ACTION REQUESTED:
Title
Communication from the City Manager with a Request to APPROVE an AGREEMENT with the PEORIA AREA CONVENTION AND VISITOR'S BUREAU for TOURISM and Related Marketing Services, in the Amount of $550,000.00 Annually through December 31, 2017. (Revised Communication)
Body
BACKGROUND: In 2013, the Peoria City Council approved a three (3) year contract with the Peoria Area Convention and Visitor's Bureau (Bureau) for tourism and related marketing services. This Agreement expired December 31, 2015. Staff has continued to negotiate this Agreement with the Bureau throughout 2016.
The 2013 Agreement, and the corresponding Intergovernmental Agreement with the Peoria Civic Center Authority (Authority), clarified the roles and responsibilities of the Bureau and the Authority and made revisions to the Tourism Reserve Fund. Funding for the Bureau was split between tourism related services ($200,000) and the marketing of Peoria and the Peoria Civic Center ($450,000).
The proposed Agreement previously sent to Council delineated funding for the Bureau in the same manner as the 2013 Agreement. The revised version of this Agreement (attached), as of August 3, reduces funding for marketing services by $100,000 to $350,000. Funding for regional tourism efforts remains at $200,000. The City has been funding the Bureau at a level commensurate with $650,000 annually through 2016. The funding will be prorated to the new level beginning September 1, 2016. The reduction in funding for the Bureau would fund additional sales positions at the Civic Center. Other notable changes from the 2013 Agreement:
* Previous agreements between the Bureau and the Authority split the sales function. The Bureau was responsible for sales beyond 24 months and the Authority was responsible for short term sales. With this Agreement, the Authority will be assuming primary, but not exclusive, sales responsibilities for the Civic Center.
* The Bureau also provided sales support...
Click here for full text