Kevin Holsapple. Courtesy photo.
Editor’s note: Kevin Holsapple is seeking local business responses to an online questionnaire at https://rb.gy/ib375a Responses will be accepted until Jan. 19.
Los Alamos Reporter: Congratulations on your recent appointment to the Los Alamos County Lodger Tax Advisory Board (LTAB). Can you tell me a little bit about your background and what motivated you to join the LTABboard?
Kevin Holsapple: Thank you! My wife Kris and I have lived in Los Alamos for more than 35 years. We raised our kids here. I learned about the LTAB “community member at large” vacancy on the County website when I was looking up what is going on in the tourism realm. I’m excited to bring my experience to the board and I hope to contribute to getting more economic benefit from tourism visitors in Los Alamos County. I believe my background in business and management will be an asset to the board. I am currently a part-time certified travel advisor for FORA, an online travel agency. I’ve published a travel-oriented blog for many years, and travel writing is a part-time retirement business. I have a book coming out this summer from Helvetiq Publishing called Beer Hiking Southern Rockies. I held positions as the Executive Director of the Los Alamos Commerce & Development Corporation (LACDC) & Chamber of Commerce, and Deputy Group Leader at Los Alamos National Laboratory before retiring about a dozen years ago. I volunteer at SALA Event Center and with a local non-profit called Places & Spaces. I believe Los Alamos County can get more economic benefits from the many tourists and visitors who come here. Those benefits need to convert to business opportunity for local businesses.
Los Alamos Reporter: You are circulating a “Visitor & Tourism Questionnaire” to local businesses. Can you explain its purpose and what you hope to learn?
Kevin Holsapple: I want to understand the current perspectives of local businesses on tourism. The LTAB will be developing its 2025 work plan in a couple of weeks, and I want to be better informed going into those discussions. The questionnaire is not an LTAB or a County activity. It is my own private initiative to get better informed. I’ve been doing other things as well, like driving the roads to see what signage looks like, visiting the visitor centers and talking to people there, and I met with Lauren McDaniel at LACDC, who was very helpful in providing a range of background information. I wasn’t able to find much information about current local business perspectives, so that’s why I’m circulating the questionnaire. It isn’t long and drawn out – testers completed it in less than five minutes.
Los Alamos Reporter: You’re taking a proactive approach to understanding tourism here. What are your initial thoughts on how the LTAB can enhance tourism in Los Alamos?
Kevin Holsapple: I have been involved in one meeting so far and learned that the LTAB has not had a quorum for some time. A priority would seem to be for the group to get back to regular interactions and get to know each other and the staff. Also, getting a work plan agreed upon to guide what we will work on. The other LTAB members I have met also seem very interested in figuring out how our group can make a positive difference. My efforts to improve my current understanding of the topic and the views of interested local businesses will help me be the best team member I can be.
Los Alamos Reporter: How are you getting the word out about the questionnaire?
Kevin Holsapple: Well, the Los Alamos Reporter and this interview is a big help. Thank you! I have sent it to the local media asking for help and Lauren McDaniel at the LACDC/Chamber was very helpful in agreeing to distribute it to businesses through their communication channels. I am a participant in the Los Alamos Local Business Coalition and will send it to the email list for that group as well.
Los Alamos Reporter: It sounds like you have some great ideas. Thank you for your volunteer service and your proactivity. The best of luck to you in your work on the LTAB. I look forward to seeing the results.
Kevin Holsapple: Thank you! I look forward to working with the Board, County staff, local businesses, and the community to improve the benefits our community gains from tourism and visitation.