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Clay County names Teddy Meyer tourism director; staff outline product and app initiatives
Summary
The TDC heard the introduction of new tourism director Teddy Meyer and staff updates on product development, including a Wheel of the World accessibility mapping project, a Bartram Trail kiosk plan, the Explore Clay app usage and visitor-guide photography.
The Tourist Development Council introduced Teddy Meyer as the county's new tourism director and heard updates on product development and digital tools from the tourism staff.
Charlie Latham, assistant county manager, introduced Meyer and described the hire as the result of a candidate search. Teddy Meyer told the council he comes from St. Johns County, has experience in sports tourism and facility management, and said his priority is to grow niche events that both serve residents and attract out-of-county groups.
Staff then presented program work and upcoming projects. Samantha Coster, product development manager, described a "Wheel of the World" listing initiative designed to help travelers with unique abilities find inclusive activities; she said the project includes photography and mapping of 30 partner sites with a planned launch by the end of summer.
Coster also summarized work on a Bartram Trail map and kiosk program identifying eight William and John Bartram locations in Clay County, with kiosks and signage in development with the Bartram Society. Staff highlighted new tools and partnerships: CrowdRiff for user-sourced photography, a visitor-guide photo shoot to fill seasonal imagery gaps, and an influencer project called "Take It Outside" scheduled for fall.
Staff reported metrics for the Explore Clay app and website. The tourism product team said the app averages roughly 20 users per day and that app page views track engagement with local business listings. Bed tax collections were described as showing positive monthly and year-to-date trends. Staff also noted limitations on vacation-rental visibility: some platforms (for example, Airbnb) collect and remit taxes under a collection agreement, while other listing platforms may not automatically remit taxes to the county.
Why it matters: the director hire and the product-development projects set operational priorities for tourism marketing and event recruitment. Staff emphasized accessibility initiatives, improved imagery for marketing, and better event listings as ways to increase visitor engagement and overnight stays.
What happens next: Meyer will take an active role in RFP work and event recruitment; staff will continue the Wheel of the World rollout, the Bartram Trail installations and the visitor-guide photography to support autumn and winter campaigns.
