Tuscaloosa Tourism & Sports Annual Report FY visittuscaloosa.com

Transcription

1 Tuscaloosa Tourism & Sports Annual Report FY 2016 visittuscaloosa.com

2 You can travel all over, and you won t find Another town with our name or our frame of mind Music plays under Southern Skies And all that you see is a feast for the eyes Tuscaloosa The One and Only

3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter from the CEO 3 TTS Board of Directors 4 TTS Mission 5 One & Only Wins 6 Marketing 9 Tourism Development 10 Sports Tourism 11 Group Tourism 12 Economic Development 13 TTS Team 14 Financials 15 Community Partners 18

4 visittuscaloosa.com The Druid City Arts Festival in downtown Tuscaloosa

5 LETTER FROM CEO Dear Partner, Tuscaloosa Tourism & Sports enjoyed an extraordinary year in Our economic impact on the local economy was $42.7 million as we supported over 120 events. Five hundred volunteers logged over 7,800 hours serving the community. Overall, visitors to Tuscaloosa spent $542 million, a 9.3% increase over last year, surpassing the state tourism average of a 5.3% increase by a wide margin. The direct impact to the community was $444 per household saved in tax relief. Tourism in Tuscaloosa has seen a marked increase in tourism-related jobs since Tourism is now responsible for 7,348 jobs in our community. We also launched our new interactive and mobile-friendly website that serves as an online guide to everything Tuscaloosa from events to attractions. Users can build an individual itinerary, which makes for an easy and effective way to maximize both their time and enjoyment of the city. This year is projected to be even stronger. Among the events we will host are USA Triathlon and Super 7 State High School Football Championships, both of which have a tremendous economic impact in the community. We will also contribute greatly to Tuscaloosa s quality of life by producing the popular the Druid City Arts Festival (DCAF) and the Alabama Veterans Reunion once again. I am thrilled by the 2016 numbers, which show what an exciting time it has been for our city. But I confident that the best is yet to come. Sincerely, Gina Simpson CEO Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports 3

6 TTS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Lesley Bruinton TTS Chairwoman TCS Public Relations Coordinator for Tuscaloosa City Schools Gene Poogie Poole TTS Vice Chairman President of Hudson-Poole Fine Jewelers Jimmy Warren TTS Treasurer President of TotalCom Marketing Communications Tracy Braggs, Sr. TTS Secretary Logistics Coordinator for Brose Charles Chuck Sittason TTS Executive Committee Retired Chairman of Regions Bank Toby D. Wilson TTS Past Chairman President of Wilson Hospitality Cynthia Almond City Council District 3 & Attorney at Law at Cynthia Lee Almond LLC Samyra Snoddy Accounting and Finance for the City of Tuscaloosa Barry Carden General Manager at Hotel Capstone Gary Minor Executive Director of PARA Bill Loyd Business Owner of Wilhagan s Grille & Tap Room Dr. Kelvin W. Croom Senior Pastor of College Hill Baptist Church Jennifer Anderson OLLI Director at The University of Alabama 4 Max Karrh Subrina Champion TTS Board Chairman Community Relations Specialist at Senior Vice President of Bryant Bank Mercedes-Benz U.S. International

7 TTS MISSION Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports (TTS) mission is to increase economic impact to the City of Tuscaloosa by positioning Tuscaloosa as a destination for our targeted markets including sporting events, meetings, reunions and leisure tourism. 5

8 ONE & ONLY WINS Tuscaloosa Tourism & Sports continues to be an economic driver. TTS efforts generated over 42.7 MILLION in economic impact in

9 ONE & ONLY WINS sees continual increases in lodging taxes 2011 $4,748, $4,978, $5,144, $5,661, $5,876, $6,643,611 40% increase in lodging taxes collected since

10 ONE & ONLY WINS hits strong growth trends Utilized 522 volunteers and 7,873 volunteer hours $542 million In 2016, Travelers spent and were responsible for 7,348 jobs last year in Tuscaloosa County, according to a report conducted for the Alabama Tourism Department. 9.3% increase This represents a in traveler spending on hotels, restaurants, shopping and transportation, which is higher than the state average of 5.4%. $444 In 2016, tourism provided $444 per HOUSEHOLD in state tax relief from tourism revenue. 8

11 MARKETING Launched the new website! TTS launched our new interactive and mobile-friendly website that serves to be an online guide to everything Tuscaloosa from events to attractions. 25,000,000 Impressions Served Launched Snapchat Social Media Platform Silver Addy Award Video Commercial Dallas Morning News Featured Article Memphis Daily News Featured Article 9

12 TOURISM DEVELOPMENT Establishment of the ARHA-Tuscaloosa! (Alabama Restaurant and Hospitality Alliance) The ARHA-Tuscaloosa now has regular monthly meetings and is an active voice in the community for our partners. Tuscaloosa Rivermarket Director Alexis Clark speaks to ARHA-Tuscaloosa. 10

