Civitas specializes in igniting local economies, creating jobs and establishing stable funding for destination activities and funding sustainability programs throughout the United States. With more than 20 years of experience, Civitas provides expertise in all aspects of forming, modifying and renewing improvement districts. It has experience drafting funding-related legislation in 15 states. With offices in Sacramento, Los Angeles and New York, its team of professionals has formed more than 150 special districts. Its clients are innovative states, cities, counties, destination marketing organizations, and community organizations dedicated to creating a strong and stable funding source. It has generated more than $1.7 billion for clients globally.

Civitas also provides research, consulting and district formation services to destinations located around the world, including Canada, South America, Europe, and Asia. With its deep experience and expertise, Civitas has been commissioned by the U.S. Travel Association to conduct nationwide studies. A representative distant destination is Japan, where Civitas clients include Nomura Research Institute, Japan Area-Based Management Organization Network, Japan Travel Bureau and Setouchi Tourism Authority.

John Lambeth, attorney and Civitas’ Founder and CEO, specializes in developing unique funding strategies for tourism and travel promotion. He has more than 20 years of experience working with destination marketing organizations and state travel offices. Whether adopting enabling legislation, building support among businesses and electeds, or guiding the formation process, Lambeth is the expert in tourism district creation. The primary author of the Property and Business Improvement District Law of 1994, Lambeth also wrote legislation for several states and assisted with legislation in El Salvador and Brazil. Featured in Forbes and Skift for his efforts to transform marketing funding models, Lambeth also was the 2014 recipient of the CalTravel Promotion and Advancement of Tourism Award and in 2021 the Brad Burlingame Award. He and his form have been recognized as national leaders in the development and implementation of revolutionary financing mechanisms for destination management.