From Joan Saucier
An open letter to Commissioner Cecilia Jones:
I am writing regarding the recent decision by the Walton County Commission to consider a public/private partnership between the Board of County Commissioners and the Walton County Chamber of Commerce for interim (or long-term) management of the Tourist Development Council.
I was a council member of the TDC for over 10 years (1994 ? 2005) when I worked for Abbott/ResortQuest, the largest bed tax collector in Walton County.
During that time, I gained valuable understanding of how the TDC operates and its relationship to the Board of County Commissioners.
The structure of the TDC works, even if there may be issues with the director (of which I have heard through the ?grapevine?.)
The bed tax collectors, individually and through their partnerships with the TDC, generate the bed tax revenue. These professionals are solely focused on tourism and the hospitality industry. The Walton County Chamber of Commerce has neither this singular focus nor this expertise.
The Tourist Development Council members are very capable of being the search committee to narrow down the selection process so that the best-qualified tourism professionals can be interviewed.
They can then present a manageable number of qualified candidates to the Board of Commissioners.
The TDC has a history of attracting high-quality tourists to Walton County. Our extensive dune walkover system, our name-branding of the Beaches of South Walton, our beach nourishment program, and the continual success of our bed tax collectors to partner with the TDC are significant.
Many TDCs cannot boast of the successes that the Walton County TDC can in its 25-year history. This is an organizational structure that works best for tourism in Walton County. And tourism is the economic engine that drives the Walton County economy.
We must immediately begin the search for a qualified professional. And the TDC members, who are best focused on tourism, are the most qualified to carry out that search.
Thank you for your consideration.
An open letter to Commissioner Cecilia Jones:
I am writing regarding the recent decision by the Walton County Commission to consider a public/private partnership between the Board of County Commissioners and the Walton County Chamber of Commerce for interim (or long-term) management of the Tourist Development Council.
I was a council member of the TDC for over 10 years (1994 ? 2005) when I worked for Abbott/ResortQuest, the largest bed tax collector in Walton County.
During that time, I gained valuable understanding of how the TDC operates and its relationship to the Board of County Commissioners.
The structure of the TDC works, even if there may be issues with the director (of which I have heard through the ?grapevine?.)
The bed tax collectors, individually and through their partnerships with the TDC, generate the bed tax revenue. These professionals are solely focused on tourism and the hospitality industry. The Walton County Chamber of Commerce has neither this singular focus nor this expertise.
The Tourist Development Council members are very capable of being the search committee to narrow down the selection process so that the best-qualified tourism professionals can be interviewed.
They can then present a manageable number of qualified candidates to the Board of Commissioners.
The TDC has a history of attracting high-quality tourists to Walton County. Our extensive dune walkover system, our name-branding of the Beaches of South Walton, our beach nourishment program, and the continual success of our bed tax collectors to partner with the TDC are significant.
Many TDCs cannot boast of the successes that the Walton County TDC can in its 25-year history. This is an organizational structure that works best for tourism in Walton County. And tourism is the economic engine that drives the Walton County economy.
We must immediately begin the search for a qualified professional. And the TDC members, who are best focused on tourism, are the most qualified to carry out that search.
Thank you for your consideration.