is funded in part by the San Diego Tourism Marketing District Corp. with City of San Diego Tourism Marketing District assessment funds.

Mamma Chia Gets Brand Refresh from Gestalt Brand Lab

Gestalt Brand Lab , a San Diego branding and marketing agency, announced it has completed a brand refresh and packaging re-launch for natural foods company Mamma Chia , based in Carlsbad.

The rebranding included refreshing the Mamma Chia goddess icon, updating the color palette and developing new packaging for all products ranging from Chia seeds, Chia beverages and Chia squeeze pouches.

Gestalt said all of Mamma Chia’s offerings are aligned under a master design aesthetic that was created to reflect the company’s dedication to inclusivity, diversity and body positively. Updated product packaging will appear in February on the Mamma Chia website and the shelves of such retailers as Vons, Frazier Farms, Sprouts and Whole Foods.

Gestalt officials declined to reveal a dollar amount representing planned 2022 advertising expenditures.

Founded in 2009, Mamma Chia officials said in a statement the time was right for a re-branding.

“For more than 10 years, Mamma Chia has been on an incredible journey to nourish the uplift the souls of our communities,” said Janie Hoffman, Mamma Chia founder and CEO. “We’ve embraced the need for branding that is more inclusive and empowering, and Gestalt was the perfect partner to help bring our vision to life. In terms of aesthetic, this is a dramatic shift for our brand, but it’s a shift that better reflects our core values. We believe there’s a place for everyone at the Mamma Chia table and this rebrand has us feeling energized and revitalized for the journey ahead.”

Gestalt managing director Brian Munce said, “For years, Mamma Chia has been one of the best functional products on the market with real benefits, but their branding and packaging wasn’t living up to the purposeful and intentional heartbeat of the company. Our new branding helps showcase their products to a much broader audience.”

Gestalt creative director Chad Farmer said, “We took the approach of ‘less is more’ with this project and, as a result, the Mamma Chia product truly stands out from all others on the market.”

Gestalt Brand Lab was founded in December 2019 by Farmer and Munce, two former employees of the Lambesis Agency, a high-profile San Diego advertising agency that closed in 2019. Clients include Luna Grill restaurants, Gaggenau, Grand Mariner and Jamba Juice.

New York Times is Advertising on Tik Tok for the First Time

For the first time, The New York Times , sometimes referred to by its nickname of Old Gray Lady, is advertising on Tik To k, the world’s fastest growing video-sharing app popular with teenagers, Gen Z-ers and millennials.

The Times’ brand-marketing campaign, called “The Truth Takes a Journalist,” spotlights some of its 1,700 journalists as they film themselves using their phones.

As reported by Media Post, an advertising industry trade publication, the campaign also will include placements on TV and streaming sites, audio spots and digital billboards in New York City’s subway stations.

“This campaign celebrates the journalists who create the stories that help our readers understand the world,” said Amy Weisenbach, senior vice president, The New York Times Company. “The focus on the word `By’ personalizes who is behind the bylines readers see in the Times every day. These journalists are real people with passion for what they do, and they play a critical role in the pursuit of truth.”

Vincent Yang of Firework, a video streaming technology platform for retailers, said, “Their choice of platform is not just aimed at winning the hearts and minds of younger readers. It is the new emerging format for digital discovery where media is meeting ecommerce, too. Brands can take a big lesson learned from the best and brightest in media to reclaim their customers and re-engage them in the entire journey toward building vibrant digital communities.”

Tik Tok, owned by Beijing-based ByteDance Ltd., reportedly hit one billion users in September 2021.

Voice & Viewpoint Newspaper Presents 2022 Gala

San Diego Voice & Viewpoint newspaper, a locally Black-owned newspaper, will present its ninth annual gala from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 4 as a virtual event. Event theme is “Continuing a History of Service.”

The gala will feature recognition for individuals who have given generously and tirelessly of themselves, the newspaper said. Honorees will include Laila Aziz and Tasha Williamson for Unsung Hero Awards, Precious Jackson-Hubbard for the Gerri Warren Humanitarian Award and Bishop A.B. Vines, Sr. for the Good Shepherd Award. Additional honorees will include the Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank and Feeding San Diego for Organizational Excellence Awards. For event information, visit  www.sdvoice.info/gala .

San Diego Voice & Viewpoint, now in its 62nd year of continuous publication, is considered San Diego’s largest Black publication with a weekly print readership of more than 25,000. In 1987, the newspaper was acquired by husband-and-wife John E. Warren and the late Gerry Warren, who passed away in 2009 at age 62.

Rick Griffin  is a San Diego-based public relations and marketing consultant. His MarketInk column appears weekly on Mondays in Times of San Diego.

• Skip to main content
• Skip to secondary menu
• Skip to primary sidebar

SDTA Connect Blog

Keeping you connected to the San Diego Tourism Authority and the hospitality community.

San Diego Tourism Launches Spring Advertising Programs

January 26, 2023 By Julia Buescher Leave a Comment

2023 Winter/Spring Advertising Program Overview

To stimulate demand during the upcoming Spring and Summer travel season, the SDTA is launching $15.5 million in advertising with the refreshed 30-sec “Happy & You Know It” Brand TV commercial debuting on national television January 28 during the Farmers Insurance Open PGA Golf Tournament.

