Oct. 17, 2024 - More than 70 stakeholders of the local tourism community gathered at the Chicken Ranch Casino Resort for Visit Tuolumne County’s annual Tourism Summit.
“The Summit is an important opportunity for our industry to come together and recognize what we have accomplished in the past year as we prepare for the challenges of the year ahead.” said President and CEO Lisa Mayo.
The group was welcomed by Lloyd Mathiesen, chairman of the Chicken Ranch Rancheria Me-Wuk Indians of California Tribal Council.
An update on the development of the Tourism Marketing District, which will which will create a sustainable funding source to promote the county and support local businesses year-round, was presented by Tina Valdecanas, principal of Clarity of Place.
Amy Chambers, Visit California’s Director of Engagement, provided insights into the state’s tourism industry performance, upcoming marketing initiatives, and opportunities for participation.
Mayo presented highlights of Visit Tuolumne County’s Annual Report, with reports from Visit Tuolumne County Marketing Manager Jen Lopez, Cathy Nanadiego of the Augustine Agency on advertising, and Laurie Armstrong Gossy on public relations.
David Holder, co-founder of Clarity of Place engaged attendees with his keynote, “Tourism Dependency, Competing for Revenue Growth.”
ABOUT VISIT TUOLUMNE COUNTY
Visit Tuolumne (“to-all-o-me”) County (VTC) is the official destination marketing organization for Tuolumne County in Northern California. Tuolumne County is just a 2.5 hour drive east of the San Francisco Bay Area. The destination is known for its pristine, scenic expanse reaching into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Gold was discovered in Tuolumne County in 1848, setting off the major gold rush of 1849. The main highways leading to the picturesque drive from the Bay Area are Highways 108 and 120 from the west and Highway 49 from the north. The State Highway 120 entrance to Yosemite National Park is considered the “front door” of the park for the Bay Area. The Stanislaus National Forest, Yosemite National Park and other surrounding areas provide natural vistas and settings for hiking, water skiing, horseback riding, rafting, camping, snowmobiling, boating, snow skiing, fishing, and other outdoor activities. Seven restored historic hotels, four golf courses, numerous and varied dining establishments, historic saloons, four wineries, a hard cider distillery, train rides, casinos, seven museums, two state historic parks, two live theaters, many bed-and-breakfast inns and a variety of Airbnb accommodations are among the many other attributes that make the county a year-round vacation destination. For more information, go to www.visittuolumne.com.
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Media Contact:
Lisa Mayo
President & CEO
Visit Tuolumne County
lisa@gotuolumne.com
209-768-3214
