North Ridgeville Review The Community That Cares
The Lorain County Board of Commissioners recently announced that by unanimous vote they named Garry Gibbs to be the new full-time director of the Lorain County Convention and Visitors Bureau (LCCVB). Gibbs is a lifelong resident of Lorain County, a graduate of Elyria High School, The University of Toledo, and Culver Military Academy. He is a former Elyria City Councilman and is delighted to have the opportunity to bring more than forty years experience in the hospitality, travel, and tourism industry to the Bureau.
The LCCVB is a non-profit organization that provides information, resources, and support for the hospitality and tourism industry in our county. It is funded by a “Bed Tax”, also known as a “Hotel Occupancy Tax.” This tax is placed on each night’s stay a visitor pays as part of their hotel bill.
“One of the missions of the LCCVB is product awareness for travel and tourism opportunities for visitors to Lorain County as well as our own residents” said Gibbs. “It is to promote the sights, sounds, and smells of Lorain County, whether at the Foundry Bar and Kitchen of Elyria, the Black River Landing concerts in Lorain, or the Corn Festival in North Ridgeville. The Commissioners, along with Gibbs, want visitors and residents alike to shop locally, dine locally, and of course play locally. “It is a win-win for all Lorain County businesses and residents” Gibbs said.
Paul Koziol, Discover Aviation, demonstrates to Garry Gibbs, Director, Lorain County Conven-tion & Visitors Bureau, the flight simulator that can mimic many phases of aircraft operations, including takeoffs, as well as how to respond to heavy weather and emergencies used in training at Lorain County Regional Airport.
Gibbs indicated that he hopes to make Lorain County a major player in secondary tourism, drawing visitors attending Cleveland, Sandusky, or Toledo events into Lorain County. “Let us start planning on bringing visitors for the 70th edition of the NBA All Star Game, which will be held at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in February 2022. Even before that, let us capture the excitement of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction October 2021.” Gibbs said. “We do not need to reinvent the wheel, just keep it moving towards Lorain County. We can show that our county can be a destination of choice. With tourism and business travel rebounding, we must grab our slice of the travel pie,” he added. You can contact Gibbs and the LCCVB at ggibbs@loraincounty.us or by phone at 440-406-3119.