“Happy and You Know It” San Diego’s happy and carefree vibe leaves everyone who visits cheerful, optimistic, and able to “put their guard down.” Happiness is the norm and easily attainable in San Diego, although we all express it in our own unique way. Some show it with a simple smile while others through a joyful dance. But there’s one thing we can all agree on – San Diego is not only the place where we find happiness … but feel free to really show it.

The refreshed Brand TV commercials continue to be music-driven, utilizing new music from Michael Franti & Spearhead , modernizing the catchy nursery-rhyme song “If You’re Happy & You Know It” with upbeat sounds to evoke the fun, vibrant and inviting characteristics of the destination. Four new commercials were produced in partnership with SDTA’s advertising agency, The Shipyard:

• A general Brand 30-Sec TV Spot featuring new scenes showcasing on the water experiences on the San Diego Bay, outdoor recreation at Torrey Pines Golf Course and San Diego’s newest outdoor events venue, The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park.
• A family-focused 30-Sec TV Spot featuring new scenes from the San Diego Zoo’s Wildlife Explorers Basecamp, Old Town San Diego and Petco Park’s public park at Gallagher Square.
• Two 15-sec TV spots ( Brand 15-sec ,  Golf-Focused 15-sec ) which will air nationally during the Farmers Insurance Open Golf Tournament broadcast in Saturday’s Finals coverage.

NEW “Happy & You Know It” TV Spots:

Winter/Spring: Program Highlights

Throughout FY 2023, the  “Happy and You Know It” Brand and Family campaign will be integrated across SDTA’s advertising program of work. The multi-media approach includes television, out-of-home and digital executions that will reach national audiences with a focus on San Diego’s eight key spot markets; Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco, Sacramento, Seattle, Denver, Las Vegas, and Dallas.

Brand Awareness – Television, Outdoor & Digital

• Spot market television and digital out-of-home billboards will run February 13 – April 9 in San Francisco, Sacramento, Seattle, Denver, Las Vegas, Dallas, and Phoenix
• Digital video with Disney xP, Discovery, The Trade Desk and YouTube
• Digital display advertising with Conde Nast and Travel + Leisure
• Social advertising with Facebook/Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat

Storytelling & Education – Digital & Content Creator Partnerships

• Branded content series including Bliss Breaks, Guide to the Good Stuff, One Bright Idea and Sunny 7 videos and articles will run January – June, distributed through YouTube, Facebook/Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat
• Search Engine Marketing continues through June with Google
• An additional layer of storytelling will launch in April utilizing content creators on Instagram and TikTok, capitalizing on their unique point of views and engaged audiences to reach consumers from a new perspective

Consideration & Booking – Digital

An additional layer of national digital advertising targets consumers across the U.S. who are actively in the consideration and booking phases of their travel journey on premium planning platforms.

• Digital display, native ads, dedicated email blasts and Online Travel Agency (OTA) advertising launched in July 2022 and will continue through June 2023 with Expedia, Priceline, Hopper and Tripadvisor.

Group Meetings & Conventions – “Meet America’s Brightest City”

To support the Group Meetings & Conventions industry, the SDTA launched a new B2B marketing campaign in Fall 2022 aimed at changing perceptions of San Diego as a business destination –  Meet America’s Brightest City . While San Diego is known for its sunshine, coastline, and good vibes, we’ve also been a hotbed of innovation, education and cultural exploration for decades. We rank toward the top in the U.S. in many forward-thinking categories — high-tech jobs, top research institutes, venture capital investments, patents granted, academic excellence, life science startups and civic leadership, to name a few. This new campaign reintroduces professional meeting planners, key decision-makers and executives to the beauty and brains of San Diego, where our environment is a catalyst for innovation and creativity.

NEW “Meet America’s Brightest City” Video:

Group Meetings & Conventions Program Highlights – Print, Digital, Lead Generation & Custom Content

• Paid social efforts with LinkedIn launch in January, targeting meeting planners and key decision makers nationally.
• Search Marketing with Google continues January through June, utilizing San Diego keywords focused on business conferences and venue terms, to ensure coverage for inspiration and consideration level searches.
• Print advertisements, advertorials, digital and lead-gen executions with Meetings publications continue in January with Northstar, PCMA, Cvent, Smart Meetings, Meetings Today and Meetings Magazine.

An added layer of digital advertising targets decision-making CMOs in trusted business-professional publications to capture their attention and increase awareness of San Diego for their next company retreat, product kickoff event or industry conference.

• Custom high impact ad units and a premium homepage takeover will run on Bloomberg
• Promotional custom content pieces and dedicated e-blasts will be produced and distributed on Entrepreneur

A Look Ahead

National premium partnership – tripadvisor.

To increase awareness of San Diego as a premier travel destination, the SDTA is working with Tripadvisor and its new in-house creative and content studio, Wanderlab , to launch a first-of-its-kind, innovative digital and interactive out-of-home campaign to attract travelers to San Diego.

The Tripadvisor program is scheduled to launch in April and will highlight San Diego’s optimism and positivity through a range of executions including custom online content, influencer activations, San Diego sunshine kits designed to highlight the region, digital sweepstakes and interactive street murals in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York.

Los Angeles Marketing Initiative

The SDTA’s Spring advertising program of work will include a unique approach to the Los Angeles market to increase awareness and driving consideration/intent to travel and book overnight hotel stays into San Diego.

