Our recent research for a project in Anaheim, California revealed some exciting new hospitality-related developments happening in the area. These developments will have an impact on tourism, employment, and the general economy in Anaheim and the surrounding areas in 2024 and beyond.

• In April 2024, the Anaheim City Council approved a $1.9 billion to $2.5 billion expansion plan at the Disneyland resort. This massive, multi-year project will bring new attractions, hotels, shops, and restaurants to the resort complex, as well as increased parking and major street and entry improvements. The Disneyland expansion will create thousands of jobs in the Anaheim area during the construction phase and will significantly benefit nearby hotels and restaurants for years to come.

• In 2023, the Disney California Adventure Park opened a new themed area modeled on the fictional city of San Fransokyo, featured in the 2014 animated film Big Hero 6. This area replaced the park’s former Pacific Wharf district. Other recent projects within the Anaheim resort district have included the opening of a new Pixar Place Hotel, a new Avengers-themed campus, the new Tiana’s Bayou Adventure log flume ride, and new restaurants in Downtown Disney.

• A new mixed-use development called OCVibe is now in the early stages of construction near the Honda Center arena in Anaheim. This massive project will create 1,500 residential units, two new hotels, over 30 eateries, a 5,700-capacity concert venue, and 20 acres of parks and open space. Representing an investment of nearly $4 billion, OCVibe will be completed in phases over the next few years.

• A recent analysis by the Orange County Business Journal indicated that roughly $8 billion worth of redevelopment was currently underway or planned for the county’s retail centers. Major projects are set to include a $500 million redevelopment of the MainPlace Mall in Santa Ana; a $600 million rebuild of the former Laguna Hills Mall, including new retail, hotel, and residential uses; and a $650 million overhaul of the Village at Buena Park, also set to include residential units.

• According to Visit Anaheim, the area’s official destination marketing organization, Anaheim welcomed a record-high 25.8 million visitors in 2023. Visitor expenditures reached $6.5 billion in 2023, marking a 7.5% increase over 2022. The group noted that $10 billion worth of tourism-related developments were underway as of mid-2024 that will support further growth in visitation and spending over the next several years.