Visit Laguna Beach board names new chairwoman

Peggy Trott, general manager of the Inn at Laguna Beach, is the new chairwoman of Visit Laguna Beach’s board of directors, according to a news release.

The nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting Laguna as a tourist destination recently announced its 2015 board. It includes Kurt Bjorkman, general manager of The Ranch at Laguna Beach; Joanna Bear, manager of the Surf & Sand Resort; and Heinz Hofmann, chief operating officer for Hotel Laguna.

At-large board members include past board Chairwoman Karyn Philippsen, owner of KP Consulting; Christopher Keller, owner of Casa Resorts Inc.; Thomas Lee, general manager of the Pacific Edge Hotel; Bob Mitchell, sales director for the Montage Laguna Beach; and Mark Orgill, chief operating officer with DeeMark LLC.

“I am honored to have been elected as chairman of the board for Visit Laguna Beach,” Trott said in the release. “By working as part of a committed team, I am confident that we will continue to effectively market Laguna Beach as a year-round destination as we move forward in 2015.”

By marketing to overnight visitors, Visit Laguna Beach helps generate transient occupancy and sales tax revenues along with sales of local goods and services, the release said.

Directors serve three years.

Visit Laguna Beach, formerly called the Laguna Beach Visitors & Conference Bureau, is celebrating its 28th year. It has offices at 361 Forest Ave., Suite 200, and a visitors center at 381 Forest Ave. The center is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

For more information, visit visitlagunabeach.com.

—Bryce Alderton

Twitter: @AldertonBryce