Los Angeles Program Highlights – Digital, Custom Television Partnerships & Out-Of-Home

• A dedicated layer of Digital Video will launch at the end of January with Disney xP and Discovery, serving San Diego’s “Happy & You Know It” Brand & Family 30-sec commercials in premium video environments.
• Custom content partnerships with Thrillist and Los Angeles Magazine will launch at the end of January and continue through June with print, digital and storytelling executions distributed by partners with large Los Angeles footprint.
• Custom television partnerships will launch in April with top-rated, TV stations in Los Angeles; KABC, KCBS, KNBC. On-air personalities will serve as trusted voices to provide dedicated storytelling about San Diego and what’s new throughout the destination to encourage Angelenos to visit. Complementing the content efforts, SDTA’s “Happy & You Know It” Brand and Family 30-sec commercials will run across key programming dayparts.
• Digital out-of-home placements will also launch in April, creating massive exposure for San Diego in high-traffic locations with additional high impact spectacular ad units.

To learn more about SDTA’s advertising programs and to leverage the destination’s strategy in your own marketing programs, please log in to  Membernet .

Reader Interactions

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Will $8M ad campaign built around happiness deliver tourists to San Diego?

A new Tourism Authority commercial will make an appearance during the Farmers Insurance golf tournament at Torrey Pines when much of the country is enduring freezing cold temperatures.

• Show more sharing options
• Copy Link URL Copied!

Banking on a COVID-weary public desperate to get away from home, San Diego’s tourism bureau is launching this weekend an $8 million advertising campaign, beginning with a TV commercial that will air during the Farmers Insurance Open at the Torrey Pines Golf Course.

Dubbed “Happy and you know it,” the new five-month-long advertising initiative will largely target closer-in markets like Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco and Sacramento, but a quarter of the budget will be devoted to a national audience via television commercials and online ads.

“Since the pandemic started we’ve been in the same spot markets again and again and the research is telling us to start reaching further beyond Southern California and Arizona,” said Kerri Kapich, chief operating officer for the San Diego Tourism Authority. “So we’re starting to add that back in. It’s all been very difficult to predict. But for people who want to travel there’s still a desire to get out there, so we are thinking both short and long term.

“It’s not huge ( the national advertising) like what we’ve done in the past, but it starts to help build toward recovery.”

A portion of the marketing initiative will rely on live sports programming to get the word out about San Diego’s enticing coastline and outdoor destinations. Spots will air during the Super Bowl’s pre-game coverage, the Beijing Winter Olympics, NCAA March Madness, and NBA regular season games, in addition to other primetime programming.

Beyond conventional TV commercials, a good deal of the advertising will be seen on various online platforms, from Expedia and Tripadvisor to Travel & Leisure, Kapich said. Based on feedback gleaned from focus groups from around the country, the Tourism Authority learned that San Diego has some of the most well-received advertising, which has succeeded in inducing travelers to visit San Diego, she added.

Focus group participants described San Diego as a “feel-good, friendly, vibrant place” that is laid-back and lively,” Kapich said.

Not unlike the various incarnations of TV ads over the years, the latest video spot capitalizes on that laid-back, outdoorsy vibe, featuring uplifting clips of surfers, kayakers, roller skaters and bicyclists, with the ocean as a backdrop.

Despite continued fears and nervousness around the surges in COVID infections, both last year and now, leisure travel has been a bright spot for San Diego, with hotels seeing a sharp rebound in business. What they haven’t been experiencing, though, is a return of business and meetings-related travel, which is a critical component of the hospitality industry.

A forecast prepared last year for the Tourism Authority predicted that business, government and meetings, which account for 40 percent of the region’s overall hotel revenues, won’t fully return to pre-pandemic levels until 2024.

The Tourism Authority said it expects that its various advertisements on multiple platforms will be seen more than 250 million times over the next five months.

“This advertising is essential because it’s the only way we can drive visitation to San Diego. It’s the primary driver of that economic benefit,” Kapich said. “We’ve been fortunate to have the ability to run this advertising and it really helped San Diego do well last year.”

Get U-T Business in your inbox on Mondays

Get ready for your week with the week’s top business stories from San Diego and California, in your inbox Monday mornings.

You may occasionally receive promotional content from the San Diego Union-Tribune.

More from this Author

San Diego will soon be getting a lot more nonstop flights to Vegas

April 25, 2024

Plans to bring 2 major restaurants to Seaport Village were OK’d 3 years ago. They’re not close to opening

Gina Champion-Cain transferred from scandal-ridden California prison known as the ‘rape club’

April 19, 2024

San Diego’s Belmont Park poised for an overhaul that could bring new rides and reinvented beachfront restaurant

This downtown San Diego doughnut mainstay is expanding — and relocating — to an office high-rise

April 11, 2024

Esquire names the top new hotel in North America and Europe: It’s in San Diego

April 9, 2024

More in this section

National Business

Rooting for Trump to fail has made his stock shorters millions

Rooting for Donald Trump to fail has rarely been this profitable

Trading Trump: Truth Social’s first month of trading has sent investors on a ride

With Donald Trump facing dozens of federal criminal charges and hundreds of millions in legal expenses, Trump Media & Technology Group Corp. went public on the Nasdaq exchange March 26

Former finance director pleads guilty to stealing more than $400,000 from San Diego nonprofit

The former director of operations and accounting for the San Diego Regional EDC pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday and is awaiting sentencing

Tennessee lawmakers adjourn after finalizing $1.9B tax cut and refund for businesses

Tennessee’s GOP-controlled General Assembly has adjourned for the year, concluding months of tense political infighting that ultimately doomed Republican Gov. Bill Lee’s universal school voucher push

Selling weight-loss and muscle-building supplements to minors in New York is now illegal

It’s now illegal to sell weight-loss and muscle-building supplements to minors in New York

This biotech startup got the biggest venture capital deal in San Diego so far this year

San Diego had fewer startup deals in the first quarter of this year. Health care startups led deal making.

