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Become a Member of Love Catalina Island Tourism Authority

Download a 2024-25 Membership Packet

Dear Prospective Member:

Thank you for your interest in becoming a member of Love Catalina Island Tourism Authority. In joining Love Catalina Island, you will be working with over 220+ Catalina Island businesses and organizations to ensure a strong economic future for the community.

Love Catalina Island Tourism Authority is governed by a 19-member Board of Directors. Thirteen of these directors are elected by the membership from member businesses. The other directors represent major interests on the Island and the Island’s major service clubs.

The primary focus of our organization is the promotion of tourism to Catalina Island. As tourism is the Island’s only industry, a steady flow of visitors is necessary to keep our economy moving. Our current emphasis is in attracting visitors during the “off season” and mid-week. While the Love Catalina Island marketing budget sustains much of this effort, we also enter into cooperative ventures with our members to achieve our promotional goals.

The paragraphs below describe many of our activities, membership requirements and classifications, along with our dues schedule. Should you require any further information, or would like to schedule a meeting to discuss membership, please contact Carmen Chavez at (310) 510-1520.

Again, thank you for your interest. We sincerely hope we can include you on the membership roster of the Love Catalina Island Tourism Authority!

Sincerely,

Jim Lüttjohann
President and Chief Executive Officer

What Is The Catalina Island Tourism Authority?

Because tourism is Avalon’s only industry, Island residents and businesses have a strong interest in promoting travel and tourism so as to improve the local economy. The City of Avalon, the only incorporated municipality on Catalina Island, is particularly interested in tourism promotion because taxes generated by tourism and related activities are the primary source of most city revenues.

Incorporated in 1949 as the Avalon Chamber of Commerce, Love Catalina Island has been promoting Avalon and Catalina Island for the past 74 years. A membership of over 220+ businesses and individuals involved in the hospitality industry serve the needs of the island’s visitors. While performing the functions of both a Chamber of Commerce and a Tourism Authority, the organization’s primary role is that of the community’s only private, non-profit destination marketing organization.

Funding for Love Catalina Island Tourism Authority is provided by both public and private sources. Overnight visitors to Avalon pay a transient occupancy tax collected by all city hotels and other transient accommodations. The City of Avalon allocates 22% of this tax for advertising and promotion through Love Catalina Island Tourism Authority. In a normal fiscal year, these public funds will account for approximately 65% of the Love Catalina Island’s total budget. The remaining funds come from membership dues, member participation fees for various programs, and through fundraising. The private sector further leverages Love Catalina Island funding through in-kind contributions of boat tickets, hotel rooms, event tickets, meals, and other services. Members also coordinate their advertising and sales programs in cooperation through joint participation in travel and trade shows, hosting site inspections, ‘banner’ advertising, and other programs.

MISSION

The mission of the Love Catalina Island Tourism Authority is to attract visitors and advocate for commerce on Catalina Island.

STAFF

Love Catalina Island is staffed by a team of sales and marketing professionals. Current staff includes a President/CEO & Film Liason, Vice President Marketing & Sales, Destination Marketing Manager, Events Manager, Administrative Manager, Visitor & Member Services Manager, and Visitor Services Specialists.

Download a Membership Application

Download a 2024-25 Membership Packet

Click to see a full list of BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP

Membership Dues Schedule

2024-2025

Dues Requirements: Membership in Love Catalina Island Tourism Authority is renewed on an annual basis in July of each year. On application, the applicant must provide a copy of their City of Avalon Business License (if required) and the application must be accompanied by the full amount of the membership dues. Renewal memberships must provide a copy of their current business license as well. Memberships will be prorated for businesses becoming members during the fiscal year (see percentage schedule below). A one time administration fee of $35 will be included with all new applications. The membership year is from July 1 through June 30. The dues level for the various membership categories is as follows:

Active Member - The status of Active Member shall be conferred upon those persons, firms, corporations or associations who are engaged in a profession or business in the City of Avalon or are engaged in business on Catalina Island. Each Active Member has the right to one vote on matters coming for a vote before the membership. Active members are entitled to one free listing on LoveCatalina.com, in the annually published Visitors Guide, and may purchase advertising in the Visitors Guide at rates lower than those offered to non-members.

Accommodations: Hotels, rental units, condominiums, apartments & real estate offices.
$632.00 plus $4.00 per rentable unit.

Restaurants: An establishment serving food with table service provided.
$632.00 plus $1.00 per seat.

Transportation: Dues based on number of passengers carried per year

1 – 500	$449.00	5,000 – 25,000	$1,906.00
500 – 1,000	$635.00	25,000 – 100,000	$2,546.00
1,000 – 5,000	$1,265.00	100,000 +	$3,812.00

Banks & Utilities: $1,250.00 per year

Trade Services/Non-Retail Trades: $135 per year; examples include: plumbers, electricians, handyman/maintenance worker.

Business: Any business entity not fitting one of the above classifications: $449.00 plus $2.00 per employee during peak season.

Community Non-Profit Organizations: $62.00 per year

Corporate Membership: Multiple businesses owned by the same individual or entity may elect to apply for a “corporate” membership. The annual dues of Corporate Members shall be $1,280.00, plus $200.00 per individual business (DBA), plus the per seating, per employee, per passenger carried, or per unit charges applying to the categories listed above.

Non-Business Friend of Love Catalina Island: Those persons who are not actively involved in business activities, but who share a common interest with the objectives of the corporation may apply for membership as a Non-Business Friend of Love Catalina Island. The dues required is $105.00 per year. Non-Business Friends of Love Catalina Island are not entitled to vote on matters coming for a vote before the membership, nor do they receive a free listing in the Visitors Guide or on Love Catalina Island’s website.

IRS regulations require that you be informed that contributions or gifts to Love Catalina Island Tourism Authority are not tax deductible as charitable contributions. However, they may be tax deductible as ordinary and necessary business expenses. You may wish to consult your tax advisor regarding the deductibility of these contributions.

Month in which a new member joins:
% of Yearly Dues (prorated)