Travel council names three new advisory-board members after candidate interviews

The Moab-area travel advisory board on Jan. 14 appointed three new members to fill open seats, voting to add Sharon (returning member), Wendell Williams and Powell Trenholm to the advisory roster.

The appointments came after the board ran a standardized interview process for applicants. Chair Brian Martinez opened the session and said the board would ask the same questions of every candidate. Powell Trenholm, who introduced himself as a longtime hospitality owner and former travel-council member, described his experience running a bakery and working in hospitality and explained the local tax structure to the panel: “The most notable one is a transient room tax… part of the role of the travel council is not only create ways with the 37% of the marketing funds to draw visitors here… and the 63% is spent on mitigation,” Trenholm said.

Board members discussed nominees' experience and community ties before taking voice votes. Sharon was nominated, seconded and elected by voice vote; Laurie nominated Wendell Williams and he was also elected by voice vote. Trenholm (referred to by some as "Howard" during discussion) was nominated and elected on a recorded voice vote the board characterized as 4–1 in favor.

Why it matters: The advisory board makes recommendations to the county commission about how to spend locally levied tourism taxes, including what the state requires be allocated to marketing versus mitigation. During candidate interviews, several applicants cited housing, workforce hours and seasonality as major challenges for Grand County and said marketing timing and product development are tools the board can use to stabilize the local tourism economy.

What happened next: The chair said the new members will be onboarded and that the board will determine representation to the county’s economic-advisory meetings at a future session. No formal expenditures or policy changes were approved as part of the appointments.

Quotes and attribution: Powell Trenholm, a candidate and long‑time hospitality operator, described the tax split and the board’s advisory role: “There is also, the 63¢ on every dollar brought in that the… board is required to advise on how every cent of that is spent to the county commission.” Wendell Williams, a hospitality manager and applicant, stressed housing pressures and workforce instability: “Housing right now… particularly affordable housing, is an issue,” he said.

Next steps: New members will join upcoming meetings and participate in decisions about marketing and mitigation recommendations forwarded to the county commission. The board also continues its planned work on revising responsible-recreation messaging and other marketing strategies.