MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Lodging operators in Lake County are coming together to form a new assessment district solely devoted to marketing the county as one of Northern California’s newest tourist destinations for wine, recreation and natural beauty.

The new entity will be known as the Lake County Tourism Improvement District, or LCTID, and will join 105 other Tourism Improvement Districts – also known as TIDs – in California, and 172 nationwide, which provide dedicated funds for the promotion of the destination and expanding tourism efforts.

Lodging establishments in the unincorporated area of Lake County and the cities of Lakeport and Clearlake will pay an assessment of 1.5 percent of gross room rental revenues to fund the new district.

“Lake County is within a few hours drive from all the major cities in Northern California,” said Lake County Administrator Officer Carol J. Huchingson. “As a community we are making great strides to enhance our tourism offerings, recreational activities and festivals. We see great potential in growing Lake County as a tourist destination through the marketing efforts the LCTID will fund.”

A TID Board of Directors was appointed at an organizational meeting held at Twin Pines Casino on Nov. 20.

The LCTID by-laws require that the board be comprised of representatives of businesses paying the assessment, Indian gaming entities, other tourism related businesses and local government officials.

The new directors include the following individuals:

· Brian Fisher (Suite on Main, Kelseyville);
· Michelle Scully (County of Lake);
· Greg Folsom (City of Clearlake);
· Lynne Butcher (Tallman Hotel, Upper Lake);
· Jitu Ishwar (Anchorage Inn, Lakeport);
· Maryann Schmid (The Lodge at Blue Lakes, Upper Lake);
· Larry Galupe (Twin Pine Casino & Hotel, Middleton);
· Havi W. (Skylark Shores Resort, Lakeport);
· Arnna Egan (Saratoga Springs Retreat Center, Upper Lake).

More than 100 tourist destinations have formed tourism improvement districts in California.

As the newest TID in the state, LCTID is expected to have a budget of about $170,000 in the first year to supplement existing county funding for tourism promotion.

“The LCTID Board of Directors is a talented group of tourism professionals,” said Board Chair Larry Galupe. “As we join together to market Lake County as the next 'must visit destination' in California, all of our businesses and communities will benefit.”

The next meeting of the LCTID Board of Directors is scheduled to take place on Thursday, Dec. 13, upstairs in the Courthouse Museum.