Pasadena, California. Photo: Shutterstock.com
Severe wildfires in Los Angeles have left at least 10 people dead, close to 10,000 structures destroyed, and 130,000 people evacuating their homes.
The largest fire in the Pacific Palisades has now burned across 17,000 acres. The area, just west of Beverly Hills and southeast of Calabasas, is under a mandatory evacuation order by the LA Fire Department. It is just one of five areas facing major fires in the southern California area, according to Los Angeles Times.
In a letter to travel industry partners on Wednesday afternoon, Visit California President and CEO Caroline Beteta said the agency is “heartbroken to see the damage unfolding from the Los Angeles wildfires.” She then outlined communication efforts by Visit California and urged travel partners with on-the-ground information to reach out to the organization, which is also in close contact with local government and emergency services.
“Visit California has activated its Crisis Communications Plan, and we are working closely with partners in affected destinations in the region to communicate accurate and up-to-date information to potential visitors around the world,” she said. “Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the fire, and we’ll continue to help offer updates on any changes that may impact the visitor experience.”
Discover Los Angeles also provided an update on the fires on Wednesday evening, urging those in the area to register for NotifyLA, the city’s emergency alert system. The tourism and conventions board also shared that help can be offered in the form of donations to Los Angeles Fire Foundation and American Red Cross.
“Our hearts are with the members of our community during this difficult time,” reads a statement from Discover Los Angeles on its website. “We extend our deepest gratitude to the first responders who have worked tirelessly to combat the fires since they began on Tuesday.”
Here’s how tourism and travel may be impacted by the disaster.
Though Los Angeles hotels are open, many are focusing on housing evacuees. Discover Los Angeles has listed the accommodations that are offering discounts to those affected, including Hyatt Place LAX Century Blvd, Hotel Erwin Venice Beach, The Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles, Universal Hilton, W Hollywood, and many others. Airbnb is also offering free temporary housing to those who have been displaced.
According to an IHG Hotels & Resorts spokesperson, Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Pasadena and Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Chatsworth are also housing evacuees. 
“The safety and security of our guests and hotel teams are our highest priority, and our thoughts are with those affected by the fires,” the spokesperson said. “There are no closures of IHG hotels currently, but area properties are closely watching and will follow guidance for evacuation orders from city officials and emergency personnel, as necessary.” 
Hilton also noted that all hotels are open and operational; however, those with stays arriving through Jan. 10 that are impacted by the fires may be eligible for modification and cancellation penalty waivers. 
“Our thoughts are with all who have been impacted by the wildfires in Los Angeles County,” the spokesperson said. “Hilton is closely monitoring the situation with the safety and security of our guests and Team Members as our top priority. At this time, we have no reports of physical impacts or evacuations at Hilton properties in the affected area.” 
A growing number of attractions in the Los Angeles area are closed until further notice, according to Discover Los Angeles. The Hollywood Sign, Griffith Park, Lake Hollywood Park, Hollywood Reservoir, Runyon Canyon and the L.A. Zoo are all closed.
Universal Studios and CityWalk was closed for two days, but reopened on Friday, Jan. 10, while Warner Brothers Studios Tours and Paramount Pictures Studio Tour will remain closed through Sun., Jan. 12.
The Rose Bowl Stadium has canceled events until further notice while it is being used for emergency response efforts.
Angeles National Forest will be closed through Jan. 15 for “public safety and the protection of natural resources.”
The Getty Villa and Getty Center, a popular art museum in Palisades, will be closed at least through Jan. 13. The Palisades’ Will Rogers State Historic Park is also closed and has been harmed by the fires.
Other attractions with closures as of Friday include Academy Museum & Fanny’s, Wicked @ the Pantages Theatre, Skirball Cultural Center, Pasadena Playhouse, Natural History Museum & La Brea Tar Pits, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).
As of Friday morning, airports in the Los Angeles area have not seen major disruptions from the fires, with some delays reported but cancellations remaining low. At Los Angeles International (LAX), for example, only 13 departures were canceled—1% of its total schedule—while 26 others were delayed, or 3% of its schedule.
Nevertheless, several airlines are allowing travelers to adjust their plans without penalties as the fires continue.
Delta has issued a waiver for travel through four airports—Los Angeles International (LAX), Ontario International (ONT), Burbank (BUR), and Santa Ana/Orange County (SNA). The waiver is currently valid through Jan. 10 but could be extended. Delta is allowing passengers traveling through these airports to reschedule flights no later than Jan. 15.
United has issued a waiver for the same four airports for travel through Jan. 11. United is permitting impacted passengers to change to new flights through Jan. 17 and is also allowing them to switch their origin airport to another California airport, including Bakersfield (BFL), Palm Springs (PSP), San Diego (SAN), and others.
JetBlue has issued a waiver for travel through Los Angeles International (LAX) for flights through Jan. 9. JetBlue’s waiver allows for rebooking on flights through Jan. 16.
Princess Cruises, which operates out of Los Angeles, released a statement on Thursday regarding the fires and information for guests who may be impacted by the devastation. 
“Princess Cruises, Los Angeles’ hometown cruise line, is deeply saddened by the devastation caused by the Palisades and Eaton fires. Our hearts go out to all those affected during this challenging time,” the statement said. “While the Los Angeles World Cruise Center and Los Angeles International Airport remain fully operational and unaffected by the fires, we are keenly aware of the hardships faced by many in our community.” 
The cruise line is offering cancellation flexibility to guests “residing in evacuation areas or whose homes have sustained significant damage,” and were scheduled to depart between Jan. 11 and Jan. 30, 2025.  
Those eligible guests will receive a Future Cruise Credit equal to the value of their booking and full refunds on any additional purchases such as shore excursions or Princess Packages. 
“We are committed to ensuring these guests have the opportunity to rebook their cruise when the time is right for them. The Future Cruise Credit will be valid for any Princess cruise departing from the Los Angeles World Cruise Center in 2025,” the statement says. “At Princess Cruises, we are proud to be part of the Los Angeles community, and we remain committed to supporting our neighbors as we face these challenges together.”
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