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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 96-60 RESOLUTION NO. G% BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT: THAT the City Council hereby approves the marketing plan for visitor development and approves an appropriation of $88,000 from the unreserved balance of the Hotel Occupancy Tax Fund for the funding of the plan. The marketing plan is substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit "A." PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL of the City of Beaumont this the day of 1996. I - Mayor - PLANET BEAUMONT TOURISM IN THE 21ST CENTURY Jules Verne, in his most visionary mood,,would have been hard pressed to imagine the explosive technological advancements in today's world. Even Neil Armstrong's walk on the moon appears as a fading mirage, matched only by the exploits of Flash Gordon. Our senses are being continually bombarded by one hundred channel television, the world wide web, micro computers, cellular telephones and super Wal-Marts. The tourism industry is also experiencing unprecedented change... and growth. By the year 2000, Las Vegas will have over one hundred thousand hotel rooms, Disney World will strengthen its' position as the planet's number one tourism destination, nature tourism will continue to be the fastest growing segment of global travel, double decker jumbo jets will carry six hundred passengers from LA to Tokyo in less than six hours, computer controlled automobiles will cruise on a cushion of air at the one hundred m.p.h. speed limit, and a consortium of hotel companies will announce plans to build on the moon! Tourism promotion into the 21st century will challenge your Beaumont Convention and Visitors Bureau with myriad opportunities heretofore unexplored. Your bureau is poised to accept these as gifts for the purpose of enhancing the social and economic well-being of all Beaumonters. The genesis is upon us, and it is time to pursue the future. Your Beaumont Convention and Visitors Bureau advisory board of directors and staff recently held a planning workshop to consider our 21st century direction. It was a most encouraging and productive session molding ideas and visions into a common focus. Among those positions most fervently supported were the following: the need for image development and its' requisite marketing enhancement; alternative funding; re-establish jet air service for EXHIBIT "A" BPT; consumer research; and, development of the central business district and Neches River. Subsequent to the workshop, committees were formed and are currently addressing these issues. Other aspirations for the year 2000 included development of the following: a major theme park, the Texas Music Hall of Fame, Beaumont as a film production center, a regional farmers market, and enhanced recreational opportunities i.e. jogging/walking tracks, etc. Additionally, the Beaumont Convention and Visitor Bureau's current performance was analyzed and priorities were established. It was the unanimous consensus of the group that the convention and meeting solicitation and servicing efforts had achieved exemplary status. While there are certainly other markets to pursue, this segment of our operations is solidly on track. The primary focus of attention centered upon the need to become more enlightened, aggressive and competitive with regard to the leisure travel market. "How do we persuade those I-10 travelers to stop and stay?" "How do we position Beaumont as a destination market?" "How do we effectively educate our most productive resource-our own citizens?" And so on. As a result of these and many other issues, your Beaumont Convention and Visitors Bureau board and staff respectfully request your consideration of an investment for the future benefit of our city. We are confident that additional funding earmarked specifically for a special marketing project will earn dividends in geometric proportion to its' initial monetary value. The following is a condensed outline of our proposal: I. Media outdoor, newspaper, radio and television advertising $50,000 II. Special Programs image development and consumer research $10,000 III. Special Services video production, photographic library, media promotion kit $18,000 IV. Printin motorcoach tour manual $10,000 TOTAL 88 000 This total represents approximately sixty-five percent of the current hotel occupancy tax fund balance. Please give us the opportunities to expand our markets, enlighten our citizens and be of greater service to our visitors. This funding will enable us to be more rapidly thrust into the next century by positioning our city as Planet Beaumont, the Right side of Texas! Thank you very much.