Welcome Partners & Community Members
This page serves as a shared, easy‑to‑reference resource where you can see our priorities, meet the team, and find important information about council meetings and how to plug in.
About Our Tourism Department
Explore Cherokee County and Tour Tahlequah are your local tourism brands, managed by the Tahlequah Area Chamber of Commerce through lodging tax funds from Tahlequah and Cherokee County. We’re a small team dedicated to showcasing the beauty, culture, and experiences that make this area a destination worth exploring—while also supporting local businesses and driving economic growth.
Our Mission
To grow tourism, celebrate our heritage & culture, and make Tahlequah and Cherokee County a year-round destination.
How It Works
The 4% lodging tax collected on all overnight stays is used to promote Tahlequah and Cherokee County as a destination. We promote the destination as a whole, encouraging visitors to stay multiple days by showcasing the area in creative and compelling ways across different platforms.
How We Do It
We use data-driven insights to strategically market Cherokee County and Tahlequah to clearly defined target audiences. Our focus is on positioning the area as a multi-day destination – encouraging visitors to stay longer, explore more, and experience the full depth of what our community offers.
Our marketing efforts are tailored to reach these audiences where they are most engaged, utilizing a mix of streaming, YouTube, social media, website content, radio, billboards, print, and other creative channels. Each platform is selected and leveraged based on performance, ensuring our messaging not only reaches the right people but resonates in a way that inspires visitation and overnight stays.
Meet Your Tourism Team
Victoria Byrd
Victoria is the Tourism Director for Tahlequah and Cherokee County, where she leads efforts to increase visitation and drive overnight stays through strategic, data-informed marketing.
She strongly believes Cherokee County isn’t just a stop along the way, but a destination worth the trip, and she is passionate about capturing and sharing that story in a way that resonates with today’s travelers.
Outside of work, she enjoys reading, crafting, and a good board or card game – where her competitive, strategic side tends to show up just as much as it does at work.
Alex McBride
Alex is the Marketing Specialist for Tahlequah and Cherokee County, who is the creative eye behind social media, photography, and video.
If Tahlequah and Cherokee County were encompassed into a person, it would be Alex. At any time you can find him hiking the trails, fishing in the lakes and rivers, driving back roads, or out and about downtown capturing photos and videos.
Outside of work, he enjoys spending as much time outside as he can from hunting to hiking. If you’re lucky, you may just catch him at a sewing machine working on a new project for his outdoor adventures.
Have Questions or Ideas?
If you’re planning a new event, curious about how to get involved in tourism, or simply want to understand more about what we do, we’re here to help. Reach out to the tourism staff with questions, feedback, or ideas –whether you’re a business owner, council member, or community resident, your insight helps us tell a stronger story about Tahlequah and Cherokee County.
