Mark Watson
The Oak Ridge City Council has already agreed to cut funding for the city’s main tourism organization by 25 percent under the budget approved in May.
On Monday, Council members will officially consider a one-year contract for the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau that would set funding at a maximum of $300,000, down from $410,000 last year.
In a memo to Council, Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson said there is an urgent need for new ways of marketing the community because of government travel slowdowns and the promotional needs of local hotels.
“Too often we have seen the highly competitive hotel market in West Knoxville take business from the Oak Ridge sector, even while events such as regattas are hosted and serviced with local support,” Watson said. “An active Internet presence and aggressive marketing is the ‘norm’ and the CVB was approached about how to address local occupancies, development of more activities for the weekends, recruitment of sporting events, and marketing to neighboring East Tennessee communities.”
In May, Watson said Oak Ridge needs “more heads in beds,” more people staying here and more events.
In his memo to Council, he said there have been successful community events, including regattas, the Secret City Festival, and other community events. The new contract focuses on attracting and bringing events to the community that increase hotel and motel occupancy rates and generate additional hotel tax revenues, which are used to fund the ORCVB, Watson said.
“The contract provides new and additional benchmarks that focus on hotel/motel occupancy and measurements that will poise the city for further recruitment and development for such facilities as conference centers in the future,” Watson said. “It is annually reviewed and authorize by City Council as recommended by the city manager.”
The Monday night City Council meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the Oak Ridge Municipal Building Courtroom. The agenda is available here.
Kay Williamson says
bring in big concerts not just for festivals,, they will come if you get some real entertainment here,,,
Helen Standifer says
That would be great, Kay but I have never considered Oak Ridge a major tourist attraction. My vision is for it to be a little unique hamlet away from the big city. Little shops and restaurants and such. I want it to be like a little village where folks want to LIVE affordably and they can work in Knoxville or any of a million possibilities. We do really need all forms of entertainment, too. Fix the marina up for Olympic caliber rowing. Like Oregon is for other types of Olympic training.
Sam Hopwood says
Another step in the right direction by our city manager. He is the best we have had in many years. Hopefully we will do whatever it takes to keep him here, certainly including a substancial increase in salary.