A group that helps direct the spending of tens of thousands of dollars each year to encourage local tourism is now open to any Warren County resident.
The city of Warrenton’s Tourism …
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A group that helps direct the spending of tens of thousands of dollars each year to encourage local tourism is now open to any Warren County resident.
The city of Warrenton’s Tourism Commission guides the use of revenue from a special tax on hotels and motels in the city, contributing to things such as community festivals, Fourth of July fireworks, Concerts in the Park and promotions for local activities and attractions. Until recently, members of the tourism commission could only be recruited from within the Warrenton city limits.
That limitation has lead to significant difficulty in getting enough people to serve on the five-person commission, said City Administrator Terri Thorn.
“It’s been very difficult for a number of years,” Thorn told city aldermen during a Nov. 19 meeting. Shortly after, aldermen voted unanimously open tourism commission recruiting to any Warren County resident.
One of the challenges of recruiting for the tourism commission is that several members must represent the local hotel and tourism industries, significantly narrowing the pool of candidates. Thorn said finding a hotel or motel representative has been the most challenging, because most hotel managers and owners don’t live within the city limits.
“This is a very logical change since bringing in tourists benefits not only the city, but the surrounding county as well,” Thorn commented. “Many of the city business owners and those involved in events live in the surrounding county area.”
Ward 2 Alderman Mike Shilharvey, the board’s representative on the tourism commission, said he things broadening that candidate pool is a step in the right direction.
“I’ve had phone calls or emails from people in the county that were willing to serve on the commission,” Shilharvey said. “I know the people are out there and they’re interested, so I think it’s a good move.”
Members of the tourism commission serve as volunteers. They operate by submitting a budget of tourism-related expenses to the board of aldermen each month for approval. Funds from the special hotel and motel tax can only be used for tourism-related purposes.
Ward 2 Alderman Gary Auch said it makes sense to open the commission to a broader group of stakeholders.
“Tourism doesn’t stop at the city limits. There’s wineries and places outside the city in the county that certainly benefit and provide tourist dollars to the city.,” Auch commented. “I think it’s a perfectly logical thing to do to expand the people who can sit on the commission.”
The Warrenton Tourism Commission was established 2005. The commission is made up of one representative of the hotel and motel industry, two representatives who are active in the general tourism industry, and two people representing general business interests.
