Long Beach Turns to Refurbished Queen Mary for 2028 Olympic Tourism

[Sanjeev Advani]

Long Beach, California, is revitalizing its historic Queen Mary ship and hotel to attract tourists during the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Once on the verge of being scrapped, the ship has undergone $45 million in repairs, boosting visitor numbers and profitability. City officials plan to make the Queen Mary a centerpiece of their Olympic tourism strategy, alongside hosting five Olympic events.

In addition to refurbishing the ship, Long Beach is developing its downtown and waterfront areas, including a new amphitheater and commercial spaces. While challenges remain, officials hope to leverage Olympic visibility to increase tourism and support broader economic growth. The Queen Mary’s resurgence, with expanded hotel capacity and popular attractions like ghost tours, is a key part of this effort. City leaders are optimistic that these developments will help transform Long Beach into a modern tourism and business hub.