Visit Camarillo's Annual Tourism Luncheon

Get Ready to PLAY!

The Camarillo Hotel and Tourism Association (Visit Camarillo) invites you to our Annual Tourism Luncheon on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at Camarillo Grove Park.

In celebration of Visit California’s bold new global campaign, “The Ultimate Playground,” which positions California as the world’s most playful and adventure-filled destination, Visit Camarillo is excited to bring that vision to life right here at home.

This year’s luncheon theme, “Play Your Way: Reimagining Tourism Through Interactive Experiences,” invites our partners to explore innovative, engaging, and playful strategies to enhance the visitor experience—and help shape our own version of the Ultimate Playground in Camarillo.

We’re thrilled to welcome International Positive Psychology Play Speaker Jeff Harry as our keynote! With over 15 years of inspiring audiences around the globe, Jeff will lead us in a high-energy, hands-on experience that will help you Rediscover Your Play. His work empowers businesses to spark creativity, curiosity, and connection—proving that play isn’t just fun, it’s fundamental to innovation and tourism success.

Following the keynote, our industry panel will dive into real-world examples of how play is being woven into local businesses. Hear from local experts as they share actionable insights and creative ways to infuse more fun and interaction into your customer experiences.

We’ll also take time to honor two remarkable individuals who have gone above and beyond for our industry with the Camarillo Tourism Advocate Award and the Camarillo Hospitality Hero Award. Award recipients will be announced right here in the coming weeks and celebrated live at the luncheon.

RSVP: Space is limited. If you would like to attend, RSVP by May 2, 2025.

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Date: Thursday, May 8, 2025

Time: 11:00 a.m. – 1:45 p.m.

Location: Camarillo Grove Park - 6968 Camarillo Springs Rd, Camarillo, CA

Admission: Free to Attend

Lunch: A complimentary lunch will be provided.

Contact: Yuliana Gonzalez, WXVsaWFuYSB8IFZpc2l0Q2FtYXJpbGxvICEgQ29t, (805) 201-0506

*Please note that the event will take place in a grassy park area - comfortable shoes are highly recommended.

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11:00 am: Check-in & Networking

11:30 am: Lunch is provided

12:00 pm: Visit Camarillo Annual Report & Awards Ceremony

12:30 pm: Keynote Speaker, Jeff Harry, Rediscover Your Play

1: 15 pm: Play Your Way Panel Discussion

1: 45 pm: Closing Remarks

*exact times may vary

RSVP: Space is limited. If you would like to attend, RSVP by May 2, 2025.

Jeff Harry combines positive psychology and play to heal workplaces, help teams build psychological safety and assist individuals in addressing their biggest challenges by embracing a play-oriented approach to work. Jeff was selected by BambooHR & Engagedly as one of the Top 100 HR Influencers and has been featured in the NY Times, Mashable, Upworthy, Huffpost, Shondaland, Wired, NPR, NatGeo, & Forbes. Jeff has worked with Google, Microsoft, Southwest Airlines, Adobe, the NFL, Amazon, and Facebook, helping their staff to infuse more play into the day-to-day. Over the past 15 years of facilitation and speaking, Jeff’s main goal has been to help work suck less by assisting leaders in building a playground workplace atmosphere that motivates their staff to do their most vibrant work.

Join us as we host an insightful industry panel that will dive into real-world examples of how play is being woven into local businesses. Hear from local experts as they share actionable insights and creative ways to infuse more fun and interaction into your customer experiences.

Michael Shanklin is a dynamic nonprofit leader with 26 years of experience transforming children’s museums into thriving hubs of learning and wonder. Currently serving as the inaugural Executive Director of kidSTREAM Children’s Museum, Michael previously led major expansions and capital campaigns at Kidspace in Pasadena and Discovery Gateway in Salt Lake City. A true champion for access, education, and community, he’s also a dedicated board member, volunteer, and all-around museum superhero.

Jeanne Sikoff is the founder of Zander’s Game House, a beloved Camarillo gathering space she opened in 2016 after a 25-year career in the travel and tourism industry. Inspired by a passion for connection and play, Jeanne created Zander’s as a welcoming hub for community, fun, and face-to-face interaction. With a game library of over 1,100 titles, weekly events, and a recently expanded 4,000-square-foot space, Zander’s has become Ventura County’s go-to destination for gaming, tournaments, parties, and special events. A proud Camarillo resident for over 50 years, Jeanne is deeply rooted in the local business and nonprofit community. She was honored as Entrepreneur of the Year by the WVCBA in 2023, received the 2024 Spirit of Small Business Award from the Pacific Coast Business Times, and was recognized by the Autism Society of Ventura County with their Shining Star Award for Community Leadership.

Bev Dransfeldt is a first-generation immigrant having grown up in a small central valley town. Camarillo became her second home in college and fell in love with it so much she made it her permanent home over 4 years ago. Bev is a mother to Pazita and their 3 rescue dogs, with lots of support from her husband, Cory.

A graduate in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley —the first of her family to graduate from a four year university – Bev has been a music industry manager and later moved into the public sector, mixing her passion for the arts and public service by working in the Cultural Affairs Department for the City of Thousand Oaks and recently as a Recreation Specialist for Pleasant Valley Recreation & Park District.

Raised on a farm in a small town and working in the fields with her immigrant mother, Bev is keenly aware of her blessings and seeks to “pay it forward” by advocating for those without a voice and remaining politically active within the community.

The Camarillo Tourism Advocate Award is a prestigious recognition presented to someone who has significantly contributed to elevating Camarillo's Tourism industry through impactful initiatives and dedicated leadership.

Now in it's third year, The Camarillo Hospitality Hero award will recognize and celebrate a hotel employee who stands out for their exemplary customer service and for going above and beyond the call of duty for their hotel and guests.

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