Rebecca Thomson helps fuel St. Augustine tourism growth

By AI, Created 11:26 AM UTC, June 04, 2026, /AGP/ – Rebecca Thomson, an Advertising Account Executive at Visit St. Augustine, is using more than 11 years of experience to grow local tourism advertising and support businesses across one of Florida’s most visited cities. Her first full year at Visit St. Augustine brought a 36.5% sales increase, underscoring the value of relationship-driven advertising in a competitive travel market.

Why it matters: - Rebecca Thomson’s work affects how visitors discover St. Augustine attractions, restaurants, bed and breakfasts and other tourism businesses. - Stronger advertising partnerships can translate into more visibility, more bookings and more revenue for local businesses. - Visit St. Augustine’s official travel website plays a central role in how travelers plan trips to the city.

What happened: - Rebecca Thomson is an Advertising Account Executive at Visit St. Augustine and is in her fourth year with the organization. - Thomson has more than 11 years of experience in advertising sales. - In her first full year at Visit St. Augustine, Thomson increased sales by 36.5%. - The profile highlights Thomson as an Influential Women feature focused on her career and community work.

The details: - Thomson manages strategic relationships with local tourism-based businesses that advertise on the city’s approved travel website. - Thomson works with attractions, restaurants, bed and breakfasts and other local partners. - Thomson’s approach centers on honesty, transparency and long-term relationship-building. - Thomson says she sometimes advises clients against a purchase if she believes it is not in their best interest. - Thomson holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media Studies from the University of Pittsburgh. - Thomson also holds an MBA in Business Administration and Management from Chatham University. - Before advertising, Thomson worked as a finance manager for Harley-Davidson. - During that role, she helped move dealership performance from the bottom 10% to the top 10% in 18 months. - Thomson says her grandfather inspired her interest in advertising through his work with PPG Glass, U.S. Steel and a Pittsburgh newspaper focused on the arts community. - Thomson raised two children on her own while completing her college and graduate degrees.

Between the lines: - Thomson’s sales style reflects a longer-term business model than the standard close-at-all-costs approach. - Her background in finance and dealership performance may help explain the focus on measurable results and client fit. - Her community involvement suggests that tourism sales in St. Augustine depend as much on local relationships as on media placement.

What’s next: - Thomson is likely to keep building partnerships with local businesses as St. Augustine competes for travel dollars. - Her role will continue to support the city’s tourism ecosystem through advertising and stakeholder outreach. - More information is available in Rebecca Thomson’s Influential Women profile.