LAKEPORT — Tourism development and marketing strategies took center stage at the Lake County Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting Tuesday as the Lake County Economic Development Marketing Strategic Plan was discussed.
Debra Sommerfield, deputy administrative officer for the county, brought Dan Fenton with Strategic Advisory Group (SAG), an advisory services firm, to present the plan the group was working on since entering an agreement with the county in April.
Fenton and Sommerfield worked with business leaders to develop a collaborative strategic plan to increase tourism. The result of the more than 150 conversations developed into an aggressive new plan to transform Lake County into a tourist hub.
Winery and vineyard owner Clay Shannon said he was involved from the beginning with the process. He said the county needs to identify its assets, such as as Mount Konocti, Clear Lake and the clean air. He also said it is important to find ways to embrace the county”s faults.
Fenton pointed out key elements to vamping the county”s tourism industry, including the creation of a database where visitors can go to find out things to do in the county and the creation of a county tourism organization with a nine-member advisory board representative of the industry in Lake County. The development of a “chief concierge” position at the county Visitor Information Center and the development of tourism packages to market to consumers was also suggested. Shannon said the goal should be to create great experiences for customers that are detailed and create value.
Fenton suggested instilling a greater social media presence on the Internet for the county. He said utilizing Facebook and Twitter to promote events and experiences as well as building an improved county website that could serve as a hub for an event calendar would help drive business into the county. A shift in focus to sales and online marketing would also assist in bringing in more tourist dollars. Business owners in the audience expressed support for the plan during public input and urged the supervisors to approve the plan. The plan was only marked as a presentation on the agenda, barring the BOS from voting on it, but the supervisors gave consensus for supporting the plan and moving forward with it.
Kevin N. Hume can be reached at kevin.n.hume@gmail.com or call directly 263-5636 ext. 14.
