In January, Escambia County Clerk Pam Childers denied a $86,250 payment request from Visit Pensacola, and in doing so, she put herself above the Escambia County Commission, Triumph Gulf Coast and Visit Florida, the state’s tourism development agency. Read 2025 01-14 NWFL Tourism Council (002)
The Payment Request
The payment in question consisted of two parts:
- $28,750 for membership dues to the Northwest Florida Tourism Council
- $57,500 as a contribution for a “regional match for Triumph Gulf Coast Grant marketing campaign”
Conflict of Interest Accusation
Despite the Northwest Florida Tourism Council having been added to the county’s Approved Memberships list in October 2024, Childers refused to pay the dues, even though she has previously.
She expressed concerns regarding the relationship between Visit Pensacola and the Northwest Florida Tourism Council, noting that both organizations share the same address and leadership connections.
- Darien Schaefer serves as both Visit Pensacola and the Northwest Florida Tourism Council. He is the President/CEO of Visit Pensacola. He is simultaneously the Chairman and registered agent for the Northwest Florida Tourism Council
Had Childers called Schaefer, any of the Northwest Florida Tourism Council or VISIT FLORIDA, or done a Google Search, she would have discovered:
- The Council operates as Florida’s Coastal Northwest Communications Council, Inc., which was incorporated in December 2002 with EIN 75-3105661
- The organization was re-established as a 501(c)(6) in 2010 following the BP Oil spill
- Rather than being controlled by a single individual, the Council represents eight tourism directors from their respective Tourism Organizations and Boards of County Commissioners: Pensacola, Navarre Beach, Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Walton County, Panama City Beach, Gulf County, Franklin County, and Wakulla County
- The organization is funded through annual dues contributed by each member organization and collaborative efforts with VISIT FLORIDA
- Leadership rotates, with Darien Schaefer (Pensacola) currently serving as Chair and Matt Algarin (South Walton) as Vice Chair as of December 2022
- Previous leadership included Chair Kelli Godwin (Gulf County) and Vice Chair Julie White (Santa Rosa County)
Triumph & Tourism
The Clerk also specifically addressed the $57,500 Triumph Gulf Coast contribution, noting that it was designated for “a regional match for Triumph Gulf Coast Grant marketing campaign to grow regional awareness and visitation.”
- In her letter, she questioned this expenditure, pointing out that Triumph Gulf Coast is a nonprofit organization that administers funds recovered from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and its primary purpose “is not to specifically promote tourism.”
The Triumph grant request had the full support of the Board of County Commissioners. Triumph’s website has all the details.
- The Escambia County Commission sent a letter of support for the Triumph Grant on December 7, 2023, indicating county-level backing for the initiative. Escambia County Support Letter
- In May 2024, the Triumph Gulf Coast Board unanimously approved a grant of $10.5 million to VISIT FLORIDA that will benefit all eight counties impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Triumph NWFL Marketing Plan
- The grant is designed to leverage Triumph funds, county-level matching contributions, and state-level support from VISIT FLORIDA. NWFL Beaches – Triumph Grant Award 5.29.24
- This campaign will unite the region’s destination marketing organizations under a coordinated effort to extend marketing efforts year-round and increase tourism’s economic impact
- The funds will be utilized for a three-year initiative to enhance marketing efforts and promote tourism in all eight affected counties: Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton, and Wakulla.
- Each county’s Tourism Development Council was expected to contribute a match as part of the grant structure
- To receive the grant, VISIT FLORIDA and Northwest Florida Tourism Council had to present their ROI. NWFL Beaches County Investment & ROI
THE IMPORTANCE OF TOURISM
As I reported yesterday, Childers, for some unknown reason, appears to want to wreck a vital sector of our economy.
The UWF Haas Center conducted the 2024 Visitor Survey for the Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA) – SRIA-Report-Final-with-Economic-Impact-2024.
The survey found:
- Tourism supports 8,242 jobs on Pensacola Beach, from hospitality and retail to entertainment and transportation.
- Visitors generate $287.6 million in personal income, helping sustain local workers and businesses.
- The total economic impact of tourism is $966.4 million, fueling multiple industries beyond just hospitality.
- Tourism contributes $493.5 million to the Gross Regional Product (GRP), reinforcing its role as a key driver of the local economy.
- Tax revenue from tourism reaches $131.8 million, directly funding public services such as road maintenance, traffic management, public safety, local schools, parks, beach conservation, and community projects.
At its 10th annual meeting last fall, Visit Pensacola reported:
Fiscal Year 2024 By the Numbers
- $22,023,172 in tourism tax development collections, an increase of 2.04%
- Welcomed over 2 million visitors to Escambia County
- The Visit Pensacola team shared The Way to Beach™ in front of over 45 markets garnering more than 360 million impressions
- Garnered 61 new community partners, generated 463 pieces of social content, attracted over 863,000 partner listing views, and completed over 2,200 partner assists
- Over 3.8 million people used visitpensacola.com
- Received 212 combined print, online, broadcast, and social features that generated $194 million in earned media
- Gained over 69,000 new social media followers, an increase of 18%
- Generated over $111 million in group sales bookings
- Welcomed over 42,000 to the visitor information centers
BOTTOMLINE
Recap: The Clerk overruled the Escambia County Commission for adding the Northwest Florida Tourism Council to its Approved Memberships list. She overruled the commissioners for supporting the Triumph grant. She overruled Triumph Gulf Coast for unanimously approving the grant. She overruled VISIT FLORIDA and Bay, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton, and Wakulla counties, which believe a regional tourism effort is worthwhile.
Childers did her analysis (2025 01-14 NWFL Tourism Council (002)) in a vacuum with little in-depth research. Her intent has been to weaken Visit Pensacola and damage its reputation nationally and with its vendors. Instead of helping tourism, she’s sabotaging it.
She is putting our economy at risk.