Commissioner Questions Spending by the Convention and Tourism Bureau

Tourism in Chattanooga and Hamilton county is booming!
With help from events like the Ironman competition and sports, it shows no signs of slowing down.
But a Hamilton county commissioner is questioning how much the convention and tourist bureau is spending to make that happen.

The convention bureau is spending some 25-thousand dollars a month on travel, according to commissioner Tim Boyd.
He wonders who’s keeping track of expenses like that.

COMMISSIONER TIM BOYD, DISTRICT  “It’s time that this commission takes a real close look at that, uh, probable 7.1 million dollar budget this year. And see if we don’t need to amend the resolution of 2007 that gave them 100% of the money without any oversight by this board of commissioners.”

Boyd says it’s Hamilton county’s money.
Bob Doak, the CEO of the Convention bureau it takes money to bring in tourists.

BOB DOAK, PRES. & CEO  “In 2015, according to a 3rd party, the U.S. travel association, visitors left over one billion dollars behind. Uh, we estimate that in 2016 that number will go up another 4 or 5 percent.”

COMMISSIONER BOYD  “Yes, does the CVB do great work? I’m not questioning that. I’m not..our tourist ..tourist levels are out the roof.”

Boyd says he and Bob Doak have had, quote, a “good talk” by phone and that they plan to get together soon.

COMMISSIONER BOYD  “.. as a commissioner whenever anything above 25-thousand dollars is going to be spent by Hamilton county on a capital improvement or virtually anything in the county, it comes before the commission, and we have deliberate it and approve the spending of the money.”

BOB DOAK  “These things don’t happen–our, we don’t sit by and wait for our phone to ring–we’re very pro-active..and we sell this city.”

Doak says the CVB budget has increased because the Hotel tax revenue has increased.

According to the Hamilton county audit, the convention bureau only spent 125-thousand dollars all year on travel.
Convention bureau figures also show, that the “billion dollars” a year from tourism rolls through the local economy—even boosting sales tax revenue.