The Plan
Update - June 23
Ohio Tourism Division gets funding for another year
State office was about to run out of money at end of fiscal year
Wednesday, June 23, 2010 11:56 AM
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
The Ohio Tourism Division, which was about to see its funding dry up as the state fiscal year nears its end, has been given another one-year funding reprieve.
Tourism director Amir Eylon said today that the division will receive $5.4 million from the Ohio Department of Development's discretionary fund for marketing and economic development for fiscal year 2011, which begins July 1. That's up from $5.1 million in the current 2010 fiscal year.
The division's funding was completely eliminated from the state budget last year, as lawmakers made deep cuts to try to shore up a $3.2 billion funding gap.
Industry leaders from the Ohio Tourism Roundtable have been working with development officials to come up with a permanent funding model, but have not yet been able to come to an agreement.
The interim funding means the division will be able to continue operating with its slightly smaller staff in the coming year; plan for a spring/summer media campaign similar to the $1.5 million effort it's currently running; and continue to support local convention and visitors bureaus with services such as a call center and fulfillment of brochure requests.
Update - January 29
The Ohio Tourism Roundtable has completed their research of state tourism departments. They have analyzed numerous structure and funding models for the future of the Ohio tourism marketing. The group has recently narrowed its focus and is prepared to recommend a financing model that would create sustainable growth for both tourism promotion and tourism-related sales tax revenue. The proposal would not require any new taxes, assessments or fees. The accountability-based model would prompt a reinvestment in tourism promotion funding when there is documented growth in tourism-related sales tax revenue.
Update - December 16
The Ohio Tourism Roundtable meeting with Governor Strickland on December 15, 2009 was positive. The Ohio Tourism Roundtable is currently close to an official industry recommendation. The plan that we are developing will create stable and sustainable funding for Ohio's tourism promotion office - our intent is to design a plan that pays for itself and generates additional revenue for state and local government programs. We are continuing our meetings with the Ohio Department of Development, and more information will be available from the Roundtable in the coming weeks as the model is refined.
Update - December 4
The Ohio Tourism Roundtable directors met with the Ohio Department of Development's Director Lisa Patt-McDaniel on December 1 to discuss the pending report and recommendations for Ohio Tourism Division Funding. The workgroup has been meeting weekly for nearly four months and they are nearing completion on their recommendations for the future funding structure for the Ohio Tourism Division. The workgroup has thoroughly researched best practice models and explored funding mechanisms utilized by other statewide destination marketing organizations. Due to the current political climate and the recession, there is very little support for the introduction of new taxes on any segment of the industry. The workgroup is now spending most of its time discussing the formation of a funding model that would permit stability for the Ohio Tourism Division activities using a model that reinvests a portion of tourism-related tax revenue into tourism promotion. This model will be successful only if sufficient base funds are initially available. Director Patt-McDaniel committed to finding base funds for the Ohio Tourism Division for FY 2011. Legislation will be necessary to create the long-term structure and funding model that is recommended. The workgroup was reminded that the budget action taken in July was intended to enhance and improve Ohio's tourism promotion efforts and not to cut or eliminate the Ohio Tourism Division. The workgroup is scheduled to meet with the governor once again on December 15th to continue dialogue on the creation of the future funding structure model.
Update - October 30
The Ohio Tourism Roundtable has secured a meeting with Gov. Strickland on November 10 to discuss potential funding models for the Ohio Tourism Division. Representatives from the leadership of the Ohio Department of Development, its Tourism Division and the Executives of the Ohio Tourism Roundtable continue to meet on a weekly basis with the goal of having a recommendation for a "public/private model" prior to the Thanksgiving Holiday.
Update - October 22
The first phase of the effort to create a "public/private funding model" for a future Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) for the state involves looking at the range of options that other states currently use to fund and operate their state marketing efforts. Representatives from the leadership of the Ohio Department of Development, its Tourism Division and the Executives of the Ohio Tourism Roundtable are meeting on a weekly basis with the goal of having a recommendation for a "public/private model" prior to the Thanksgiving Holiday.
