What Is Visit Huntington Beach?
Visit Huntington Beach (VHB) is the official Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) for Huntington Beach, California.
A non-profit 501(c)(6) organization, Visit Huntington Beach promotes tourism to Huntington Beach to increase overnight stays in Huntington Beach Hotels. VHB received its accreditation from Destinations International (DI) in 2012, and is among two hundred DMOs around the world to earn this prestigious status in the global tourism industry. VHB renewed its accreditation in 2022 and received the highest possible recognition for a destination organization – "Accreditation with Distinction," indicating that the organization exceeded the minimum requirements for accreditation with over 100 mandatory and voluntary standards that span a variety of performance areas. With over 200 destination organizations who have obtained DMAP recognition, fewer than 10% earn “Accreditation with Distinction”.
Visit Huntington Beach Mission
The mission of Visit Huntington Beach supports and advocates for the economic vitality and quality of life for our Huntington Beach community through inspirational destination marketing and brand management.
For more information about Visit Huntington Beach and its initiatives, view the 2023-24 Annual Report.
Who Is Visit Huntington Beach?
VHB, formed in 1989, is the official destination marketing organization (commonly referred to as a DMO) for Huntington Beach, California. It is a private, non-profit 501(c)(6) organization.
VHB is an economic development organization that reinvests visitor-generated assessments from Huntington Beach lodging properties to create more local jobs, increase visitor spending at local businesses and increase overnight visitor stays in our local hotels. All these results lead to an increase in tax revenues for local government.
Visit Huntington Beach consists of a team of dedicated staff members and board members working toward a more successful Huntington Beach. A non-membership organization, its partners consist of the City of Huntington Beach, all Huntington Beach lodging properties and visitor-serving businesses, and visitor-serving organizations in Huntington Beach. For questions regarding partnership, please view our Partner Benefits section or contact a staff member.
Visit Huntington Beach works collaboratively with many organizations within the community, but is not involved in their operations or decision-making processes. For more information on those organizations and their work, please visit their organization websites below:
- Government services; parking permits; City Council meetings; policies; public safety & law enforcement.
Downtown Huntington Beach Business Improvement District
- Represents over 250 downtown businesses that provide visitors with dining, shopping, and retail experiences
- Surf City Nights (the only certified farmers’ market in HB)
- Surf City Artisan Fair
Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce
- With a membership of more than 600 Huntington Beach businesses, the Chamber works to build a stronger Huntington Beach business community.
Why Does Visit Huntington Beach Exist?
Visit Huntington Beach was formed in 1989, just prior to the opening of the city's first resort hotel, The Waterfront Beach Resort, a Hilton Hotel. Knowing the hotels would need help marketing to the appropriate audience, VHB's founders partnered with the Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce and City of Huntington Beach to begin a destination marketing program. VHB is the only local organization charged with the responsibility of promoting tourism and encouraging its continued growth in the city.
In 2022, 2.26 million visitors from outside of Orange County visited Surf City USA®. These visitors enjoy a variety of accommodations from beachside resorts to quaint inns along Pacific Coast Highway and Beach Boulevard.
In 2022, overnight visitors contributed $16.2 million dollars to the city through the transient occupancy tax. This revenue (which excludes VHB funding) is used to fund city departments such as police, fire, public works, community services, and others. The robust tourism industry also provides 1 in 25 jobs in Huntington Beach.
Visit Huntington Beach has a strong commitment to transparency and accountability in our program of work. We invite you to learn more.