I simply believe that travelers have moved on from the traditional paradigm for researching and planning for vacation or weekend excursions to nearby or noteworthy sites. Rather than physically "trooping" to an office or place, I think so many more are now tech savvy and utilize the internet and websites to explore and inform their decision.
In light of this and taking note of our new designation to call ourselves "gig city" and forward thinking and innovative approaches and advancement, what I would like to see rather than paying for personnel, office space, marketing displays, etc., is a portion of the hotel/motel tax go for an investment in a "state-of-the-art" interactive website and the dedication and establishment of designated equipment in hotels and tourist sites and attractions where this website could be accessed.
Let's challenge innovative minds to be "future sighted" and forward thinking and let's promote and inform all of our great places and activities.
Don Howard
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Aren't there enough taxpayer boondoggles already? There's absolutely no need for any money spent by government or one of their tax fund-siphoning minions of a tech-savvy website. There's millions of tech-savvy websites that receive no funding from tax dollars.
Have you not noticed that the current list of CCVB supporters are those who make millions, yet get taxpayer subsidies from the CCVB for promotion of their particularly enterprises? The ones who can afford the most expensive advertising and marketing campaigns are the same ones who sing the praises of the taxpayer funded CCVB. Why should they spend their own money when taxpayers are footing the bill?
Aren't private businesses the best deciders of how their money is spent?
Before someone trots out the incorrect and tripe quote, "A rising tide floats all boats" as justification for this largess and payola remember this. The rising tide makes no difference between a ten-foot john boat and the Carnival Cruise ship. So should those in the ten-foot john boat eating sardines and crackers pay for the pleasures of those in the Carnival Cruise ship eating caviar and foie-gras? That's what they want tax-payers to believe and accept.
I find it simple hilarious that those who often blow the trumpet for "free markets and free enterprise" are the first in line for taxpayer handouts and government subsidies. I refuse to call it "crony capitalism" anymore. Call it what it is -Theft.
Stephen Greenfield