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…
Tag: 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…
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 $5.5 million in tourism taxes to the new group….
Time to call bulls#$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…
Double standard for tourism
Any organization that comes from the Escambia County Commission for funds has had to show that they are viable corporation, especially if they are a non-profit. Ron Ellington, spokesman for a hotel…
Gulf Coast African-American Chamber concerned over tourism plan
Admiral LeRoy, Jr., the executive director of the Gulf Coast African-American Chamber, has sent a letter to Escambia County Commission Chairman Gene Valentino over concerns that his organization hasn’t been included in…
AMEX cards may not have been handed out as told
Chamber CEO Jim Hizer told his board last week that the process for handing out the AMEX gift cards was the visitor presented a hotel receipt and his driver’s license. Those were…
Escambia tourism up 12 percent
Press Release: Tourism in Escambia County is presently setting all-time lodging revenue records for FY 2012-2013 to date, with lodging revenues generated in October and November 2012 totaling $24.1 million, a 12…
Chickens, Noise and Taxes
During its Committee of the Whole workshop this morning, the Escambia County Commission tended to chickens, the county’s noise ordinance and allocation of the fourth-cent tourist tax. Commissioners first plowed into the…
Assigned Seating for the TDC
The Escambia County Commission will be asked Thursday to approve updated designations for members of the Tourist Development Council. The TDC, according to state statute, must be composed of a certain number…
Baldwin County tourism dropped 40 percent in June
The Mobile Press Register is reporting that Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and the rest of South Baldwin Co. beaches lost in June $35.5 million in taxable spending because of the BP oil…
Secret Lives of BP cleanup workers
Pensacola still has much to offer visitors and we need to find creative ways to attract them. This video was produced locally and was highlighted this weekend on MSNBC. “Follow two members…
Pensacola Beach – CNN’s Building Up America
“Today is the first official day of summer, but across the Gulf Coast, beaches sit empty. People who depend on tourism dollars are wondering how they’re going to make ends meet. But…
Now Crist asks for $100M from BP
On May 17, Gov. Charlie Crist had in his office BP CEO Tony Hayward. Instead of pressing for money for the oil clean-up, the Florida governor only got $25 million from the…
Crist withholds funds for Panhandle
Gov. Charlie Crist will be on Pensacola Beach tomorrow for an appearance on Fox & Friends around 7:15 a.m. Shortly after that national TV appearance, Crist will announce that none of the…
DeLuna Clue 2010 # 1
From Fiesta of Five Flags: Can You Guess The Identity of Fiesta’s King and Queen? From June 3-13, Pensacola will celebrate the 61st Fiesta of Five Flags celebration – the oldest and…
Beast Corps: Notes on Meek’s Forum on Offshore drilling
From Beast Corps correspondent Logan Harrison: Timeline: • Arrived at 7:03 • Talked about being on the road all day, took bathroom break…. • Left Panama City this morning • Took a…
Grover and Goodin met with BP in D.C.
I spoke with Escambia County Commissioner Grover Robinson this morning about his and Santa Rosa Commissioner Gordon Goodin’s meetings with the Coast Guard and British Petroleum. Congressman Jeff Miller set up the…
TAC wants Civic Advisory Committee
Tourism Administration and Convention Committee is asking the Escambia County Commission to form a Pensacola Civic Center Advisory Committee. In June 2, 2008 letter to the commissioners, the TAC states: The proposed…