People come down to go to the beach. Nobody 'visits' visitor centers. We don't need a visitor center and we don't need a TDC.
South Walton TDC pursuing new visitor center site
- Thread starter Kurt
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Might want to look a this thread http://www.sowal.com/bb/showthread.php/61374-Do-we-need-a-TDC?
Since the TDC has so much money burning a hole in their pockets, may they could buy a yacht and call it a floating welcome center. And in the off season the politicians could use it to entertain their friends.
The bottom line is that we don't need new digs for the TDC. IMO we don't need a TDC. What happened to the grand Republican idea of smaller government? The TDC is a vehicle for the county to waste money.
The TDC Advisory Council and the Walton County Board of County Commissioners is responsible for approving expenditures.
Wasn't it the late Okaloosa TDC Director the one who was responsible for mismanagement?
The current building is inadequate. Why "Republican idea"? If we have to be Republican isn't a a more important "Republican idea" - "you gotta spend money to make money"?
If the TDC earns more than it spends (or at least equal), how is it wasting money? You can evaluate expenditures but unless you can gauge accurately return on investment how can you say it's wasted? Do you know what the return on a TDC ad in the Wall Street Journal is? Do you know what the return is on a new welcome center? None of the bed tax money is wasted because it has to be spent on getting people back in those same beds. The rest of Walton County does not get to spend or waste the money.
Can we actually quantify these returns?
I would be very interested in seeing this, as every tourist I talk to finds the place by accident or word of mouth and the return on a welcome center is very pertinent to the current discussion.
I would be very interested in seeing this, as every tourist I talk to finds the place by accident or word of mouth and the return on a welcome center is very pertinent to the current discussion.
BCC/TDC Joint Meeting 6/11- Moving Forward with the "Discovery Center"?!?
When we all left the May 8th, BCC meeting, it was the understanding of those attending that the TDC "Discovery Center" issue would be more or less ratcheted back to a real discovery of purpose and needs of the TDC, including the need for such a large building. Public workshops were supposed to be held. Below is the notice for Monday night's meeting, and it could be taken to mean that the BCC and TDC will be discussing and making decisions WITHOUT the public input that was promised at the May 8th meeting (see the minutes here http://www.co.walton.fl.us/archives/38/20120508.pdf).
A lot of really great discussion and ideas have come out of the 'Discovery Center", ideas that may be a better fit for Walton County. Should the purpose of the TDC as it is today be discussed and maybe revamped? Should we be building a "destination" visitor's center, or have visitor information out in multiple places where visitors will actually see it? Should we look at the TDCs of other cities with successful tourism economies? Could it be rolled in with the Chamber? Should the TDC have more connection to the community? There are SO many questions and possibilities, so please be part of the process and attend this meeting!
http://www.co.walton.fl.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?aid=385
NOTICE of JOINT MEETING
You are hereby notified that the Walton County Board of County Commissioners and the Tourist Development Council will hold a SPECIAL JOINT MEETING on Monday, June 11, 2012 beginning at 5:00 PM. The purpose of this Special Meeting is to discuss and take appropriate action regarding the TDC’s recommendation to go out for Request for Proposals or Qualifications for design/build of a new South Walton Discovery Center and new location site.
The Meeting will be held at the Walton County Courthouse Annex located at 31 Coastal Centre Boulevard, Santa Rosa Beach, FL in the Commission Boardroom.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons needing a special accommodation to participate in this proceeding should contact the Board of County Commissioners of Walton County no later than seven days prior to the proceeding at the address given in this notice or phone (850) 892-8155.
When we all left the May 8th, BCC meeting, it was the understanding of those attending that the TDC "Discovery Center" issue would be more or less ratcheted back to a real discovery of purpose and needs of the TDC, including the need for such a large building. Public workshops were supposed to be held. Below is the notice for Monday night's meeting, and it could be taken to mean that the BCC and TDC will be discussing and making decisions WITHOUT the public input that was promised at the May 8th meeting (see the minutes here http://www.co.walton.fl.us/archives/38/20120508.pdf).
A lot of really great discussion and ideas have come out of the 'Discovery Center", ideas that may be a better fit for Walton County. Should the purpose of the TDC as it is today be discussed and maybe revamped? Should we be building a "destination" visitor's center, or have visitor information out in multiple places where visitors will actually see it? Should we look at the TDCs of other cities with successful tourism economies? Could it be rolled in with the Chamber? Should the TDC have more connection to the community? There are SO many questions and possibilities, so please be part of the process and attend this meeting!
http://www.co.walton.fl.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?aid=385
NOTICE of JOINT MEETING
You are hereby notified that the Walton County Board of County Commissioners and the Tourist Development Council will hold a SPECIAL JOINT MEETING on Monday, June 11, 2012 beginning at 5:00 PM. The purpose of this Special Meeting is to discuss and take appropriate action regarding the TDC’s recommendation to go out for Request for Proposals or Qualifications for design/build of a new South Walton Discovery Center and new location site.
The Meeting will be held at the Walton County Courthouse Annex located at 31 Coastal Centre Boulevard, Santa Rosa Beach, FL in the Commission Boardroom.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons needing a special accommodation to participate in this proceeding should contact the Board of County Commissioners of Walton County no later than seven days prior to the proceeding at the address given in this notice or phone (850) 892-8155.
Okaloosa is getting ready to shutter theirs. 65 people shuffle through the place daily despite it being located at ground zero of Destin's Sodom and Gomorrah. Seems there was a totally underhanded financial deal that benefitted the good old boys of Okieloosey...that could never happen here, right?