Posted by: thepinetree on 10/29/2012 06:05 PM
Updated by: thepinetree on 10/29/2012 06:05 PM
Expires: 01/01/2017 12:00 AM
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Lodging Community Screwed Inn their Own Beds! Letter to the Editor by Arline Taborek
Murphys, CA...On April 3, 2012, Calaveras Visitors Bureau (CVB) invited lodging members to a Tourism Marketing District (TMD) meeting with Civitas, a company that specializes in forming and developing tourism improvement districts. I was really taken aback once I learned that the CVB had already negotiated a contract with Civitas to facilitate and manage a TMD, at a cost of upwards from $40,000.00! Prior to that meeting, CVB did not initiate any meetings with lodging members to ask for input, feedback, or if lodging would even support CVB’s decision. CVB’s decision to take a major portion of TOT advertising money and sink it into Civitas without benefit of a vote or guaranteed lodging support was irresponsible, and a mismanagement of TOT monies. Lodging contributes to an overwhelming majority of CVB’s funding, but it is my sense that CVB’s attitude toward the lodging community is, you are either going to be burdened with a TOT increase or a TMD tax, whether you like it or not, so suck it up!...
It is now September 10, 2012 and lodging members are invited to another meeting. This meeting was to have the lodging community decide if we wanted to continue pursuing the TMD with Civitas, or would we support a sweetheart deal, and “practically a slam dunk” TOT increase by partnering with Steve Wilensky’s Citizens for a Better Calaveras (CBC.) So now, CVB is asking for the lodging members input…after the fact. How interesting that lodging members are now being asked to take on the accountability of deciding between two tax options, where neither situation, in my opinion, is in the best interest of lodging.
“CVB Decision: Putting the brakes on TMD for now, and moving forward with TOT. Circling back to TMD if TOT doesn’t pass.”
SERIOUSLY?! Wait a minute, what just happened here? CVB spends a boatload of lodgings TOT advertising money to hire Civitas to create a TMD, and now half-way through the process, lodging is being informed that CVB has been brokering a deal with CBC on the side, again without the agreement of all lodging facilities regarding CVB’s share of TOT. Not only that, CVB is guaranteeing CBC 40% of the proposed 10% TOT increase. How can CVB, who doesn’t even have any guarantees in place right now for themselves, guarantee monies to CBC?!!!
What I see is no core management. No accountability or responsibility to the lodging community that funds CVB.
How about, CVB does what they should have done, before they started getting in bed with multiple partners.
1. Inform and discuss with lodging facilities any major plans that will directly affect them.
2. Ask lodging to support a 1% or 2% increase without any interest groups.
3. Raise membership fees for other business (Lodging should be free as they provide CVB’s majority funding, but we are still required to pay membership fees if we want to be listed.)
4. Meet with supervisors to present and discuss possibility of:
a. defining new TOT guidelines.
b. receiving a fair and equitable portion of the TOT.
c. securing a signed agreement that states that CVB will never receive less than the agreed upon TOT portion.
As a lodging owner, I resent that CVB spent lodging TOT monies on Civitas with little regard for lodging, and then turned around and put them on hold until they see if this TOT avenue with CBC pans out, and if it doesn’t, they’ll hook up with Civitas again. I am fearful that CVB is setting up the lodging industry for failure, and opening us up to a veritable influx of groups who feel entitled to TOT tourism monies.
Everyone keeps saying that lodging guests pay the tax, so what’s the big deal. Since 2008 lodging throughout Calaveras County has already experienced a decrease in occupancy as we are seeing a lot more “day trippers.” We are not a large city like San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento or even Modesto who can demand and support a higher TOT base. Calaveras County has limited lodging, restaurants and shops. We need people to want to stay in our lodging facilities for one or two nights, to fill our restaurants, and spend their money in our shops, which allows businesses to thrive, so owners can keep their doors open, and employees get to keep their jobs, which creates a win/win for everyone.
CVB should not be making promises or guarantees to special interest groups, especially promises they are not in a position to keep. CVB’s only concern must be to do their job, which is to promote tourism for the county, and represent their primary source of revenue: Lodging.
CVB is treating the lodging community like a “Cash Cow,” without giving a second thought as to how raising the TOT might impact some lodging facilities NEGATIVELY, as long as they, and the CBC, benefit.
By CVB not involving the lodging facilities BEFORE making any crucial decisions that would ultimately impact lodging with a major burden, it sets the tone for conflict and animosity between lodging & CVB. I see this as a lose/lose for everyone in Calaveras County.
Arline Taborek
Dunbar House, 1880
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