LAKE HAVASU CITY – Lake Havasu City’s tourism leader is leaving at the end of April and the organization is preparing to search for his replacement.
Shawn Buckley, who has served as CEO of Go Lake Havasu since late 2024, offered his resignation last month due to personal matters. He intends to return to New Mexico to be closer to family, but he told Havasu’s tourism bureau officials that he plans to stay on through April.
“I’m sad to see him go,” said Kristina Gallo, board chair of the Go Lake Havasu’s executive committee and assistant general manager at London Bridge Resort. He’s been a forward-thinking leader, she said.
In a separate statement announcing Buckley’s pending departure last month, Gallo said: “His efforts have helped advance our mission of working proactively with our partners to attract and engage visitors, further enhancing the area’s economy and quality of life.”
Gallo said she anticipates the organization will have a hiring firm to help with the recruitment efforts. Those efforts would include ads with the Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association, the Arizona Office of Tourism and Indeed among job search engines.
While Buckley’s tenure will end up being a bit more than a year, Terence Concannon and Doug Traub served in that leadership role longer with each being in charge of Go Lake Havasu for six years dating back to the previous decade.
The organization is primarily funded through a dedicated portion of local hospitality taxes, including a 3% occupancy tax (bed tax) and a 1% restaurant/bar tax. It receives 75% of these tax collections to market and promote Lake Havasu City tourism. The tourism group’s annual budget is a little over $2 million.
Go Lake Havasu is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization but its status under the IRS code is designed for business leagues, chambers of commerce and professional associations. The organization is able to promote common business interests and industry instead of charitable causes through its designation.
The organization also brings in added funds through sponsorship packages from major Havasu events.
Greg Moberly
