Washington County Commissioners name Kevin Lewis Director of Tourism
By David Cordero
With the exponential growth of tourism in southern Utah, the Washington County Commission has restructured tourism operations in the county and announced the hiring of Kevin Lewis as Director of Tourism.
After an extensive interview process, Lewis was selected from more than 60 applicants for the newly created position. Lewis will oversee all tourism-related functions for the county including conventions, events, domestic and international travel, marketing, public relations, sports, outdoor recreation, facilities, and tourism development.
“The intrigue of this place is unquenchable and I’m excited to take on this expanded role,” Lewis said. “Washington County has a great team of talented professionals who have been extremely successful in marketing the area as a premier tourist destination. I look forward to working with them as we partner with our communities and other key agencies to develop an even more rewarding experience for visitors. It is a privilege to be involved in something so inspiring and rewarding.”
Throughout his career, Lewis has demonstrated success in a vast range of marketing, tourism, and event positions, most recently as the Director of Sports and Outdoor Recreation for the county. He is the recipient of multiple awards for creative advertising and public relations work, including many of the television and multi-media assets for the Tourism Office. Lewis played the lead role in bringing events like the IRONMAN 70.3 North American Pro Championship to the area.
In 2017, the Sports and Outdoor Recreation Department was involved with more than 40 major events that brought in $78 million in economic impact to the county.
“Our vision going forward is a community that is energized by nature, inspired by achievement, and rewarded through the opportunities of tourism and outdoor recreation,” said Lewis. “Those attributes will have a major influence in our decisions as we strive to maximize the tax revenues generated by tourists to enhance opportunities for visitors and communities.”
“Kevin is the right person at the right time to leverage one of our county’s top assets, which is being among the West’s most dynamic tourist destinations,” added Commissioner Zachary Renstrom. “We expect Kevin and his team to keep our momentum going by conveying our unique blend of excitement, relaxation, and adventure to out-of-town guests.”
Tourism is one of the major contributors to the economy in Washington County. In addition to millions in direct economic impact from visitors, the tax revenue generated by visitors substantially helps reduce the tax burden of residents.
“Our individual taxes are significantly lower because of the tax revenue collected from visitors,” said Lewis.
According to data from the Utah State Tax Commission, Washington County receives $6.1 million in tax revenue annually from visitor room rentals, more than all but two counties in the state. Tourism-generated tax revenue provides more than $1,200 in tax relief per household each year.
The increasing level of tourism activity brings a continued boost in employment as well. Data from 2016 shows tourism-related jobs made up 16.6 percent of the total job base in Washington County, and tourism-related employment opportunities grew by 22 percent from 2012 to 2016.
“We have boundless opportunity here,” said Lewis. “Our tourism product is like no other, and we’ll do everything we can to enhance the opportunities it provides.”
