What a bunch of Dumbasses

[freddy]

TDC gives study 3 more months

MARCIA LANE
http://www.staugustine.com/stories/092209/news_2003349.shtml

The St. Johns County Tourism Development Council has told the consulting firm hired to help increase tourism they want to hear the truth, not what the group thinks the TDC wants to hear.

They also want the firm, PGAV Destination Consulting, out of St. Louis, Mo., to do more research on St. Johns County and talk with more people.

To get that, the TDC told the firm at a meeting Monday they were willing to allow the company an additional three months.

"You're a big enough firm to do your own research," Bill Hughes of Ponte Vedra Beach told the consultants after noting they were using, in part, past research information.

He also questioned why the group's presenters talked about working with TDC members and getting their input.

"Is that what we're paying you for, or are you willing to stand up and make recommendations?" Hughes asked.

Hughes got quick backing on his stand from St. Augustine Mayor Joe Boles.

Boles said he wanted PGAV to "not tell us what we want to hear but what we need to hear."

It has been almost a year since PGAV was chosen to do the $300,000 Destination Master Plan study. Their mission is to analyze the county's tourism marketing strategies and current bed-tax funding and allocations, and to make recommendations for the future. The analysis is done and the product development phase, including coming up with ideas, has just gotten under way.

Now, it looks like the firm will have to go back and do some more research.

Since early on there have been complaints that PGAV has not talked to enough people. TDC members suggested they "take another pass" at talking with those in culture and arts and "spend a little more time" with the representatives of the historic community.

By one count, PGAV has only done work in the county nine days.

St. Augustine hotel owner John Yanni suggested performance indicators and more measurable data are needed to answer questions such as whether events increase attendance and overnight stays.

At the heart of some of the questions is whether the emphasis should be on day trippers or those who stay overnight.

"Overnight is what we have to pump up," member Scott Bartosch said, reminding listeners that "heads in beds" provides the money for TDC.

PGAV officials told the TDC that marketing efforts for day trippers and overnight visitors would require different approaches.

Another challenge they face is trying to brand the county. PGAV representative Chris Cavanaugh said it was a "significant challenge" because of the obvious diverse nature of St. Johns County.

PGAV was scheduled to present a final report to the TDC by the end of the year, but that changed Monday. In May, commissioners decided they wanted to make changes in the structure and organization of the council. That led to a delay of a couple of months.

"The only reason you lost time is because we shut you down," Boles said, suggesting the deadline be extended until the March meeting. The delay will not cost the county any additional money.

"We may feel we're (tourism) experts, but most of us aren't ... Do the work, evaluate the data, present your plan and then we'll go at it," Boles said.

PGAV will be attending each meeting of the TDC from now on, said company officials.

[MacIII]

Got to give some credit to hizhonor the mayor. He made some good commments in this meeting. I was impressed.
_________________
‎"When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries
disappear and life stands explained."--Samuel
Clemens, a.k.a. Mark Twain

[freddy]

Major changes at Visitors and Convention Bureau

October 15, 2009

http://www.historiccity.com/2009/staugustine/news/florida/major-changes-at-visitors-and-convention-bureau-1901


In a communication received by Historic City News this morning, Charles Cox, chairman of the board of the Visitors and Convention Bureau, promises that a number of recent changes made at the Visitors and Convention Bureau will make the organization more responsive to industry needs during a difficult period for tourism.

“We felt that the current downturn in tourism spending in St. Johns County warranted actions that would help the Visitors and Convention Bureau focus more effort on meeting some of the immediate problems confronting the local tourism industry,” said Cox; who also serves as vice president of the San Sebastian Winery.

For more than ten years, the Visitors and Convention Bureau has been responsible for conducting an effective marketing campaign designed to bring visitors to St. Johns County. The nine-person staff is composed of specialists in marketing, communications, sales, and graphic design. They are not county employees. Instead, they work on an annual contract that is funded entirely with Tourist Development Tax revenues - the “bed tax” paid by overnight visitors to the county.

The Visitors and Convention Bureau is a partnership with the tourism industry. To be a Visitors and Convention Bureau “partner,” nearly 250 tourism-related businesses in St. Johns County pay an annual fee of $100.

As a first step in reorganizing the Visitors and Convention Bureau, its Board of Directors was reduced in size from 17 to nine members - a step that was approved in a vote by Visitors and Convention Bureau partners and confirmed by both the Tourist Development Council and the Board of County Commissioners. The new board consists of:

Charles Cox, Chairman (San Sebastian Winery)
John Fraser, Vice Chairman (Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth)
Mark Schwantner, Secretary (Renaissance Resorts at World Golf Village)
Bob O’Neill, Treasurer (Hilton Historic on the Bayfront)
Irving Kass, Past Chairman (St. George Inn)
Kathy Fleming (St. Augustine Lighthouse)
David Mariotti (The Lodge & Club at Ponte Vedra)
Tina Puckett (Holiday Inn, St. Augustine Beach)
Virginia Whetstone (Whetstone’s Chocolates)

The Board also has three non-voting members representing the mayors of St. Augustine and St. Augustine Beach, and the Board of County Commissioners.

Barbara Golden, Communications Manager for the Visitors and Convention Bureau told Historic City News that an extensive search for a well-qualified candidate to fill the newly created position of Executive Director is now underway. Glenn Hastings previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Visitors and Convention Bureau. Hastings will now serve in the singular capacity of Executive Director of the St. Johns County Tourist Development Council.

Until the executive director position is filled, Board Chairman Charles Cox will supervise the Visitors and Convention Bureau on a voluntary basis. The goal is to have the executive director position filled by the end of the year.

Among other changes, a new contract between the county and the Visitors and Convention Bureau is being developed and will be in place within the next 60 days.

Also, the Visitors and Convention Bureau staff will soon move from the County Administration Building to a new location. Several options for the Visitors and Convention Bureau offices are under consideration.

[Skookum]

Look a whle new gang of incompetent theives: