OVERVIEW

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 mission of the Tourist Development Council is to provide oversight and serve in an advisory capacity for local government, to provide leadership to represent the interests of local tourism stakeholders and to enhance Leon County's tourism economy by increasing the number of overnight stays in transient lodging.

PROGRAM OF WORK

The Tourist Development Council, through the Department of Toursim Development, administers programs and services that are coordinated through organizations by means of professional service contracts. 

The TDC also commissions research on the economic impact of visitors in the Tallahassee-Leon County area. This research serves as a vehicle in determining who are our visitors, their origins, and the types of activities they enjoy while visiting Tallahassee. The research also determines the overall economic impact these visitors have on our community including their spending habits, jobs generated, and wages earned through tourism dollars. 

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

A portion of the budget is set aside in a grants 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 the Tallahassee-Leon County area. Grant funds are intended to supplement the promotional/ marketing budget of the sponsoring organization, not the operation and/or administration of the event.

The Tourist Development Council makes every effort to provide information and assistance at any point in the visitor process to create and enhance a positive visitor experience.

THE COUNCIL

The Council is composed of nine (9) members according to F.S. Chapter 125.0104. One member of the Council shall be the current Chairman of the Board of County Commission, or his/her designee; 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 Department of Tourism Development serves as the county staff liaison for the Tourist Development Council. Its office is established in the Leon County Welcome Center located at 106 East Jefferson Street, Tallahassee, Florida, USA.

Listing of Council Members

COMMITTEES

The Tourist Development Council establishes one or more committees which, in the judgment of the Council, is formed for the purpose of carrying out certain duties and responsibilities of the Council.

Standing Committees and their functions are indicated below:

(1) By-Laws Committee is charged with the development and review of By-Laws under which the Council shall operate and conduct its business.  

(2) Policies & Procedures Committee is charged with the development of all policies and procedures governing the mission and direction of all program activities of the Tourist Development Council. 

(3) Finance-Audit Committee is charged with the oversight responsibility for the annual budgeting, administration and auditing of tourist development tax revenues and expenditures.

(4) The Special Event Grants Committee is charged with the administration and auditing of the Special Events Grants program. All applications/requests for grant funding must first be reviewed by the committee, with funding recommendations forwarded to the full council for approval.