Travel Job Series: Visit York County CEO Andy Clinton
There are many ways to get into the travel industry, and being a fan of your hometown is one of them! If you love where you live and supporting your community, working for the local tourism board is the best way to make a difference. For those looking for advice on a destination, a Conventions and Visitor’s Bureau (CVB) is one of the best trusted resources to travelers.
Destination Marketing Organizations, CVB’s and Tourism Boards are somewhat lesser known paths to work in the travel industry that I wanted you to know about. And who better to tell us than Andy Clinton, CEO of Visit York County, who started as visitor information specialist and worked his way up through the ranks.
Meet Andy Clinton, CEO of
Visit York County
What is your background and education?
My name is Andy Clinton, and I am the President & CEO of Visit York County. Technically, I was born in Gastonia, NC, but for most of my childhood, I lived in Rock Hill, SC. I majored in Sports & Entertainment Management at the University of South Carolina. It was during college that I met my wife of eight years. Life is busy with a golden retriever, a four-year-old daughter, and a two-year-old son. Our weekends include festivals, farms, parks, Carowinds, and the Anne Springs Close Greenway. We do our best to attend a few Gamecock football (Gamecock Football is my passion) games each year!
For those who don’t know, what is a CVB and a Tourism Board?
The acronym CVB stands for Convention & Visitors Bureau. To simplify that terminology, CVBs are non-profit organizations built to generate tourism, market to visitors, and support growth for the hospitality sector (primarily hotels, restaurants, and attractions).
How did you start working in the tourism industry?
I was thankful to have gained much experience in the tourism industry, beginning in high school and continuing through college. Jobs and internships ranged from Chick-fil-A, a local softball park, Charlotte Knights, The Masters at Augusta National, and the PGA Championship. I started working for Visit York County after graduating in 2012 as a visitor information specialist. Over the past eleven years, I was promoted to various roles that focused on recruiting sports events to York County. In March of 2022, I became the Interim President & CEO and, six months later, removed the interim tag from the official title.
What’s a typical day on the job?
I’m thankful to be in a position where the day-to-day duties change frequently depending on where we are in our budget year and adjust as our organization continues to evolve. Most of my time is spent managing our six staff, advocating for stakeholders on the importance of tourism in York County, maintaining and increasing our organizations budget, and building a cohesive team to think differently and evolve as the tourism industry changes.
What achievement for your destination are you most proud of?
I was thankful to be a part of several successful bids for top sports events in the country. Bringing my alma mater, the University of South Carolina, to host a neutral-site basketball game against Florida State is at the top of the list. I am most proud of having unanimous support from the staff as I transitioned from the interim to permanent President & CEO. There was initially an intimidation factor and mental struggle about whether I could be successful in a leadership position, and that support changed my outlook and confidence in leading Visit York County.
What current project are you most excited about?
A new initiative I am excited about is the destination-wide marketing strategy between the York County Regional Chamber of Commerce, York County Economic Development and Visit York County. All three county organizations agreed that we must be more united in our organizational goals, and we must align our efforts to market York County as a destination. This conversation started a couple of years ago and has led us to a finalized marketing campaign and the release of other marketing assets that will be launching in the next six months.
What are your favorite things to do in York County? Share any must-do’s!
Our family stays active with all there is to do in York County. Memberships and season tickets to the Anne Springs Close Greenway and Carowinds are low-hanging fruits that we take advantage of frequently. Our kids also enjoy all the farms that we have on the western side of the county. Popular farms like Windy Hill Orchard, Bush-N-Vine, and Black’s Peaches are the three that stay in our rotation. When not on dad duty, you can typically find me watching a Gamecock game at Slow Play Brewing or Hobo’s with my brother.
What should everyone know about York County?
I’m in the business of saying that York County is a great place to visit. The reality is that York County is just a “great place.” It’s very difficult to end a list of what makes York County great, but I will try. The obvious is the proximity to Charlotte, big city amenities and an international airport. Beyond that, there is lake and river access, quality healthcare, great education for all ages, and an abundance of restaurants, breweries, and attractions.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I naturally lean toward being a more introverted person. I would challenge myself at a younger age to engage more in social settings and ultimately learn to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations.
Tell us a fun travel fact about yourself that most don’t know.
A fun travel fact: Not just a fun travel fact but also one of the most unique weddings I have attended. One of my best friends was married in a small town outside of Zurich, Switzerland. As a groomsman dressed in a suit, we hiked a couple of miles up a trail before we arrived at the church for the wedding ceremony. I will admit that it’s probably the best backdrop I have ever seen standing on the top of that mountain in Switzerland.
