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Local tourism group reports record guest tax collections
Published 2/10/2012 in Local News
By SHAJIA AHMAD
sahmad@gctelegram.com
The Finney County Convention and Tourism Bureau closed out 2011 with record transient guest tax collections, funds that the group's board of directors already is putting to use to promote community events.
The board on Thursday heard from the CTB's director, Lynn Schoonover, that the bureau collected $713,567 in hotel and motel taxes over the course of last year, the first full year in which a new 6 percent transient guest tax has been in place.
In the year prior — 2010 — the transient tax used to fund the operations of the independent bureau collected $457,738. During the first half of 2010, the local hotel tax was 4 percent and the 2 percent hike approved by county officials took effect in July 2010.
Lynn Schoonover, director of the CTB that exists under the auspices of the county and promotes ways to put "heads in beds" for the benefit of the local economy, told her board members Thursday that the high tax receipts were due in part to strong fourth quarter collections.
"We earned $175,250, a very strong finish," she said. "We budgeted very conservatively, and it puts us in a very nice position going into this year."
The board approved a $854,976 budget for this year at its Jan. 19 meeting, banking that the tax collections would come in at $700,000 for the year.
Among those budgeted funds set aside for this year, no more than $84,000 and has been set aside for promoting events and nearly $119,000 for sports marketing.
Board members agreed Thursday to utilize $10,000 they've already budgeted for this year to host the annual Garden City Hot Air Balloon classic, an event that was slated for its eighth year last August but eventually was canceled entirely due to excessive heat and winds.
Schoonover told the board that she felt the "signature event" was worthy of one more try this year, but was open to saving or allocating those funds elsewhere if the board so desired.
The CTB director said the former August date will be moved to Sept. 21, in hopes of better weather.
"It was never designed to be a money-making project, but a community one," Schoonover said. "This date should be a better date. ... It's not got a huge draw (for hotel stays), but we've never taken it to the next level, either."
The board, which ultimately voted 7-2 in favor of hosting the balloon festival again this year, was split on the idea.
"I don't think it's an event that can stand on its own," John Washington, director of the Garden City Recreation Commission, said prior to the vote.
Amro Samy, owner of Samy's Spirits and Steakhouse and who also voted against the idea, said he didn't feel the event promoted enough overnight visitors, one of the CTB's primary goals.
Others disagreed.
"I love it," Therese Cruz, a general manager from the Holiday Inn Express, said. "I've dealt with the (balloon crew and pilots), and people are always asking about it. ... Trying it on a different date would probably be a good thing. And if doesn't happen again this year, then next year we won't have it."
In other business:
* The board unanimously agreed to allocate $1,000 to Oklahoma State University, which is hosting its spring invitational co-ed golf tournament in Garden City March 11 through 13. The group, which requested $2,500 for promotion of the program, said the funds will help pay for the cost of a barbecue and to reduce entry fees for participating teams. The event is estimated to generate 30 to 35 room stays during the course of its programs, according to organizers.
* The board unanimously agreed to allocate $5,000 to Todd Van Cleave of Southwest Hitter Baseball Club to help host the Way Out West Baseball Tournament May 25 through 27.
The baseball tournaments for youngsters is expected to generate between 350 and 700 hotel room stays, according to the organizer, based on the 40 teams of 10 kids each, plus their families expected to stay one or two nights in Garden City.
* The board unanimously agreed to sign a two-year lease with Rental Enterprise at their office location at 1513 E. Fulton Terrace. The monthly lease is $1,760, which accounts for about $25,000 in remodeling costs the property owners undertook before the CTB moved in.
Dan Fankhauser, a city commissioner, and his brother, Dick Fankhauser, own and operate the rental company.
CTB board member Neil Kapadia of America's Best Value Inn was not present at Thursday's meeting.
The CTB board is scheduled to meet again at 1 p.m. March 8. A location has not yet been determined. The meetings are open to the public.
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