By Stephen Smoot
After a search of several months designed to examine all potential options, the Pendleton County Convention and Visitors Bureau settled on the hand that has been on the wheel on an interim basis since last October.
Annie Humes was chosen by the hiring committee to take over the executive director role on a permanent basis. A CVB release quoted her as stating that “I’m looking forward to the opportunity to get to know many more of the businesses around the county that the CVB works to support.”
She also explained that priorities will include expanding “our own promotional activities and also leveraging state and regional resources for the benefit of our county’s business owners and economy in future years.”
In the near term, Humes will focus on “keeping up with all the amazing activities and events happening throughout the summer months.”
The May meeting took place at Yokum’s Grille at the invitation of Sam Yokum, board member.
In her first meeting as executive director, Humes and the board focused on budget matters. The financial report noted that though the hotel and motel tax receipts in the first quarter had dipped slightly over last year, “we still have a healthy balance.”
Humes explained that inclement weather had an effect on tourism spending. Additionally, the first quarter of 2024 represented a spike in receipts over years prior.
When the agenda got to the hiring committee portion, Melinda Brooks, board member, said, “We successfully hired our new executive director. I suggest that the hiring committee dissolve.”
Discussion turned to tasks that could bolster the CVB’s case when its accreditation comes up for renewal. Brooks noted that the board had discussed holding a retreat in the past meeting, using that or some other forum for strategic “more than month to month planning.”
The board decided that a retreat in the fall, scheduled after summer and early fall events and festivities, “after everything calms down” would be ideal for a three- to six-hour retreat.
Another part of strategic planning will come next month as Humes and the board will put together groups of experts on culture and history to discuss how these aspects of the area can contribute to a broader tourism development strategy. These will also help to fulfill the guidelines of the Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area grant that the CVB received last year.
Humes also shared that a photographer from Erie, Pennsylvania, trying to develop into a social media influencer will come to Pendleton County to take photos and video footage and share it with the CVB for promotional purposes.
Humes closed with the director’s report that opened with “the farm crawl is happening!” This June event will showcase Pendleton County farm fresh food and other products. It is modeled after a similar event in Hampshire County where participants can go from farm to farm.
She also discussed the upcoming move of elements to the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture, and History to the state department of tourism.
