Tourism report to council complete, except for Williams

Noaki Schwartz

NEWPORT BEACH -- In a poignant gesture, another Conference and

Visitors Bureau official stumbled through a report written by Rosalind

Williams just before she passed away two months ago.

At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Henry Schielein read through the

bureau’s 1999-2000 tourism successes, many of which he attributed to

Williams, the former chief executive officer and president of the bureau.

“I am here by mistake,” Schielein said unsteadily. “Really, this is

Rosalind’s report, which she compiled before the fiscal year ended. It’s

almost like she wanted to make sure everything was in order.”

The feisty Williams -- who helped bring golf tournaments, conventions

and thousands of visitors to the town as well as hope to dozens of cancer

patients -- died in June of complications from a four-year battle with

breast cancer.

It was clear Williams’ trademark tenacity and effortless ability to at

once charm and push forward the bureau’s agenda was missing from the

proceedings.

“Where’s our check?” said Mayor John Noyes with a smile, referring to

the symbolic oversized $21-million check Williams proudly presented to

the City Council in April. The money was drawn from tourist tax revenues.

“This time I come to you empty-handed,” Schielein said.

Still, Williams’ stamp was all over the bureau’s accomplishments.

The bureau booked 50 meetings and 17 trade shows, had 10 sales trips

and landed 23 conference ads in various publications. It secured the

California Conference on Tourism for 2001, which is the first time the

event will take place outside Sacramento.

The bureau also was instrumental in forming the new Newport Beach Film

Festival, organizing a city appearance on “Wheel of Fortune” and securing

national TV advertising on ABC and ESPN.

In terms of international tourism, the city lured more visitors from

the United Kingdom, Germany and Japan than in 1998-99.

“We lost a tremendous leader, a great ambassador and good friend,”

Schielein said.