01/22/2021

Meet Jeff Blom, OTA’s Newest Board Member

Welcoming Jeff Blom, OTA's New At-Large Board Chair

By Madison Powers, OTA Intern

Jeff Blom, President of the Clermont County CVB, has been elected to take the latest seat on the Ohio Travel Association Board. He was elected by the OTA Board to replace Leiann Stewart of Miami County CVB when she was elected secretary. His 25+ years of hospitality and tourism leadership experience will be an asset to the OTA boardroom, as he brings valuable industry knowledge and insight to the table.

Growing up in New Richmond, Jeff has always had a special connection to Clermont County. He rarely had the privilege to travel when he was younger, so he grew up looking through books and magazines of places he dreamed about visiting someday. He ultimately discovered his love for the travel and tourism industry at 16 years old while working at Coney Island Amusement Park.

In his three-year tenure as the Clermont County CVB president, Jeff has guided the organization through the branding process of becoming Discover Clermont. Previously, Jeff held a leadership position as the Marketing and Business Development Manager for Partnership Programs at AAA Club Alliance. Having worked with various attraction and tourism organizations including BB Riverboats, Coney Island and the Greater Cincinnati Convention and Visitors Bureau, Jeff constantly embraces new travel trends and technology. He is passionate about destination marketing and sales, and strives to add new strategic initiatives each year.

Under his leadership, Discover Clermont has landed the 2021 Big Ten Invitational Regatta, 2022 ACA Sprint Canoe & Kayak National Championships, 2023/2025 US Rowing Youth National Championships and 2024 NCAA Women’s Rowing National Championships, in addition to many other sporting events and meetings.

Jeff’s impressive background inspired us, so we reached out to learn more about his journey and aspirations.

Congratulations, Jeff! Could you tell us why you decided to run for the at-large board seat?

I’ve spent three years as president of the Clermont County CVB, and it has taken time to get the organization where I want it to be. We launched new branding and put in place a benefits program for our employees, which really took a lot of time and resources. I figured that after three years, even though there is still a lot of work to do, the CVB is in a good place and I saw an opportunity for me to volunteer and work with other well-respected individuals in the industry. 

How do you think your unique background prepares you for this role?

Well, nothing could prepare you for a year like 2020. Working in this industry, you learn to become flexible in unpredictable situations. It has taught me to always be ready for change and how to manage things that are out of my control, like weather, civil unrest or even a pandemic. I think OTA is a great space for collaboration about moving forward and sharing best practices in these scenarios, since we are all faced with the same problems.

What are you most looking forward to as an OTA board member?

Networking with other CEOs and presidents of CVBs, as well as attractions with other tourism-related companies is important. I am looking forward to discussing the best path forward, while learning about new technology and travel trends. I want to apply some things that other industries are doing to the travel and tourism industry. I think it is exciting that so many changes are happening, especially with the power of social media. I always like to think about “what’s next” for the industry, while learning from others and working together to move the needle forward.

What do you see as the greatest opportunity for Ohio’s travel industry?

We are seen sometimes as a “flyover” state, while I think of Ohio as possessing more of a “wow” factor. People often don’t realize what the state has to offer and how much there is to do until they really explore. I want the opportunity to share that “wow” factor and invite people to visit Ohio, no matter what part of the state it is. We have some of the top outdoor recreation, hiking trails, zoos and amusement parks in the world, making Ohio a great family destination.

What are your favorite ways to embrace all that the industry has to offer?

I have a personal goal to visit all 50 states, and I have reached 45. Vermont, New Mexico, Nevada, Alaska and Hawaii are the states I have yet to visit, but I am hoping to cross a few off the list soon. I am a big fan of national and state parks, so I love to visit some when I travel. I am also an avid runner, finishing three full marathons and 25 half marathons. Unfortunately, injuries caused me to recently retire from running, but I have picked up cycling and kayaking to keep me active these days.