Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau. (George Kirkland, president)

Los Angeles Convention & Visitors Bureau

Los Angeles is not as "user-friendly" as it should be, according to George D. Kirkland, President of the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau. "It can be blamed on the traffic congestion, gang warfare or the environment" he said in a recent SCB interview. "Los Angeles suffers from a perception problem. Our studies show that the American public thinks Los Angeles is not a bad place to do business, but it is difficult to live, work, send their kids to college or retire here. Unfortunately, perception becomes a reality after awhile."

Kirkland, who has only held the convention bureau job since last February, points to a new study by the international accounting firm, Pannell Kerr Forster. The firm's figures show that hotel occupancy in Los Angeles County dropped almost 3.5 …