New $8 million tourism campaign launched to promote San Diego as a 'happy destination'

Speaker 1: ( 00:00 )

As much of the country shivers under a blanket of snow and ice, the site of San Diego's sun and beaches might be very enticing. That's what the San Diego tourism authority is hoping as it launches a new 8 million ad campaign. That includes a TV commercial with lots of happy, sunny San Diegos. So if

Speaker 2: ( 00:20 )

You are happy and you know, it, throw your hands up and show it if you happy and you know, it clap your hands. And if you love the like living, go ahead and dive in and shake like you mean it, do it.

Speaker 1: ( 00:39 )

The, if you're happy and you know, at TV spot will run during super bowl. Pre-game programming, March madness and other big sports events, but it remains to be seen if the time is right for a big tourism marketing campaign, are people really ready to travel and get happy in San Diego? Joining me as Carrie K pitch. She's chief operating officer for the San Diego tourism authority and Carrie, welcome to the program.

Speaker 3: ( 01:05 )

Hello, thank you. What

Speaker 1: ( 01:07 )

Made the tourism authority decide that the time is ripe for people to start traveling to San Diego?

Speaker 3: ( 01:12 )

Well, spring and summer is the peak travel season, and we are really excited that we have the opportunity to invite people to San Diego. Go to once again, enjoy our beautiful destination. We've been able to continue to market San Diego as a leisure travel destination throughout the last few years. And when we do put that welcome mat out, what we see is that people are very eager to come into San Diego and enjoy the beautiful destination that we have and the wall variety of activities that we offer. We've been able to do these things in an environment that is really respect of our community and the needs of our community, able to generate those visitor dollars while doing so in a way that is safe and fun.

Speaker 1: ( 01:58 )

Is this TV spot playing all over the country?

Speaker 3: ( 02:01 )

The TV spot will be mostly plane in our Western region markets, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, and Sacramento. But we do have a layer of digital advertising that will be seen nationally. It's about 25% of the media buy. So that means that yes, you will have people seeing this across the country and seeing it while the country's really dealing very cold weather. Unfortunately,

Speaker 1: ( 02:25 )

Now we played a clip from the TV commercial listeners can see it on YouTube, but can you describe it for us? What San Diego attractions does it show?

Speaker 3: ( 02:35 )

So the TV spot that we have is really showing the outdoor beauty of San Diego, which is what people are looking for. When they're thinking about travel desk, Don nations, we were able to film, uh, in a variety of coastal areas and be able to also show the beauty of B Bella park. So it is a fun and lighthearted spot. Um, it takes an old nursery rhyme happy, and you know it, and it's been reinterpreted using a very, uh, fresh take on the song that was produced by a nationally recording artist. Michael Frante.

Speaker 1: ( 03:08 )

Now this campaign seems to present a more diverse San Diego than in the past, is that right?

Speaker 3: ( 03:14 )

We're always trying to make sure that we are reflective of what San Diego is. And as a community and as a destination, we offer a great deal of diversity. We did research last summer and people talked about regardless of who they are and where they're from, they feel welcomed in San Diego, they see themselves here. And so we wanted to make sure that the TV spot really reflected that and that welcoming spirit.

Speaker 1: ( 03:41 )

Now we know that the various COVID lockdowns and surges hurt the traveling hospitality industry very badly. How has the industry coped with such tremendous

Speaker 3: ( 03:52 )

Losses? It has been a very difficult time over the last two years through the pandemic. What you saw happen is at businesses worked very closely with the county of San Diego to ensure that they had safe operating guidelines in place. So whether it was a restaurant, an attraction, a hotel, or an event or a venue, everyone was trying to make sure that they were following all the right protocols, both for their employees as well. For those visitors and guests who came into their establishments. What we've seen happen is that, uh, large events and group meetings have been slower to return from a travel perspective. Individual, uh, leisure travel has certainly held up pretty well, but unfortunately we still see that visitor spending is down it's down 40%. And when we take a look at employment for San Diego in the leisure and hospitality sector, it too is down compared to pre pandemic levels. It's down by a good 15%, fewer employees.

Speaker 1: ( 04:54 )

What kind of feedback have you gotten so far in the new ad campaign

Speaker 3: ( 04:57 )

For the new campaign? People really are enjoying the energy G the catchy song and the beautiful images. We just had it air for the very first time during the farmer's insurance open this weekend. And what we've heard mostly is just, wow, what great timing. You've got the farmer's insurance open airing nationally. You have all these eyeballs watching live sports, and then you have this horrible web there conditions that are going on across the country. And here's beautiful San Diego, whether you're watching the golf tournament or you're seeing the TV spot. So, so far the feedback's been very positive.

Speaker 1: ( 05:32 )

Okay. So far so good. I've been speaking with Carrie Kage, chief operating officer for the San Diego tourism authority. Carrie. Thank you.

Speaker 3: ( 05:40 )

Speaker 2: ( 05:42 )

The San Diego Tourism Authority launched a new campaign ad last weekend to promote San Diego as a "happy place," in hopes of attracting more visitors ahead of the busy spring and summer travel season.

