Carlton Proctor wrote in today’s daily newspaper about the selection process of the initial board of directors of Visit Pensacola – the 501(c)6 non-profit formed to replace the Greater Pensacola Chamber’s Tourism Advisory Committee that managed tourism marketing for the county (and its $5-$6 million budget).
Two of the area’s largest hotel operators had two of the four selection committee seats. Julian MacQueen of Innisfree and Bob Cleveland of Highpointe Hotels. MacQueen is the employer of Ron Ellington, who lobbied the county commission for Visit Pensacola. Cleveland was the vice chair for tourism with the chamber for 2012-13.
Representing the part of the community outside of the hotel industry were Mayor Ashton Hayward and Carol Carlan, the chair-elect for the chamber.
Commissioner Lumon May told the Independent News that he had been asked to be on the committee, but had refused on the advice of the county attorney.
With May’s decline of the invitation, the selection committee had no minority representation.
The application process for the Visit Pensacola board was not open to all county residents to apply. The applications were done by invitation only. Only a select few knew that applications were being accepted.
The board that was selected appears to be balanced and has several independent members. However, the lack of openness and transparency is troublesome considering how much money the board will be handling.