Written by Dottie Nist
The Walton County Tourism Development Council’s (TDC) Marketing and Communications Committee met to discuss Walton County’s event grant program and also received an update on the Walton County Tourism Authority’s comprehensive countywide marketing efforts. I did.
He said this at the commission’s Oct. 31 meeting at the Walton County Courthouse.
The Event Grant Program, funded by the Tourism Development Tax (the “bed tax”), reimburses the cost of promoting events in Walton County. Kelly Carter, director of marketing for the tourism board, said applications for the program have been reworked to cover the entire county.
This reflects the bed tax currently being collected in the northern and southern parts of the Bay, following the November 2020 decision by voters in the northern part of the Bay to impose a tax on short-term lodging facilities for the first time in northern Walton County. ing.
Mr. Carter discussed placing emphasis on event programs for applicants to have an accommodation partner for the event and for a letter from a collaborating partner to accompany the application, as suggested by the committee. . There was discussion about whether there would be a reduction in accommodation related to smaller community-type events, but Mr Carter said that because the funding comes from the Tourism Development Tax (TDT), applicants would have some access to accommodation. He said his lawyer suggested that he needed to make an effort to do so. ).
She also provided the Committee for consideration with options for scoring applications required of the Committee in connection with the Event Grants Program, options that could simplify the task of processing the large number of applications received. also promised.
Applications are expected to be available in January 2024, and the committee plans to begin scoring completed applications in April 2024.
Moving on to update the board, Carter told committee members that the final value of the bed tax for fiscal year 2022-23 is not yet available and will not be released for another week or two.
She provided figures for August 2023, the latest month available. She reported August 2023 TDT collections of $5,453,235, a figure that includes the entire county. The amount in the area north of the bay was $19,917, and the amount in the area south of the bay was almost $5,433,318.
Carter said bed tax collections south of the Bay have decreased by about 4.36% year-to-date from the previous year, a difference of about $1 million, while bed tax collections in northern Walton County are about 2.2 percent lower. %, and the same amount has increased by approximately $4,918. Previous year.
Carter said if collections continue at the current pace, he expects to generate between $60 million and $61 million a year, which he said should be well in line with the department’s annual budget.
Mr. Carter spoke about major upcoming announcements related to tourism promotion efforts in the northern Bay region, now known as “Beyond the Beaches.” She explained that more than 200 people who live, work and play north of the bay responded to the department’s survey asking what they thought about the area. Carter said this information was used to create a new brand for the area that will be unveiled at the next TDC conference on Dec. 5 at the Best Western in Defuniak Springs.
She said she plans to send out invitations for everyone to attend the launch and see what the new brand will look like.
Carter proudly reported that the tourism office is currently working with five lodging partners in northern Walton County to survey guests to find out “what they’re looking for.” The agency is also seeking other lodging partners.
Carter said Walton County Tourism’s new website will launch on Oct. 30 and will replace the county’s previous partner page. She said more features will be added to her website. The web address is www.waltoncountyfltourism.com.
Nicole Everett, Director of Communications for the Tourism Bureau, also spoke to the committee. He highlighted the upcoming Hospitality Services Job Fair, which the Department of Tourism sees as part of its most important role in providing connections between qualified job seekers and the industry. said.
Everett said the fair is held annually at the Boys & Girls Club facility in Santa Rosa Beach, and that tourism officials work with the club to determine the date for the fair and then disseminate information to encourage community participation. Then he said. .
Committee member Tracy Rosine said a new committee is working to create an art project in Freeport’s public spaces, using Freeport’s distinctive anchor as an artistic symbol. Announced. She said partners in the program will include the Walton County Cultural Arts Alliance, the Department of Tourism and other interested parties.
Rosine said the program’s anchors will be cast in concrete and decorated by local artists to enhance the city’s “sense of place.” She promised to keep committee members updated on the program’s progress.
Finally, Mr. Carter encouraged area residents to take advantage of items available at the Walton County Tourism Visitor Center for their Christmas shopping. The items include cooking supplies and will soon include a cookbook showcasing “all the good things Walton County has to offer.” ”
These meetings are open to the public and details can be found on the Walton County website at www.co.walton.fl.us.