The $8 million campaign includes national placement of the ad during Super Bowl pre-game coverage, the Beijing Winter Olympics and the NCAA's March Madness tournament. The Tourism Authority launched the initiative to help the leisure and hospitality sectors in San Diego make a comeback after being hit hard by the pandemic.

Kerri Kapich, chief operating officer for the San Diego Tourism Authority joined KPBS Midday Edition to talk about the new campaign.

"The TV spot that we have is really showing the outdoor beauty of San Diego, which is what people are looking for when they're thinking about travel destinations," Kapich said. "We were able to film in a variety of coastal areas and be able to also show the beauty of Balboa Park. It is a fun and light-hearted spot. It takes an old nursery rhyme, '(If You're) Happy and You Know It,' and it's been reinterpreted using a very fresh take on the song."

Kapich said the hospitality industry in San Diego is still recovering from the pandemic.

"What we've seen happen is that large events and group meetings have been slower to return from a travel perspective, individual leisure travel has certainly held up pretty well, but unfortunately we still see that visitor spending is down," she said. "It's down about 40%. When we take a look at employment for San Diego in the leisure and hospitality sector, it too is down compared to pre-pandemic levels. It's down by a good 15% fewer employees."

Kapich said the TV spot will mainly air throughout Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Francisco and Phoenix, but will also be advertised on digital platforms nationally.

Two New Ads to Promote San Diego as Great Place to Live and Work

The ads are being created by the san diego tourism authority and the san diego regional economic development corporation to bring in tourism and talent, by elena gomez • published on february 4, 2020 at 6:24 pm.

San Diego is getting some serious time in the spotlight this week.

On Super Bowl Sunday, San Diego streets were made famous in a commercial promoting Saint Archer Brewing Company’s new beer .

And, on Tuesday, local groups announced two new campaigns that will feature San Diego as both a tourist destination and a great place to work.

The San Diego Tourism Authority (SDTA) unveiled their new 30-second TV commercial that will be seen across the country, including Canada, the UK and China, according to the SDTA.

The TV spot uses the tourism authority’s famous tagline “Happiness is Calling” while showcasing San Diego beaches, Balboa Park and even the USS Midway Museum.

Meanwhile, the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation released their marketing campaign video titled ‘Just Say No to Winter,’ to bring in new talent to San Diego.                                                       

Share your feedback with NBC 7 San Diego

Things to do this weekend in San Diego: Mission Fed Artwalk, Belanova and more

The campaign will “target STEM talent experiencing harsh winters with the message that they can work for a world-class company and enjoy a superb quality of life in San Diego, year-round,” said a spokesperson for the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation.

In the video, shots of cold snowy weather are juxtaposed next to sunny San Diego – asking viewers to “Say no to winter and say yes to a life full of possibility.” The video showcases careers available in San Diego, including those in technology, medicine and life sciences.

The San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation says they have partnered with the SDTA on their campaign, understanding that “before you are a resident of our region, you usually are a visitor,” according to a spokesperson for the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation.

This article tagged under:

Stewards of Tourism Marketing in San Diego

About sdtmd.

San Diego Tourism Marketing District (SDTMD) is a Tourism Improvement District serving all areas within the City of San Diego. Lodging businesses with 70 rooms or more within the City are assessed a two percent fee on each room night. SDTMD uses these dollars to support marketing and promotional efforts of a variety of programs, services and special events that increase room night sales for assessed hotels. This consistent source of funding for tourism marketing allows San Diego to maintain its status as a competitive, first-tier visitor destination and is vital to the strength and success of the City’s tourism economy.

Why Tourism Matters

San Diego’s thriving economy depends on tourism. Thousands of jobs for our residents, billions in economic activity for our businesses, and millions in hotel taxes to our City—tourism benefits everyone in the City of San Diego. Through hotel tax (or TOT) revenue, San Diego’s out-of-town visitors help fund the services that keep our City safe, clean and a great place to live too.

Investing in Tourism

the things we love about San Diego

Contributes

to San Diego’s economy

revenue to fund City Services

1 in 8 jobs in San Diego

• Meeting Planners
• Meet the Team
• Services & Resources
• Service Providers
• Hotel & Venue Search
• Convention Center
• Travel Trade
• San Diego Specialist
• Trade Offers
• Request Images
• Hosting Assistance
• Press Releases

• Press Releases >

World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024 and City of San Diego Announce Year-Long Program

Programming includes six signature events, a series of inspiring design stories, 300+ community initiatives, a cross-border public art project and more!

On January 31, 2024, World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024 (WDC 2024) and the City of San Diego announced its year of programming for design-related events. The first cross-border designation in World Design Capital history, San Diego is the first U.S. city ever to receive the designation and Tijuana is the second city in Mexico to hold the title.

“We are thrilled to officially announce our year-long program of events and initiatives that have been created and led by community members from the San Diego Tijuana region, and are a reflection of the creative passion that exists here in the community,” said Mai Nguyen, Board Chair of WDC 2024 and Director of UC San Diego Design Lab. “WDC 2024 was made possible due to our passionate cross-border design community. Throughout the year, we will be supporting and presenting design-driven events that align with our mission to transform and elevate our region.”

The  San Diego Tourism Authority  (SDTA) is partnering with World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024 (WDC), to promote the cross-border region as a premier design destination and support a year-long slate of innovative programming.  “The World Design Capital will spotlight our region’s art, architecture and intellect, elevate us as an international design destination, and inspire our community for years to come,” said Julie Coker, president and CEO of the San Diego Tourism Authority. World Design Capital programming will feature a series of public events, conferences, exhibitions, summits and celebrations, bringing together global leaders to exchange ideas and create opportunities to use design to solve some of the region’s most critical issues. 

The calendar of events will include signature events in partnership with the World Design Organization, as well as community events that will help achieve program goals, demonstrate  cross-border collaboration and promote design thinking.

Signature Events

Throughout the year, WDC 2024 will present six signature events in partnership with the World Design Organization® across the San Diego Tijuana region featuring interactive design experiences for all. Signature events include the Community Celebration on February 28 at the Tijuana Cultural Center (CECUT); the World Design Festival powered by Tijuana Design Week happening May 1-5 in Tijuana; the World Design Experience powered by the Design Forward Alliance and San Diego Design Week happening September 18-25 in San Diego; the World Policy Conference powered by the City of San Diego and UC San Diego Design Lab taking place November 12-13 in San Diego; the World Design Network of Cities organized in partnership with the City of San Diego, the City of Tijuana, and the World Design Organization on November 15 in Tijuana; and the WDC 2024 Convocation Ceremony organized in partnership with the World Design Organization on November 16 at The Salk Institute.

World Design Spotlight

WDC 2024 will also be creating digital content capsules to share stories of design that shape the region. Curated by AIGA, the World Design Spotlight will highlight design-driven innovations, designers, design firms, design studios, and projects in the San Diego Tijuana region. Highlights include the Centro Cultural Tijuana (CECUT), Cross-Border Express (CBX), James Hubble / Ilan Lael Foundation, Qualcomm, Taylor Guitars, The Salk Institute, and The Stuart Collection at UCSD.

Temporary Art Installation

WDC 2024 has selected internationally recognized visual artist, Daniel Ruanova from Tijuana and full-service architecture and design agency Heleo, to create a temporary art installation titled "EXCHANGE Pavilion" that will come to life in the Plaza de Panama at Balboa Park and the Palacio Municipal de Tijuana. "EXCHANGE Pavilion" invites us to immerse ourselves in its physical and conceptual presence, contribute to its public memory and coexist with others who arrived along the way. “EXCHANGE Pavilion” will provoke dialogue, creativity, human connection, and the exchange of our collective experiences. A representation of the significance of WDC 2024 to the region, this installation will serve as a bridge, connecting people from various backgrounds, inspiring conversations, and fostering a sense of unity.

Community Initiatives

WDC 2024 will be endorsing 300+ community initiatives consisting of a diverse range of projects, events, exhibitions, activations, and more offering opportunities for active participation and engagement. The Community Programs will advance the mission of WDC 2024 to transform the region through the lens of design, curated and led by community members from San Diego and Tijuana.

“I’ve supported the World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana project from day one because of the economic benefits and cross-border collaboration that it will bring to our region,” said Councilmember Raul Campillo, who strongly advocated for $3 million for World Design Capital (WDC) in the FY2024 City of San Diego budget. “It’s an honor to help reveal more exciting details about the WDC San Diego Tijuana 2024 program, like the Balboa Park Pavilion and more than 300 community programs.”

The Prebys Foundation $1M Pledge

The Prebys Foundation is pledging an additional $1 million in matching funds to the World Design Capital. The Prebys Foundation is committed to fostering unity and growth within the cross-border communities, striving for a future that is inclusive, equitable, and vibrant. This means that for every dollar contributed to the WDC 2024, the Foundation will match it, effectively doubling the impact of each donation. This initiative is pivotal in promoting design excellence and urban policy, drawing investment and creative talent, fostering new partnerships, bolstering knowledge-driven economic growth, and enhancing the global reputation of the region as a premier travel destination. WDC 2024 is a program led and shaped by the community; we encourage everyone to engage with and support this matching challenge.

To learn more about WDC, visit: https://wdc2024.org

About World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024

The World Design Capital® (WDC) is designated every two years by the World Design Organization® (WDO) to recognize a city’s innovative and effective use of design to strengthen economic, social, cultural and environmental development. Through a year-long program of design-related events, WDC provides a platform to showcase best practices in design-led policy and innovation, increase civic engagement, and attract business and tourism. The selection of the San Diego Tijuana joint bid makes it the first cross-border World Design Capital in history. While the designation is for both cities as one connected community, San Diego is the first U.S. city ever to receive the designation. Tijuana is the second city in Mexico to hold the title, following Mexico City in 2018. WDC 2024 will host a series of events, exhibitions and summits including six signature events and supporting over 300 public events and initiatives that address the region’s most pressing challenges through design, and create a unified force for regional transformation. The region’s winning bid reflects the collective efforts of founding partners UC San Diego Design Lab , Design Forward Alliance , Burnham Center for Community Advancement , City of San Diego and City of Tijuana, and numerous community supporters. More information about World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024 is available at wdc2024.org .

About San Diego Tourism Authority

San Diego Tourism Authority is a private, non-profit, mutual benefit corporation composed of approximately 920 member organizations, businesses, local governments, and individuals seeking a better community through the visitor industry. San Diego Tourism Authority members include tourism-related entities in such categories as lodging, dining, arts, attractions, shopping, and transportation, among others, as well as other companies indirectly involved in tourism. Visit sandiego.org to learn more.

