Moab board approves Moab Office of Tourism helping promote Grand County Fair with TRT funds, pending legal review

The Moab Tourism Advisory Board voted June 10 to authorize the Moab Office of Tourism to assist promotion of the Grand County Fair using transient room tax (TRT) promotional funds, provided the county attorney confirms the expenditure is permissible under state law. The board directed staff to work with the executive committee to define the spend amount.

A presenter for the arena and county fair outlined that past fairs have drawn regional and international visitors and supplied examples where visitors planned travel around headline acts and contests. The presenter said current in‑house promotional reach is limited and showed sample audience estimates from Meta and attendance photos from prior years to illustrate out‑of‑town draw.

County Attorney Steven Stocks reviewed the statutory standard for TRT spending that the board can “establish and promote” activities that attract transient guests and said the county’s ordinance text and the statute support promotion when the activity demonstrably attracts visitors. Board members emphasized speed: the fair’s events occur in early July and staff and the marketing contractor need time to execute creative and buys.

After discussion about scope, eligibility and fairness for private events, a motion to proceed — authorizing the Moab Office of Tourism to promote the fair using TRT funds if legal review confirms eligibility and to present budget details to the executive committee — passed unanimously.

Staff and the office’s contracted PR and media partners will prepare a short promotional plan and proposed budget for executive‑committee review so the board can finalize amounts before the fair.