13 SPORTS Over 29 MILLION in economic impact in 2016 Supported 43 events Hosted 2 inaugural events US Tennis Association Southern & AHSAA Bowling Regionals 17,000 Room Nights Held National Pro Fastpitch Championship Series - First ever female Rawlings Gold Glove awarded - Also held in conjunction USSSA USA Elite Select 30 Combine - Combined $2.2 million economic impact & 1,700 hotel room nights

14 GROUP TOURISM Over 12.7 MILLION in economic impact in ,200 Room Nights 11,298 the number of out of town visitors at supported events Hosted 2 New Major Conferences Supported 123 events

15 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Impact on the Workforce Every $1million in sales of travel goods & services directly generates 9 jobs for the industry. The travel industry created jobs at a faster rate (12.8%) than the rest of the economy (10.1%) In 2016, There are 7,348 tourism-related jobs in Tuscaloosa county. This represents 18% growth since ,025 jobs ,370 jobs ,530 jobs ,929 jobs ,348 jobs *According to a report conducted for the Alabama Tourism Department 13

16 TTS TEAM Gina Simpson CEO Loretta Jones Accounting & Office Manager Bill Buchanan Director of Tourism Development Barrett Elder Digital Media Specialist Sarah Elizabeth Heggem Event Operations Manager Brandt Garrison LaPish Director of Marketing Jay Kasten Director of Sports 14

17 FINANCIALS TUSCALOOSA TOURISM AND SPORTS COMMISSION, INC. 9 STATEMENTS OF REVENUES, EXPENSES, AND CHANGES IN FUND NET POSITION For the Years Ended September 30, 2016 and OPERATING REVENUES: Local governments: City of Tuscaloosa - services agency funding $ 1,050,000 $ 1,050,000 City of Tuscaloosa - tourism enhancement fund 289,800 69,000 City of Tuscaloosa - event sponsorships - 79,925 Tuscaloosa County Commission - services funding 100, ,000 Tuscaloosa County Commission - event sponsorship 50,000 - Event income: Event sponsorships for City-hosted events 36, ,375 Other event sponsorships 221,880 71,545 Miscellaneous 958 5,848 TOTAL OPERATING REVENUES 1,748,713 1,495,693 OPERATING EXPENSES: Personnel 616, ,306 Marketing 193, ,344 Bid fees and event expenses 707, ,640 Operating 183, ,638 TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES 1,701,414 1,413,928 OPERATING INCOME 47,299 81,765 NON-OPERATING REVENUES (EXPENSES): Interest income Interest expense (709) (1,180) Gain (loss) on disposal of assets 1,115 (6,772) TOTAL NON-OPERATING REVENUES (EXPENSES) 720 (7,242) CHANGES IN NET POSITION 48,019 74,523 Net Position, Beginning of Year 899, ,573 NET POSITION, END OF YEAR $ 947,115 $ 899,096 See Notes to Financial Statements. 15

18 FINANCIALS TUSCALOOSA TOURISM AND SPORTS COMMISSION, INC. 7 STATEMENTS OF NET POSITION September 30, 2016 and 2015 ASSETS CURRENT ASSETS: Cash and cash equivalents - undesignated $ 786,558 $ 758,357 Account receivable 52,347 3,288 Prepaid expense 15,320 12,261 TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 854, ,906 PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, AT COST: Equipment 105,680 97,282 Furniture and fixtures 115, ,054 Vehicles 19,246 33,534 Leasehold improvements 2,985 2,985 Website, software and branding 72,363 20,263 Construction in progress - 27, , ,373 Less: Accumulated depreciation 111,726 99,081 NET PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT 203, ,292 TOTAL ASSETS $ 1,058,128 $ 968,198 See Notes to Financial Statements.

19 FINANCIALS TUSCALOOSA TOURISM AND SPORTS COMMISSION, INC. 8 STATEMENTS OF NET POSITION September 30, 2016 and 2015 LIABILITIES AND NET POSITION CURRENT LIABILITIES: Accounts payable $ 94,861 $ 60,569 Payroll taxes and related liabilities 1,540 1,827 Other accrued liabilities 11,538 - Capital lease - current portion 3,074 3,632 TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 111,013 66,028 LONG-TERM LIABILITIES: Capital lease, net of current portion above - 3,074 TOTAL LONG-TERM LIABILITIES - 3,074 TOTAL LIABILITIES 111,013 69,102 NET POSITION: Invested in capital assets, net of related debt 200, ,586 Unrestricted 746, ,510 TOTAL NET POSITION 947, ,096 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET POSITION $ 1,058,128 $ 968,198 See Notes to Financial Statements.

20 COMMUNITY PARTNERS Cadence Bank City of Tuscaloosa Mercedes-Benz, U.S. International Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at The University of Alabama University of Alabama College of Continuing Studies Adams Beverage Alabama Credit Union Alabama Power Black Warrior Brewery Chick-Fil-A Midtown DePalma s Cafe Downtown Pedal Tours Hudson-Poole McAbee Construction Moe s BBQ Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa Shirt Shop University of Alabama Museums Another Broken Egg Casual Class Catering Home Depot McAlister s Deli Reddy Ice Royal Fine Cleaners

21 It s a good bet that this town isn t high on your list of destinations to visit. But it should be. -The Dallas Morning News