• Things to Do
• Downtown & Urban
• Inland Valley, Mountain & Desert
• Baja California
• Neighborhood Maps
• Getting Around
• Travel Guides & Apps
• Family Travel
• International Travelers
• Destination Weddings
• Visitor Information & Services
• Hotels & Resorts
• Bed & Breakfasts
• Camping & RV Parks
• Vacation Rentals
• Other Accommodations

English | Change Language

Select your country or region

Or use google translate.

Love Exploring

Amazing aeroplanes that changed the world

Posted: 25 April 2024 | Last updated: 25 April 2024

History's most influential aeroplanes

From the COVID-19 pandemic to the rise of carbon offsetting, it's been a tumultuous few years for everyone involved in aviation. However, the industry has experienced all manner of twists and turns down the decades, from the invention of the jet airliner to the rise and fall of supersonic travel.

Read on as we explore some of the most influential and important commercial planes to have ever graced our skies...

1910s: Benoist Type XIV

This rather modest-looking flying boat conducted the world's first scheduled airline flight. Designed by Thomas W. Benoist, the Benoist Type XIV first flew from the Florida city of St Petersburg to Tampa in January 1914 and was one of two aircraft belonging to the St Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line.

After the airline's first flight, it continued to operate between the two cities, flying over Tampa Bay and charging passengers $5 (£3.74) for the 23-minute journey. However, the aircraft was so small there was space for just one passenger who had to sit next to the pilot, quickly rendering the entire operation an unaffordable venture.

Having carried 1,205 passengers in the space of three months, the airline folded and the Benoist became the plaything of the wealthy. In 1984, a flying replica was built for the 70th anniversary of the flight, which is now on display in the St. Petersburg Museum of History. 

1910s: Handley Page H.P.42

The Handley Page H.P.42 was Imperial Airways' first major success, as it was specially designed to handle operations from unprepared ground. This meant it was not only ideal for taking off from the grass runways at Croydon Airport, in the south of England, but it also made it safer and simpler to land in desert environments across Africa and Asia. This led to the establishment of its long-haul routes and the creation of lots of small airports across Africa, many of which are still used today.

Here, the aircraft is pictured in Pakistan in 1934.

1930s: de Havilland DH89 Dragon Rapide

It's still possible to experience flight in a Dragon Rapide thanks to UK-based Classic Wings, which operates sightseeing excursions, flying above Cambridge, London, or Cambridge, Ely and Newmarket. The company's two planes have been restored to meet modern regulations and the price (from £99/$127) includes entry to the Imperial War Museum in Duxford.

Liking this? Click on the Follow button above for more great stories from loveEXPLORING

1930s: Douglas DC-3

1940s: de Havilland Comet

1950s: Sud Aviation Caravelle

The original Caravelle could seat between 90 to 99 passengers, however, later versions increased the capacity up to 131 and was used by such operators as Air France, Lufthansa, United Airlines, SAS and Thai Airways. The aircraft was retired in 2005 and several planes remain on display on airfields and in museums in Europe, North America and Africa.

1960s: Concorde

A challenge the aircraft faced was finding new routes. Because of the sonic boom produced when the plane broke the sound barrier, it wasn't legal to fly it over highly populated areas, limiting the aircraft's use around the world.

Inside the plane though, passengers would have little knowledge of breaking the sound barrier, as the shockwaves did not reach inside the cabin. Instead, travellers were treated to caviar, lobster and guinea fowl while cruising at 1,340 miles per hour (2,158km/h).

1960s: Boeing 747

Despite its former popularity, production of the Boeing 747 stopped in 2022 and most airlines, including British Airways, have retired their fleets. Currently, there are just five airlines, including Lufthansa, still using 747s for their operations.

So far in its lifetime, the groundbreaking plane has transported more than 3.5 billion people – the equivalent of half of the world's population.

1980s: Airbus A320

The single-aisle, twin-engine jet made its maiden flight in 1987 and was instantly adopted by Air France. Orders from various airlines across the world rolled in throughout the coming decades and the plane was redesigned into other variants like the stretched A321 and shrunken A319.

Its latest version A320neo is enhanced to benefit from up to 30% less fuel burn, compared to previous generation aircraft, and increased flight range of up to 560 miles (900km). American Airlines is currently the largest operator of A320s with more than 430 aircraft in its fleet.

Some 40 years down the line Airbus has not only caught up to Boeing but overtaken it, as far as the title for the world's most popular commercial aircraft is concerned. As Boeing's 737 MAX crisis continues, following the fatal crashes of Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines in 2018 and 2019, orders for the A320 have overtaken those of the 737.

Airbus delivered 571 A320s in 2023 alone, up 55 from 2022. “2023 was a landmark year for Airbus’ Commercial Aircraft business with exceptional sales and deliveries on the upper end of our target,” said Guillaume Faury, Airbus CEO.

1990s: Boeing 777

It was built in consultation with eight major airlines, including United Airlines and Emirates. The former was responsible for the aircraft's maiden flight on 7 June 1995, and orders for this widely-used model and its modern variants, like the 777X, are still coming in today.

In fact, as of March 2024, there are 515 777s on order worldwide.

One of the most defining features of the Triple Seven, as it's known informally, is its large landing gear. Each leg has a set of six tyres, making it capable of withstanding a load of up to 32.3 tonnes (29,294 kg).

The aircraft also still holds the record for the longest nonstop flight by a (non scheduled) commercial aeroplane, set in 2005 when the 777 flew eastbound from Hong Kong to London, covering 13,422 miles (21,633km).

