Council appoints new members to Tourism Advisory Committee

Posted: 12:10 pm, September 4, 2014 by Publisher Scott Brennan

City is also establishing a Tourism Resource Council

The Paso Robles City Council appointed two new “at large” members to its Tourism Collaboration Committee (TCC), which advises City Council on tourism-related items and projects. Debbie Thomas and Joel Peterson were selected from a group of 14 candidates from the local tourism and hospitality industry.

Debbie Thomas, left, and Joel Peterson.

Debbie Thomas, the owner of Thomas Hill Organics restaurant on Park Street in Paso Robles, is a leader in the local culinary scene. Thomas’s combination of day to day interaction with visitors, her unique perspective as a restaurant owner and her strong background in marketing made her a good fit for the TCC. Says Thomas, “Paso has become a destination for culinary excellence and I am thrilled to join others in bringing tourism and notoriety to our area.”

Joel Peterson, a partner in Solterra Strategies marketing company and board member for the Paderewski Festival, has historical knowledge of the area and a background in marketing Paso Robles, the wine industry and cultural events that give him a well-rounded perspective from which to approach tourism decisions. “I grew up with a love for Paso Robles,” said Peterson. “It was a magical place full of activity, opportunity and community pride. Working to help promote it is a dream come true.”

An interview panel of three TCC members and the city tourism coordinator interviewed the 14 candidates to determine who would be the best fit for the new direction of the committee – overseeing in-destination tourism efforts through the direction of the soon-to-be-created Tourism Resource Council.

“The level of interest for these two positions has been really high,” said Meg Williamson, assistant city manager. “It’s gratifying to see how many knowledgeable and experienced tourism partners are willing to lend their expertise to the tourism effort. Their willingness to collaborate with their peers in the hospitality industry will help keep Paso Robles a vital tourism destination. It will be interesting to see what everyone brings to the table with the launch of the Tourism Resource Council.”

The TCC is comprised of 7 representatives of the major tourism-related industries and organizations in Paso Robles, including the the Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce, Paso Robles Main Street, Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance, Travel Paso Robles Alliance and the Paso Robles Event Center, in addition to the two “at large” positions.

The committee meets on the second Tuesday of each month at City Hall from 10:30 a.m. to noon and will be charged with overseeing the soon-to-be-established Tourism Resource Council, which will be comprised of any tourism partners who wish to stay apprised of current marketing and promotional opportunities or who wish to participate in addressing the opportunities and challenges in the local tourism industry through ad hoc committees and single-topic, limited-time task forces. All meetings of the TCC and TRC are open to the public.