When Nancy Beckman was named CEO of the Lodi Conference & Visitors Bureau in 2001, the city had only a few hotel franchises and a handful of independently owned lodgings, but today that number has grown to more than 90 hotels, motels, bed & breakfast inns and short-term rentals.
Additionally, when she arrived, the Lodi area had eight winery tasting rooms, but now there are more than 80.
Beckman said after 23 years of working to turn Lodi into a tourist destination, she’s now ready to take the next step. Her last “scheduled” day with the LCVB, now known as Visit Lodi, is Sept. 27.
“I loved my job, but I wanted to do something for myself,” she says. “I’d always wanted to retire at 62, and I reached that milestone in August. It was just the right time.”
Beckman added that the growth of local tourism during his tenure at Visit Lodhi wasn’t down to any one person or thing, but rather he was fortunate to be able to forge partnerships with the board, staff and hotels in the city.
Of course, it also helped a lot that Lodi wineries were opening their doors to the public, she said.
“Wineries have exploded,” she says, “and as they’ve gotten bigger, they need hotels, marketing, and things for people to enjoy. It’s been fun to watch the industry grow, and being a part of it is something I’ll always remember fondly.”
Beckman told staff and the board that he would stay on until he found his replacement, at which point he plans to travel, cook leisurely and renovate the kitchen, something he’s been putting off for years.
“I really want to exercise,” she said. “I’ve been sitting at a desk for 23 years.”
Beckman said she is fortunate to have been given the opportunity to lead the tourism bureau and enjoys being at the forefront of Lodi’s tourism industry. She is excited about the future of the bureau and said with change comes great opportunity.
“We’re going to find a trustee and board of directors who has the enthusiasm and passion to bring great things to the region,” she said. “I know whoever is in office will take tourism to the next level. Now I can sit back and watch the next phase of growth from a different perspective as a citizen.”
