In establishing the Tourist Development Council, Leon County exercised its authority as a County pursuant to 125.0104, Florida Statutes, to levy the tourist development tax and create a county wide agency to supervise the administration of the required tourist development plan.

MISSION STATEMENT

The Leon County Tourist Development Council (TDC) will enhance the local economy and quality of life through the benefits associated with a strong visitor industry.  The tasks are to maximize the number, length of stay, and economic impact of visitors to Leon County.  Tourism is economic development.

Information on Special Event Application

PROGRAM OF WORK

TDC  programs and services are coordinated by three service contract organizations -- the Tallahassee Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, The Zimmerman Agency, and Florida State University.

The Tallahassee Area Convention and Visitors Bureau is a private, not-for-profit membership organization which under a contract with the TDC markets the Tallahassee area as a visitor destination.  The Convention and Visitors Bureau "sells" Tallahassee as the site for sporting events, meetings/conventions and bus tours.

The Convention and Visitors Bureau offers visitor services through the Tallahassee Area Visitor Information center including toll-free information assistance, brochures and hospitality training. Through its Group Services department, the Convention and Visitors Bureau also provides free group travel planning assistance including itinerary development, spouse/youth programs and securing favorable group rates with area hotels, restaurants and attractions.

Advertising and Public Relations is coordinated by The Zimmerman Agency.  Advertising efforts include development of market-specific media and direct mail campaigns as well as production of collateral materials to support tourism sales and servicing efforts. The public relations program is focused on generating regional/national/international publicity which spotlights Tallahassee as a visitor destination. Public relations efforts include aggressive media development, radio merchandising and special event promotion support.

The Florida State University provides research on the economic impact of visitors in the Tallahassee-Leon County area. This research serves as a vehicle in determining who our visitors are, where they are from, and what kinds of things they like to see and do while they are visiting Tallahassee. The research also gives the Council the edge on determining the overall economic impact these visitors have on our community including their spending habits, jobs generated, and wages earned through tourism dollars, etc.

The TDC has set aside a portion of its overall budget in a grant program designed to work with local organizations in coordinating special events which have potential to increase the number and/or length of stay of visitors to Tallahassee-Leon County. Grant funds are intended to supplement the promotional budget of the sponsoring organization, not the operation and/or administration of the event.

THE COUNCIL

The Council is composed of nine (9) members.  One member of the Council shall be the current Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners of Leon County, or his/her designee, who shall serve as Vice Chairman of the Tourist Development Council.

Two members of the Council are elected municipal officials.

Three members of the Council are owners or operators of hotels, motels, or other tourist accommodations in the County and subject to the tax.

Three members of the Council are persons involved in the tourist industry and who have demonstrated an interest in tourist development, but who are not owners, or operators of hotels, motels or other tourist accommodations in the County and subject to the tax.

The members of the Council are for staggered terms of four (4) years.

The Chairman may attend any meetings as an ex-officio member of various committees, task forces, study groups or other advisory bodies established by the Tourist Development Council.

The Vice Chairman shall have duties as are specified by the Tourist Development Council.  He will also be Chairman of the Finance-Audit Committee.

The Council shall meet on the third Tuesday of every other month at such times and places fixed by the Tourist Development Council.

Five members must be present to conduct Council business.  It shall take a majority of members present at any meeting to pass Council business.

Any member of the Council absent from three (3) consecutive regular monthly meetings or four (4) meetings in a 12 month period shall be removed form the Council.

Listing of Council Members

COMMITTEES

The Chairman shall appoint the following committees:  (1) Finance-Audit and (2) Special Event Grants.  The Chairman shall have the authority to appoint additional committees as he deems necessary.

The Finance-Audit Committee is charged with oversight responsibility for the annual budgeting, administration and auditing of tourist development tax revenues and expenditures.  Unless otherwise delegated, all funding decisions and requests must first be reviewed by the committee, with recommendations forwarded to the full council for approval.

The Special Event Grant Committee is charged with the administration and auditing of the Special Event Grant Program.  All applications for grant funding must first be reviewed by the committee, with funding recommendations forwarded to the full council for approval.