HEATED DISCUSSION AT HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX BOARD MEETING IN BRENHAM

  

The Brenham – Washington County Hotel Occupancy Tax Board met Wednesday, to discuss allocation of funding within the county.

After ending its contract with the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (CVB), the City of Brenham is in charge of tourism duties for the county.

Tourism and Marketing Director Jennifer Eckermann outlined her plans to the organizations at the meeting, including the Chappell Hill Chamber of Commerce, Washington-on-the-Brazos, and the Heritage Society of Washington County.

Out of the $613,000 available for allocation this year, about $483,000 was placed into Brenham’s operation of the Visitor's Center, along with marketing, staffing, promotion and advertisement.  The board received around $790,000 in total funding requests.

Last year, the Washington County Chamber of Commerce used about $458,000 for visitor center operations, administration, and promotion, $25,000 than what was allotted for the city this year.

Eckermann said the budget accounts for several full-time and part-time staff, many of which worked in the CVB.  She added that county groups will be receiving reports on their “Visitor Experiences”, along with a list of short-term goals, within a few weeks.

Board member Susan Cantey expressed confidence in Eckermann directing tourism, pointing to her work for the Main Street program in Brenham.

However, both the Chappell Hill Historical Society (CHHS) and Chamber of Commerce expressed concern that the majority of funding would be going towards Brenham, leaving about $130,000 for other county groups.

Chappell Hill Chamber President John Wick stressed the importance of the town’s festivals, parades and advertising in bringing in visitors to the county.

Historical Society President Joel Romo disputed the board’s claim that the festivals acted as only local events, saying Chappell Hill acts as a gateway to the rest of Washington County.

Board members stated that Eckermann’s efforts would be county wide, and that not all of the funding allotted to Brenham would go just to the city. They said the funding is a large pool for everyone, no longer separated by city and county.  Washington County Commissioner Kirk Hanath said he believes the city will adopt a “holistic view” for the county and its advertising.

Ginger Moreland, Administrator for the Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park Association, said the park is the second largest attraction in Brenham behind Blue Bell. She added that, while the association does get contributions from the Navasota-Grimes County Chamber, last year’s $15,000 allotted to them by the HOT Board was a “punch in the gut”.

Upon reaching a conclusion, the board decided to grant $11,350 apiece for the CHHS’s Cultural Series, Scarecrow Festival, and Bluebonnet Festival.  Each of the festivals received $5,000 last year.  The CHHS had requested $33,000 for the Cultural Series, $25,000 for the Scarecrow and Bluebonnet Festivals, and $10,000 for wayfinding signs.  The signage request was not funded this year or last year.

For the Chappell Hill Chamber, the board granted a request for $10,000 for the Craft Beer Festival, with the condition that the festival take place during a tourism “down month” to balance out with other events in the area.

$8,000 was granted for Chappell Hill advertising.  Chamber President Wick says much of that will go towards billboard and banner repairs.  For the Fourth of July Parade, the board granted $2,840, with $5,000 requested.  Neither of these received funding last year.

The board granted the Heritage Society of Washington County $8,500, which will go towards maintenance for its historical tour houses.  The Heritage Society received $5,000 last year, and requested $11,400 this year.

The Independence Historical Society was granted $8,000 for CVB personnel, after requesting $9,500.  The Society withdrew its request for $6,000 for restoration, saying it was no longer needed.  Last year, the Society received $4,000 each for personnel and restoration.

The Unity Theatre received its full request of $15,500 for advertising.  It received $13,000 last year.

The Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park will receive $23,000, much of which will go towards Texas Independence Day festivities.  The Park had requested $26,600.

Finally, $10,110 will go to the board’s membership in the Texas Hotel and Lodging Association.  There was a request for the Inn at Dos Brisas for $100,000, but the board did not distribute any funding.