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April 23, 2010

Extra funds may help CVB market area

Charles Oliver Dalton Daily Citizen

DALTON — The Dalton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) could get a big boost from a tax bill recently approved by the General Assembly.

Both the state House of Representatives and the Senate have OKed a move to raise Whitfield County’s hotel/motel tax to 7 percent from 6 percent. The bill now goes to Gov. Sonny Perdue for his signature.

If Perdue approves the measure, which was requested by the Dalton City Council and the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners, all the additional revenue would go to the CVB, increasing its annual budget of just under $400,000 by an additional $75,000 to $90,000, said CVB executive director Brett Huske.

Huske said the CVB will use the money to ramp up its efforts to promote Dalton, especially its efforts to bring major events and multi-day conventions to the area.

“We would be looking at bringing in groups that will utilize the trade center and generate multi-night stays,” he said. “The bottom line is that we are looking at things that will generate (hotel) room nights.”

Harvey Neal, manager of La Quinta Inn and chairman of the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center board, says that’s why the bill is backed by the local hospitality industry.

“Most of the people in our industry are trying to keep costs down, but we also recognize the need to continue our marketing effort at a very high level,” he said.

Neal said he hopes the travel and tourism industry can provide an economic boost to the area.

Dalton Mayor David Pennington said he thinks the additional money will be well spent.

“Our CVB has already been ramping up. I’m really impressed with what they are doing. This  will give them a lot more firepower,” he said.

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