Helpful, Essential
Visit Walnut Creek is a Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) and Destination Marketing Organization (DMO.)
A Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) is a collaboration of lodging properties that pay an assessment on individual room night stays. The assessment—a nominal fee (Transient Occupancy Tax/TOT) passed onto each hotel guest —provides funding for destination marketing and development to bring more visitors to the destination.
Visit Walnut Creek is a catalyst for a strong economy. We attract visitors from other areas which bring new dollars to the community. The hotels provide a location for conferences, meetings, and events attendees, thus bringing new visitors to Walnut Creek who dine and shop locally. This spending generates revenue for the hotels, which results in increased Transient Occupancy Taxes (TOT) going to the City and increased sales taxes generated at restaurants and local businesses.
The boundary for the Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) is the Walnut Creek limit and the two hotels located in unincorporated Walnut Creek.
Marriott Walnut Creek 2335 N. Main Street Walnut Creek – 925-934-2000
Embassy Suites by Hilton 1345 Treat Blvd. Walnut Creek – 925-934-2500
Renaissance Bay Club 2805 Jones Road Walnut Creek – 925-938-8700
Residence Inn by Marriott 2050 N. California Blvd Walnut Creek – 925-533-5215
Holiday Inn Express 2730 North Main Street Walnut Creek – 925-932-3332
Diablo Mountain Inn 2019 Mt. Diablo Blvd Walnut Creek – 925-937-5050
Super 8 by Wyndham 2380 North Main Street Walnut Creek – 925-378-3137
Hilton Garden Inn Walnut Creek 490 Lawrence Way Walnut Creek - 925-289-8824
Fee Structure
The TBID assessment is 3% of the guest room rate for all Walnut Creek hotels regardless of the number of room nights.
MEET THE TEAM
Nicole Hankton
Interim President and CEO
Nicole Hankton brings a deep passion for hospitality and tourism, backed by more than 15 years of experience in marketing, sales, and public relations. She currently serves as Interim President & CEO of Visit Walnut Creek, where she previously held the role of Executive Vice President for the Walnut Creek Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID).
Prior to joining Visit Walnut Creek, Nicole worked in Oakland’s hotel industry, supporting sales teams at the city’s largest hotel and helping attract a diverse range of conferences and events. Throughout her career, she has led successful sales tours, hosted media visits, executed targeted marketing campaigns, and developed strategic promotions tailored to the hospitality sector.
Chris Ayon
Marketing & Communications Manager
Chris is an East Bay native coming to Visit Walnut Creek with experience in finance marketing and graphic design. He earned his bachelor's degree and MBA locally from Saint Mary's College of California. He is an avid foodie who enjoys cooking, traveling, and staying active.
Alex Lopez
Destination Sales Manager
Alex has a vast background in hospitality, travel, and tourism. He has focused on hotel sales and events in the San Francisco and Oakland markets. He is dedicated to bringing key new markets to Walnut Creek by leveraging creative sales strategies.
With a deep understanding of the hospitality industry and the impact of tourism on local economies, Alex excels in building partnerships, fostering relationships, and creating memorable experiences for both visitors and clients. His diverse experience allows him to view the full spectrum of the visitor experience, from initial engagement to successful event execution.
Outside of work, Alex enjoys exploring state and national parks through hiking and jet-setting to different corners of the world. A native of the East Bay, Walnut Creek feels simply like home to him.