01/27/2022
Live blog of the Pulaski County Tourism Board. Members present are Rick Morris, Larry Helms, Janel Bushley Rowell, Todd Bailey, Michelle Piotrowski, Ursula Chmura Lebioda, Laura Schoephorster (via phone); Director Beth Wiles.
Wiles reported that Pulaski County USA, Tourism Bureau & Visitors Center revenues, which come largely from the tourism guest tax paid by guests at local hotels, motels and lodging facilities, are beginning to recover from the precipitous drop in 2020 caused by when most of the local hotels were largely empty.
Morris asked who in the county can be responsible for making sure Airbnb operations are collecting and remitting the guest tax to the tourism board. Wiles said she's not sure, it but it may be the assessor.
Morris: "How do we ensure there is some kind of automatic arm saying, 'Okay, just like the state wants to collect their tax, everybody else wants to collect their tax.'"
Helms said it's an unfair playing field if licensed hotels and lodging facilities are paying the required taxes but Airbnbs are not.
Lebioda proposed beginning a major advertising campaign to draw tourists to Pulaski County, using and downtown as draws.
Helms: "Pulaski County is a safe place to come. I don't see people getting mugged downtown... another thing we've been talking about is if gasoline hits $4 a gallon by Labor Day, what impact will that have on marketing campaigns?"
Helms said vacationers in rural areas are also less likely to contract diseases from outdoor activities.
"You can get sick anywhere, but I had 17 people working for me in the summertime. None of them got sick... we have some of the best water in Pulaski County for floating, we have some of the best fishing."
Morris said two of his general managers declined to attend a conference in Chicago due to safety concerns. Morris complimented the local police in Pulaski County communities for their responsiveness to crime.
Morris: "When the thugs do come around, they're paying attention. I appreciate the professionalism, I appreciate the responsiveness."
Helms: "It's a big deal when the mayor of New York City says he's afraid to ride on the subway... those people are looking to come someplace like here."
Lebioda said if Pulaski County wants to attract tourists from outside the area, it needs to work harder on showing diversity in its marketing materials and photographs.
Bailey said Pulaski County needs to prepare for the future by having electric car charging stations, or the county will miss out on tourism by not having places to charge electric cars.
Board has adjourned.