2000s: Airbus A380

Although the Airbus A380 enjoyed a short production life of just 12 years, it's broken quite a few records. Known as a superjumbo jet, it's the largest passenger airliner to hit the skies, carrying up to 853 travellers at one time across two decks.

It was the first airliner to have two full decks for passengers (most previous double-deckers have only had partial upper decks) and its maximum take-off weight is that of seven Boeing 737s. Pictured is a mock-up of the A380s interior cabin at its first presentation in 2005.

In July 2020, components of the final Airbus A380 to be built rolled off the production line to rapturous applause by staff at the factory in southwest France. The last planes were assembled at Airbus' Toulouse factory and were delivered to Emirates at the end of 2021.

Although there are still over 130 aircraft in operation, the first retired Emirates A380 was repurposed into furniture and memorabilia for fans of the plane to purchase. The aircraft's iconic onboard bar was sold at auction for a whopping £43,862 ($50,000) in October 2022.

2000s: Boeing 787

There are several features that make the Dreamliner, as the 787 is called, so special. Major aerodynamic improvements mean a 20% increase in fuel efficiency, which combined with the aircraft's lightweight body and all-new wing design, means the aircraft is incredibly energy- and cost-efficient.

It's also the first-ever airliner to be constructed primarily out of composite materials – the body is assembled by joining together large barrel sections rather than by attaching multiple aluminium sections with thousands of fasteners.

Inside, the 787 can seat up to 336 passengers with as many as nine seats and two aisles abreast. Thanks to the composite body, the aircraft has larger windows that have replaced plastic window shades with smart glass that offers five levels of transparency.

The Dreamliner also claims to minimise jet lag thanks to higher pressure inside the aircraft and higher humidity levels (15% instead of the typical 4%), which leaves passengers more refreshed.

2010s: Airbus A350

At more than 240 feet (74m) long and 20 feet (6m) wide, the Airbus A350 is one massive plane. A direct competitor to the Boeing 787 and 777 models, the A350 first hit the skies in 2015, and has now completed 1.2 million flights worldwide without an airborne accident.

The 308-tonne plane fits nine seats across in two of its typical three seating classes, with 13-inch in-flight entertainment screens and enlarged overhead lockers. Airbus proudly boasts that the plane is "the quietest twin-aisle cabin in the skies", with LED lighting to encourage sleep and minimise jet lag.

The plane is particularly popular for ultra-long-haul travel, and could fly from New York to London two-and-a-half times without refuelling. Both the world's longest commercial flights (two Singapore Airlines routes between Singapore and New York) use the A350, as does the similarly lengthy flight from Singapore to San Francisco.

Project Sunrise – the codename for the 19+-hour flight between London and Sydney currently being developed by Qantas, which should become the world's longest non-stop route on completion – is also set to use the plane. The inaugural flights are scheduled to take-off in mid-2026, starting with Sydney to London and New York.

To purchase an Airbus A350-900 you'll need more than £250 million ($320m), while the slightly larger Airbus A350-1000 will put you back more than £287 million ($366m). The A350-1000 was released in 2018 and is a little larger than the classic A350-900 model, with an extra 23 feet (7m) in length, slightly increased wing size and 40 extra maximum capacity.

2020s: Airbus A330neo

In October 2022, the new Airbus A330neo took its first passengers from London to Boston. Virgin Atlantic was the first airline to order the state-of-the-art aircraft, which is now used by Condor, TAP Air Portugal, Delta and Lion Air, among others worldwide.

Boasting a wingspan of 210 feet (64m), it's one of the most energy-efficient models in the sky and flies further and faster than its immediate rivals. On board, it promises a 'premium, personalised experience for every customer'.

Among the cool cabin features are a new Upper Class seat and the Retreat Suite. The latter consists of two exclusive suites with 6ft 7in (2m) seats-turned-beds, 27-inch touchscreens and an ottoman that doubles as an extra seat.

Award-winning social space The Loft has also had a revamp. It now has space for eight people to enjoy a drink (or three) from the self-service fridge. Premium and Economy have not been forgotten about either – both have improved comfort, connectivity and storage. 

Now discover what air travel could look like in the future

Liked this? Click on the Follow button above for more great stories from loveEXPLORING

More for You

Netflix hit watched more than 21 million times in its first three days

Taylor Swift's 22 most essential songs, ranked

Jamie Carragher suggests Liverpool could sell Darwin Nunez after ‘unforgivable’ finishing

Australian women alleging ‘unlawful’ treatment at Doha airport launch appeal

The fastest way to sharpen a knife like a razor!

Commonwealth Bank employees given list of ‘ridiculous benefits’

Map shows the most rat-infested locations in the world

Scientists Put Tardigrade Proteins Into Human Cells. Here's What Happened.

20 country songs you didn't know were written by famous artists

Spanish prime minister on brink of resigning over wife’s corruption scandal

The 7 most addictive (and delicious) foods on the planet

Experts say that these 3 plants will cause damage to your garden

How many litres of water should you drink a day and does tea count?

Front loaders vs top loaders: The pros and cons of each type of washing machine

‘Very triggering’: USYD teacher speaks out on university protests

Rebels' administrator proposes Super club rescue deal

Grey divorce has a significant financial impact on women, Monash University researcher says

25 horror movies that were based on true stories

5 things in your home that visitors always notice

Erik ten Hag gives injury update on Mason Mount and five Man Utd defenders