Claudia Vecchio of Sonoma County

Claudia Vecchio has assumed the position of CEO of Sonoma
County Tourism.




Vecchio has many years of experience in the industry, including
multiple leadership roles in tourism organisations, serving as
the State Tourism director at the Ohio Department of
Development, Division of Travel and Tourism, and senior vice
president overseeing the tourism group at Edelman PR in
Chicago.


In her new role, Vecchio will try to drive Sonoma County
Tourism into record-breaking years, with out-of-the-box ideas
and by sharing the message that wine country is open for
business and ready to deliver the world-class experience that
is expected.


She replaces Ken Fischang, who stepped down in May. Interim
Sonoma County Tourism CEO Tim Zahner told the Las Vegas Review
Journal that, after the fires, Vecchio will have plenty on her
plate when she arrives.


“Claudia is stepping into a situation where the community of
Sonoma County and the board and staff of Sonoma County Tourism
have come together to not only support one another in our time
of need, but also to rally around and get the word out that we
are open for business and ready to welcome visitors to the
Northern California they love,” Zahner said. 


Vecchio leaves her position as the first director of the state
Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, which consists of
the Commission on Tourism, Division of Museums and History,
Nevada Arts Council and the Nevada Indian Commission.


“In addition to its extraordinary natural beauty, Sonoma County
exudes an incredible spirit of independent thinking, creativity
and fortitude that truly sets it apart from any other
destination,” Vecchio said in a statement. “The truest sense of
this spirit has been on full display during the recent fires.
It’s a privilege to join a team and represent a countywide
tourism industry that can come together through challenging
times to not only support one another, but also to rally around
and get the word out that we are open for business and ready to
welcome visitors to Northern California.”


Vecchio said it should be a fairly easy transition on the
marketing side, as Sonoma County has a few things in common
with Nevada, like its independent, creative, maverick spirit.


“It’s wineries versus casinos,” she said. “They are important
drivers, but I see so much more to talk about.” 


Vecchio long has been a fan of and visitor to Sonoma County,
having family in Bodega Bay. Upon moving to Sonoma County, she
had planned to rent, but after the destructive fires and the
even tighter rental market, she is in the process of buying a
home.


Vecchio is a former president of Destination Integration in
Dallas and head of Ohio’s tourism office. She began working in
Nevada in November 2011.


She also has managed national brand launch campaigns for Taco
Bell, Frito-Lay and Norwegian Cruise Lines and was on the
promotion team that launched the Fox Broadcasting Network’s
television programming. She also was a tour manager for the
international education and entertainment organization, Up With
People.