Visit Concord opening new Visitor Center in Salvio Pacheco Square
Visit Concord is opening its all-new Concord Visitor Center in Salvio Pacheco Square across from Todos Santos Plaza with a number of events scheduled to celebrate the facility.
It was also announced recently by board chairman Bill Mendez of the Hilton Concord that Elaine Schroth, who has served as executive director for the past three years, was promoted to CEO and president of the local Tourism Improvement District agency.
“Starting out as a staff of one, she has since cultivated a well-rounded, creative team with expertise in destination marketing, communications, public relations, sales and outreach,” Mendez said in announcing Schroth’s new titles.
Schroth reports that the Visitor Center will initially be open every weekday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and seasonally on weekends. The seven-day a week schedule is tentatively set to start May 1.
Visit Concord staff will be on hand during the week to greet visitors who will encounter an interactive information kiosk, three large video screens, a kid’s area and reams of literature and numerous Concord-themed souvenirs. Weekend hours will have volunteers from the Concord Art Association greet guests.
The center has maps for a walking tour of downtown plus of the greater Concord area. It aims to be the primary resource on lodging, eating, shopping, entertainment and outdoor activities in and around Contra Costa’s largest city.
Visit Concord is funded by a 3% assessment paid by guests on all room bookings from nine participating hotels in Concord. The local TID began in 2013 as Diablo Valley. Schroth joined the team part-time in early 2017 as the organization changed its name to Visit Concord and was named executive director that September.
Last year the nine hotels which form the TID booked 366,964 rooms, generating revenue of $45 million and hosting nearly 400 industry and networking events.
Improving Economic Growth
The Visit Concord mission is to “improve economic growth by building awareness and consideration of Concord as a destination for travelers and meeting and event planners.” To achieve that goal, Schroth and her all-female staff went to 29 trade shows, had local booths 68 times and hosted or worked with nearly two dozen journalists who were writing about Concord.
The agency played a major organizational and operational role in the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Concord Jazz Festival last summer and of Concord Oktoberfest in Todos Santos Plaza the past two years.
Visit Concord has plans for a ribbon cutting with the Concord Chamber of Commerce and a separate grand opening with a soon to be released date.
For updates on the Visitor Center opening and all things Visit Concord, go to their website visitconcordca.com.