Raymore Resigns as Visitor Bureau Director

After 10 years leading the Door County Visitor Bureau, Executive Director Karen Raymore is moving on. In a statement, Raymore said it has “been an honor to serve” the organization.

“I am extremely proud of everything my colleagues and I have accomplished for Door County’s tourism industry and the DCVB,” she said. “The Bureau is an outstanding organization and deserves the support of everyone in the county.”

John Lowry, President of the Visitor Bureau Board of Directors, praised Raymore’s leadership.

“She has demonstrated the highest quality of dedication, fiscal management, innovation and organization…The Board of Directors is very grateful to Karen for her many years of service.”

Raymore’s departure comes after a tumultuous period of dramatic change for the organization. Tourism-related spending reached a high of $467 million under Raymore in 2000 but dipped to $398 million by 2002. As the Visitor Bureau struggled to drive revenues back up it underwent several self-evaluations.

In July of 2005 marketing expert Roger Brooks recommended the Bureau pursue a room tax to fund initiatives to reverse a stark downward trend in visitor dollars in the county.

In the summer of 2006, another marketing expert, Marshall Murdaugh, presented a report suggesting major changes in the organizational structure of the Visitor Bureau, a shift in the allocation of marketing dollars, and reiterated the need to implement a room tax.

Over the fall and winter of 2006-07 the Bureau implemented most of Murdaugh’s recommendations, including a name change, expansion of the board, and new marketing initiatives. The biggest project, however, was the effort to gain approval of a 5.5 percent room tax throughout the county. That tax went into effect May 1.

Lowry said Raymore left the organization in a good shape moving forward.

“She felt with the new budget now in place it was an opportune time to pursue new opportunities,” he said.

The Visitor Bureau will hire a professional recruiter to bring them qualified candidates to replace Raymore. A search committee has been formed, and Lowry said they will seek candidates with strong administrative, communicative, and marketing backgrounds. He said they hope to have a new director in place by September.

In the interim, the Executive Board will meet on a weekly basis, and President-elect Jerry Zaug will act as liaison to the staff. He’ll meet with them weekly to ensure a smooth transition period.

Raymore spent a total of 13 years with the organization and took over as director from Bob Hastings in 1997 when he left to found Door County Magazine. She was also a member of the Governor’s Council on Tourism.