On August 8, 2023, former Tourism Development Director Lancing Adams was appointed Acting Tourism Secretary after former Cabinet Secretary Jen Paul Schroer departed for the Aging and Long-Term Services Department. Get to know the Tourism Department's current Acting Secretary Lancing Adams through his top three accomplishments:
- Adams led a statewide effort to identify tourism-related capital projects that will serve to improve the state’s competitiveness as a premier destination for leisure travel. Initially, over 100 projects were identified with a total funding need of over $300 million. In just under three years, Lancing has worked with communities to secure over $30 million in funds to support projects identified through this effort. Projects include improvements to Red Rock Park in Gallup, construction of an inflatable water park in Deming, improvements to the Curry County Event Center and Livestock Pavilion, and improvements to the Cavern Theater in Carlsbad.
- Adams spearheaded NMTD’s Tourism Event Growth & Sustainability Program (TEGS). With its initial roll-out in FY23, the TEGS program supported tourism-related fairs, festivals, and events around the state with an investment of $200,000 awarded to 15 partners. In FY24, the TEGS program has grown by over 3x and continues to support events that drive tourism in New Mexico communities. Events supported range in size, scope, and theme and include the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Burning of Zozobra, International Folk Art Market, and the Las Cruces International Film Festival.
- Under Adams’ leadership, the New Mexico Clean & Beautiful Program, which supports statewide clean-up activities and community beautification projects, increased its program impact to levels unprecedented in the history of the program. In FY24, the New Mexico Clean & Beautiful program will provide grant funding and technical assistance to 59 communities around the state: the largest cohort in the history of the program.