Applause fills the room as Christina Davis, President/CEO of the LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce, calls the room to order. The surroundings are almost regal, with the newly remodeled ballroom at the Renaissance Los Angeles Airport Hotel sporting warm greys and indigo tones, the metallic shine of each cushioned chair balancing nicely with gold light fixtures. There are over 200 pairs of hands clapping this afternoon, and mixed in with the noise the crowd can hear sporadic laughter and radio chatter. The radio chatter might seem out of place for a luncheon with LAX Coastal community leaders, but it is a familiar noise to those who are being recognized: our local protectors.

It is 11:30 in the morning on Monday, September 25—and the 2017 Protectors Appreciation Luncheon has begun.
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Hosted each year by the LAX Coastal Chamber, the Protectors Luncheon is an afternoon of celebrating those indispensable to our society that are often overlooked. In the wake of recent natural disasters across our nation, the importance of law enforcement and service agencies has never been more prominent. From hurricanes and floodwaters to fires and evacuations, we have watched brave men and women across America rush to the aid of citizens in need. Each department has done their part to fulfill a career promise to protect and serve, and now it is our turn to respond to the call of service by honoring these heroes—by inviting them out to lunch with entertainment and prizes!

This year’s entertainment was courtesy of an esteemed NFL team, the newly-appointed Los Angeles Rams. Kevin Demoff, the football team’s Executive Vice President and COO, spoke on the exciting developments within the Los Angeles region and the team’s eagerness to participate in the betterment of this community. Demoff’s speech drew laughter from the crowd, but his popularity went through the roof as he ended his appearance by drawing winning tickets from the Protectors Only raffle, sending a lucky few home with overnight stays to local hotels, gift baskets from local businesses, and even one grand prize of 100,000 United Airline miles (donated by Rainbow Acres Washington Blvd.). Protectors who did not have their tickets called didn’t have long to grieve, however, as our community generously donated enough items for each protector to take home something special as a token of our appreciation.
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At the Protectors Luncheon, service men and women from Los Angeles Airport Police, California Highway Patrol, Los Angeles Fire Department, Marina del Rey Sheriffs, and more spend their lunch hour mingling with the business owners and residents they protect each day. Conversation is encouraged and engaging, and while their uniforms might be intimidating it’s the smiles on their faces that draw you in and help build rapport. It truly is an afternoon of celebration and respect, one that would not be possible without the generosity of the LAX Coastal community.

As such, we would like to once again extend our thanks to not only our first responders, whom this event is dedicated to, but also to those who made the 2017 Protectors Appreciation Luncheon happen. The LAX Coastal Chamber would like to recognize the following organizations:

Headline Sponsors: Drollinger Family Charitable Foundation, Los Angeles Airport Peace Officers Association, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles World Airports.

Premier Sponsors: Gateway Los Angeles, HHLA, Jane St. John RE/MAX Estate Properties.

Supporting Sponsors: Cedars-Sinai, Hollywood Park Casino, KRB Flood & Fire Restoration, Marina del Rey Lessees Association, Marina Harbor Apartments & Anchorage / The Shores, Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club, Playa Vista / Brookfield Residential, SoCalGas, Southwest Airlines.
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Donors: Benny’s Tacos & Chicken Rotisserie, Cantalini’s Salerno Beach Restaurant, Dave & Busters, Embassy Suites LAX North, H Hotel Los Angeles, Curio Collection by Hilton, Homewood Suites LAX, HHLA, Hornblower Cruises & Events, Inn at Playa del Rey, Jamaica Bay Inn / Pacifica Hotels, Jane St. John RE/MAX Estate Properties, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Airport Marriott Hotel, Melody Bar & Grill, Melody Pizza, Renaissance Los Angeles Airport Hotel, Residence Inn by Marriott Los Angeles LAX, Tony P’s Dockside Grill, Truxton’s American Bistro, Westchester Watch Works, Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel.

