COBB — The host of public television”s OpenRoad, Doug McConnell, said Friday in Cobb during a tourism workshop that when he did a show on Lake County that he barely scratched the surface of what the area has to offer.
“I really love it up here on this mountain,” McConnell said.
A group of more than 70 business people and county employees gathered from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday with the Board of Supervisors at the Rob Roy Golf Club in Cobb to connect and teach each other how to build visitors” experience. The Lake County Chamber of Commerce and the Lake County Marketing & Economic Development Program co-sponsored the event.
McConnell said Lake County is so close to thousands of possible tourists in the Bay Area and surrounding counties that if organizations get the word out about the county”s authenticity, character, history and recreation opportunities, they will come.
“People are looking for places they can”t find everywhere else,” McConnell said. “Boy, you have it here.”
McConnell said he thinks the county”s best asset is Clear Lake and businesses should use it to bring people in for tourism. He encouraged the business representatives to use technology to their advantage and clearly tell their own story.
McConnell was the former host of KRON-TV”s series Bay Area Backroads, which ran for 24 years and went off the air last year, he said.
A number of other people gave presentations Friday.
Chairman Anthony Farrington of the Board of Supervisors presented a proclamation designating today to May 16 as Travel and Tourism Week in Lake County.
Director Kim Clymire of the Lake County Public Services Department told the group of the progress on opening Mount Konocti for trail use, which has been pushed back from his hope of opening May 1.
“The mountain is the jewel of the lake,” Clymire said. “When you go around the lake the mountain is the centerpiece.”
Assistant planner Alan Flora of the county Community Development Department gave the crowd an update on Konocti Regional Trails, which is still in the planning process to link communities and parks with walking, biking and equestrian trails.
Winemaker Gregory Graham of the Lake County Wine Grape Growers” Association told the crowd why the grapes grow so well at a high quality in the county, including the elevation, climate, clean air and diverse soil.
Susan Mesick of Six Sigma Ranch & Winery, Shalean Smith of the Tallman Hotel and Laura Falteisek of the Lodge at Blue Lakes gave a presentation on packages, partnering and pampering to make guests happy and keep them coming back to the county.
Jonelle Tannahill, tourism department manager with the California Travel & Tourism Commission, gave an update on the commission”s tourism marketing programs and activities designed to keep California as a top travel destination.
Tony Barthel of Featherbed Railroad and Internet marketing consultant Carol Cole-Lewis told the business people how to turn casual onlookers into raving fans with the Internet and social media.
Sandra West of Edgewater Resort gave a presentation on the importance of educating staff on customer service.
A showcase was also presented by Anne Garner of Eleven Roses Ranch, Loretta Byrne of Tulip Hill Winery and Marilyn Holdenried of the Kelseyville Pear Festival.
Contact Katy Sweeny at kdsweeny@gmail.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
