The rush for approval of the structure, budget and transition plan for Visit Pensacola, the new entity created by the lodging industry, to assume control of $5.5 million of tourism development tax…
Category: News
Pensacola a Site in 350.org’s “Draw the Line” National Environmental Action
On Saturday, Pensacola will be one of over 220 locations in the U.S. and Canada holding gatherings as part of 350.org’s “Draw the Line on Keystone XL” event. The environmental group is…
IMPACT 100 Announces 2013 Finalists
IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area, a local women’s philanthropy group, is pleased to announce the 15 grant finalists selected for 2013. Eight of these 15 finalists will receive a grant of $104,500…
Studer Group Ranked Seventh on Great Place to Work 2013 Best Small & Medium Workplaces List
Studer Group was named by Great Place to Work® as one of the best small workplaces in the United States on their annual 2013 Best Small & Medium Workplaces list. Ranked seventh,…
PNJ cleared of allegations employees illegally recorded a meeting
State Attorney Bill Eddin’s announced this afternoon that his office had completed its investigation into whether employees of the Pensacola News Journal had illegally recorded a meeting between representatives of the University…
Gulf Breeze native named Chief of Staff
Helen Walker Tolar of Gulf Breeze has been named chief of staff for Arkansas U.S. Sen. John Boozman. Tolar currently serves as staff director and chief counsel of the House Committee on…
It’s official. UWF Argos will play football at Maritime Park in 2016
Collier Merrill is making his last CMPA board meeting a huge one. After weeks of negotiations, University of West Florida President Dr. Judy Bense announced today the university will play its first…
TDC approves Visit Pensacola governance. Others are not as positive
Last night, the Escambia County Tourism Development Council met to hear from Ron Ellington about Visit Pensacola, the new entity that has been proposed to take over the $5.5 million tourism marketing…
Visit Pensacola bylaws ensure lodging industry control
Tale of Two Bylaws Ron Ellington drafted on July 10 a set of bylaws for Visit Pensacola that he shared with the Greater Pensacola Chamber officials. The final set delivered to the…
Congressman uses campaign funds to maintain home
Florida Center for Investigative Reporting is reporting that Congressman Steve Southerland (R-Panama City) used campaign funds to improve and maintain a Panama City home he inherited in 2005. Those house was used…
Visit Pensacola tabled until next week
The hoteliers delivered yesterday the bylaw, transition plan with the chamber and business plan for Visit Pensacola, the new “independent” corporation that they want to assume control of $5.5 million in tourism…
Ellington had plenty of time to give BCC and public more details (draft Visit Pensacola bylaws)
Ellington’s history with the tourism budget goes back beyond the last few weeks: From: Ron Ellington Sent: Monday, July 08, 2013 7:53 PM To: Gene Valentino (district2@co.escambia.fl.us); Wilson Robertson (district1@co.escambia.fl.us); Grover Robinson…
Buzz: ACE requests to make presentation
There really are two tourism issues facing the Escambia Board of County Commissioners: the governance and control of $5.5 million in bed tax dollars and the surplus in bed tax dollars for…
Lobbyist tried to dictate who would represent the arts community on new tourism board
Ron Ellington, paid lobbyist for the hotel industry, apparently has his Visit Pensacola board chosen to run tourism for Escambia County. According to David Bear, head of Art, Culture, and Entertainment, Inc…
Buzz: Visit Pensacola added to next TDC agenda
Just got a phone call. Visit Pensacola has been added to the Sept. 17 meeting of the Escambia County Tourism Council. Will the TDC be given documents or only a PowerPoint presentation?
The role of TDC in the decision to give $5.5 million to Visit Pensacola
Ron Ellington, his hoteliers and the Escambia County Commission are jumping over a very important step in their rush to give control of $5.5 million in tourism taxes to the new group….
Judge approves Conoco contamination settlement, value $9.5 million
Following a hearing on September 4, 2013, an Escambia County Circuit Court has granted final approval of a class settlement and certification of a settlement class of property owners affected by the…
Clarification: Visit Pensacola was incorporated Aug. 23
Visit Pensacola was incorporated on 8/26/13. Ron Ellington is listed as the president and its principal office as Innsfree address. They are using the PSA as a “fiscal agent” or financial conduit…
Time to call bulls#$t
Ron Ellington made several commitments to use local marketing firms and talent for his new group’s tourism efforts. The requests by the commissioners came from what appeared to be the Greater Pensacola…
Smoke, Mirrors and PowerPoint presentation get $5.5 million from county
Yesterday, the Escambia County Commission approved giving an new group, called Visit Pensacola, $5.5 million in bed tax dollars to run tourism for the county. The new group isn’t incorporated so the…