Working for the local Chamber of Commerce definitely has its perks! From special events, grand openings, and fundraisers, to meeting high-ranking politicians, industry leaders, and (the occasional) celebrity, the staff of the LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce is able to participate in so many wonderful opportunities.
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This past August, I—Christina Davis, President/CEO of the LAX Coastal Chamber—was invited to represent the LAX Coastal community on a travel mission to Los Cabos, Mexico with our member Southwest Airlines. I was not alone, as 8 other community partners from all over Southern California were invited to participate in the introduction of Southwest’s new non-stop international service from Oakland, Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego. Southwest worked closely with key tourism agencies, including the Los Cabos Tourism Board and the Mexican Tourism Board, to arrange for a magical stay where our group learned more about the exciting travel opportunities in Mexico.

The flight was a breeze; we arrived at LAX for an 8 a.m. flight and in less than 2-hours we were in beautiful Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Our host for the 3-day trip was the Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos, an all-inclusive resort that did not disappoint! With over 10 on-site restaurants, 4 luxury pools, easy beach access, and spectacular views of the ocean, the Hyatt Ziva has not seen the last of me.

Our first day was wonderful! We were enthusiastically welcomed by our partners with an evening filled with authentic Mexican cuisine and a Latin dance performance, and while we were hesitant to call it a night, we eventually settled into our luxurious rooms to get ready for an early morning wake up call. The next day we traveled into Cabo San Lucas, where a tour guide from Cabo Adventures took us our on the water for a day of sailing. Our ocean trip began with a champagne toast and included paddle boarding, snorkeling, great food, and fabulous company. We were amazed by the variety of life within the ocean, from colorful fish all the way to the 3 sharks that were spotted—at a healthy distance away from our group, of course. As we headed back to shore, I would have been content if our day at sea was the highlight of our day, but our Southwest and Mexico partners had other things in mind!

Next stop was the SUR Beach House, an oceanfront restaurant with AMAZING food. This Bahia Hotel restaurant was set in an unassuming location on the side of a hill, but had views that will take your breath away. We were treated to a 7-course meal prepared by a highly-talented and innovative chef who, at only 27-years old, wowed each of his guests with culinary delights.

After a quick (and food coma induced) break in our rooms, we headed back out with Cabo Adventures for a surprise excursion. We traveled 45-minutes from our hotel by bus to an isolated beach path in what looked like the middle of nowhere. We were stopped at a gate where a lone gentleman kindly welcomed us onto the grounds before continuing our drive. Upon arrival, each of us was taken aback by the sight of a pristine, private beach. We were welcomed by staff members and a camel named Luis onto an isolated patio that overlooked the ocean, where we were treated like royalty with drinks, appetizers, a 4-course meal prepared by on-site chefs, a live mariachi band, and bonfire. Each of us wined, dined, laughed, sang, took photos with Luis the camel, and spent the evening enjoying one another’s company.
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Like I said earlier, it was a magical experience.

When it was all over, each of us felt the twinge of separation at having to leave this wonderful place. During this trip we experienced new adventures, dined on fine cuisine, discovered new places, and enjoyed the warm hospitality of our friends in Mexico, all thanks to our partners at Southwest Airlines.

As an organization that thrives on relationships, the importance of collaborative partnerships within our community, our nation, and our world is not lost on us. Everyone thrives when we work together, and this mission trip offered our area a chance to work closely with one of our great neighbors: Mexico. They blew me away with their kindness and I was trilled to learn more about their rich culture. Also, the community leaders that joined me on this mission have become my own friends and partners, all of us connected and looking forward to supporting one another.
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As your local chamber, we are here to be your partner and to help spread our message of growth, prosperity, and goodwill across borders. Thank you for this opportunity, Southwest Airlines; we cannot wait to continue the tradition!


Sincerely,
Christina Davis
President/CEO
LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce


@VisitMexico
@SouthwestAir
@LAXCoastal