GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — City Council on Thursday appointed a new nine-member city Tourism Promotion Board to oversee marketing efforts directed at bringing more visitors to Glenwood Springs.

The new city board was established in July to replace the former tourism board that operated under the auspices of the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association (GSCRA).

Because the chamber holds the contract to carry out marketing efforts using the city's 2.5 percent accommodations tax funds, City Council wanted to create an autonomous board with more representation from citizens not tied to tourism businesses.

The city received 19 official applications for the nine board seats prior to the Thursday Council meeting. City Clerk Robin Unsworth said she was still fielding phone calls from interested persons on Friday, after the appointments were made.

Among the new appointees are three members of the former chamber tourism board, which was seen by City Council members as a way to help smooth the transition.

Carry-over members include Steve Beckley, owner of Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park; Carl Moak, who owns Summit Canyon Mountaineering; and Ian Exelbert, president of U.S. Bank in Glenwood.

Beckley will serve as one of the two allotted city tourism business representatives on the board, along with Ken Murphy, owner of Glenwood Adventure Company.

The two Glenwood Springs lodging business slots on the board went to John Bosco, CFO and general manager of the Glenwood Hot Springs Lodge, and Peter Tijm, owner of the Lavender and Thyme Bed & Breakfast.

Moak, who is on the GSCRA Board of Directors, will serve as the lone chamber representative. However, Murphy and Tijm also sit on the chamber board.

Four tourism board seats were reserved for citizen representatives, only one of whom can have a tie to a tourism-related business, according to the city's rules determining the make-up of the new board.

However, Council decided to go with four appointees who have no direct ties to local tourism, including Exelbert. He will be joined on the board by Scott Hemmen, a local land surveyor, Don Gillespie, an office manager/paralegal, and Judith Wilson, an oncology nurse.

In addition to being charged with tourism marketing and promotion for Glenwood Springs and the surrounding area, the new tourism board will be responsible for:

• Coordinating with city staff, community organizations, businesses and other city boards and commissions in tourism marketing efforts;

• Marketing and promoting features and attractions within the city, as well as within reasonable proximity to the city, in ways that could benefit the city;

• Reviewing tourism marketing plans and goals, and determining methods to measure success, as well as the appropriate staff and marketing contractors or vendors needed;

• Recommending an annual tourism marketing budget;

• Ensuring the efficient and effective implementation of the marketing goals, and reporting any performance problems to City Council; and,

• Meeting with City Council on an annual basis, or as often as requested by council, to identify the marketing priorities of the city.

“I would encourage those who applied but were not appointed to participate,” Council member Dave Sturges said. “We have a lot of hope for this group, and we look forward to working with them.”

The new tourism board is expected to meet soon and a regular meeting schedule will be determined.

jstroud@postindependent.com