The Fremont County Tourism Council has adopted a budget that proposes spending nearly $115,000 on tourism promotion in 2006. The new budget relies on a 24.8 percent increase in county lodging tax revenues during 2005. The Fremont County Finance Office estimates current 2005 lodging tax revenues at $117,404. That compares to collections of $94,081 for 2004.
Tourism Council members say there is no definitive explanation for the large jump in lodging tax revenues. Members say they do not believe there was any substantial increase in room rates , so it’s believed that the increase likely came from visitors spending more nights in Fremont County motel and hotel rooms.
The bulk of the 2006 tourism spending, $45,000, is targeted towards the annual Royal Gorge Country Visitors Guide. $12,000 will be spent in the Colorado Springs Visitors Guide and $20,000 for web site advertising. The tourism council will also be working with a new web company this spring to enhance marketing of advertising banners on its web site, www.rgcountry.com, in an effort to increase revenues for tourism promotion. The council hopes to market web site advertising in concert with advertising sales for the annual visitors guide.
As a result of a by-laws change last spring to direct five percent of lodging tax revenues towards local events that attract visitors, the council set aside $11,000 in the 2006 tourism budget for four local groups. The council agreed to contribute $4,000 to the annual Belvedere Blues Fest promotion, $4,000 to the special Fremont Center for the Arts 2006 art show by Christo & Jeanne-Claude, $2,000 for the Upper Arkansas Area Council of Governments 2nd annual barbecue at Buckskin Joe, and $1,000 towards promotions by the Florence Merchants.
Fremont County’s two percent lodging tax will sunset at the end of 2006. The tax question must be placed before the voters again in the November, 2006, general election in order that the lodging tax can continue to be collected.
Tourism Council members say there is no definitive explanation for the large jump in lodging tax revenues. Members say they do not believe there was any substantial increase in room rates , so it’s believed that the increase likely came from visitors spending more nights in Fremont County motel and hotel rooms.
The bulk of the 2006 tourism spending, $45,000, is targeted towards the annual Royal Gorge Country Visitors Guide. $12,000 will be spent in the Colorado Springs Visitors Guide and $20,000 for web site advertising. The tourism council will also be working with a new web company this spring to enhance marketing of advertising banners on its web site, www.rgcountry.com, in an effort to increase revenues for tourism promotion. The council hopes to market web site advertising in concert with advertising sales for the annual visitors guide.
As a result of a by-laws change last spring to direct five percent of lodging tax revenues towards local events that attract visitors, the council set aside $11,000 in the 2006 tourism budget for four local groups. The council agreed to contribute $4,000 to the annual Belvedere Blues Fest promotion, $4,000 to the special Fremont Center for the Arts 2006 art show by Christo & Jeanne-Claude, $2,000 for the Upper Arkansas Area Council of Governments 2nd annual barbecue at Buckskin Joe, and $1,000 towards promotions by the Florence Merchants.
Fremont County’s two percent lodging tax will sunset at the end of 2006. The tax question must be placed before the voters again in the November, 2006, general election in order that the lodging tax can continue to be collected.
Members of the Fremont County Tourism Council are Vicki Casey, Mike Bandera, Andy Neinas, Danny DeGeorge, Mike Merlino, Sandi Roberts, and Ryan McCallister.