998: Newport Beach: How a Luxury Destination Keeps Its Soul

Newport Beach isn’t just a luxury destination — it’s one of the rare places where the reality matches the postcard.

In this episode, Glenn Haussman teams up with Craig Sullivan to talk with Gary Sherwin, CEO of Visit Newport Beach, about how the city blends aspirational travel with small-town warmth, protects its brand identity, and avoids the generic marketing pitfalls many destinations fall into.

We explore the “bubble of unreality,” the city’s fiercely intentional branding, the hyper-local ownership behind its hotels, the evolving definition of luxury, and how Newport Beach maintains authenticity while still innovating.

This episode is brought to you by Actabl — Actabl gives you the power to profit. Visit Actabl.com.

What you’ll learn:

🌴: Why Newport Beach’s DMO built a brand promise used by hotel developers

🏨: How local hotel ownership changes strategy, agility, and community cohesion

🎯: Why destination marketing loses effectiveness when it tries to please everyone

🎨: How Newport avoids homogenized design and delivers a true sense of place

📸: Why in-house creative beats agency work for authenticity and speed

🎄: How “50 Days of Festive Fun” boosts shoulder-season occupancy

🍽️: The city’s evolving F&B scene — RH, Ocean 48, Ralph’s Coffee, and more

🏖️: Why luxury today means relaxed, personal, and highly customized