Members of Visit Temecula Valley (VTV), the region’s official tourism-marketing organization and resource for visitors recently elected the 2017 executive board to serve one-year terms. VTV members also re-elected incumbent directors for three-year terms.
VTV members named Cherise Manning (A Grape Escape Balloon Adventure, hot air ballooning), chairman of the executive board. The additional 2017 executive board members selected are John Kelliher (Grapeline Wine Tours, transportation) first vice-chairman; Ken Westmyer (Quality Inn Temecula Valley Wine Country), first vice-chairman-Tourism Improvement District (TID) advisory board; Scott Wilson (Pechanga Resort & Casino, Pechanga), second vice-chairman; Bill Wilson (Wilson Creek Winery-large winery), treasurer; and Melody Brunsting (Melody’s Ad Works, marketing) secretary. The 2016, chairman of the board, Tom DeMott (Temecula Creek Inn, TID lodging) continues in 2017 as a VTV board director.
Re-elected to the board were incumbents, Robert Renzoni, Robert Renzoni Vineyards, Ken Smith, Galway Downs and Jan Smith, Inland Management Group. The 2017 VTV board also includes Kim Baily, Baily’s Old Town Restaurant; Kym Espinosa, Promenade Mall Temecula, Denis Ferguson, Net Results Hospitality & Development Group Inc., Kathy Lindeman, Holiday Inn Express Temecula, Crystal Magon, South Coast Winery Resort & Spa, Marie Pranger, Springhill Suites by Marriott Temecula Wine Country, Carlos Palma, Palomar Inn Hotel, and Greg Roberts, Embassy Suites by Hilton Temecula Valley Wine Country.
Welcoming 2.7 million visitors each year, the Temecula Valley tourism industry had a 2015 economic impact of total, direct, travel spending by visitors into the local economy of $696 million. This represented a 4.7 percent increase over 2014. Supporting nearly 7,400 jobs, Temecula Valley tourism generated earnings of a record $237 million, a 6.9 percent increase.
The VTV board votes on organization decisions, oversees the financials and activities of the non-profit organization, and represents stakeholders to provide compelling reasons to visit and stay the night. All board members contribute to the 501(c) 6 non-profit organization on a volunteer basis.
In 2008, the governing board of the then, Temecula Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau (TVCVB) implemented the branding initiative, Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country. It has proven very effective in attracting visitors including high-value, culinary travelers who use their discretionary income to enjoy food, wine, and related activities thereby infusing monies directly into the local Temecula Valley economy.
In 2014, companion to the ten-year anniversary celebration of the TVCVB organization, the governing board unveiled the new Visit Temecula Valley corporate identity. Like Visit California (2011), Visit Napa Valley (2012), and Visit Santa Barbara (2013), the new moniker established a better focus, is easier to remember, and helps create desire to discover and experience all that Temecula Valley has to offer.
Visit Temecula Valley is online at VisitTemeculaValley.com. The Temecula Valley Visitors Center is located in downtown, Old Town Temecula (Third Street and Mercedes) adjacent the Old Town Temecula public parking garage. To learn about VTV membership, please call (888) 363-2852 or (951) 491-6085.