San Miguel County lodging-tax panel reappoints member, adds Christina Dixon and renews Telluride Tourism contract

The San Miguel County lodging-tax panel reappointed John Duncan to a two‑year term, appointed Christina Dixon to a two‑year term and unanimously approved a 2025 agreement with the Telluride Tourism Board during its regular meeting called to order at 4:03 p.m.

The decisions came alongside updates from county staff, the Norwood Chamber of Commerce and the Telluride Tourism Board about lodging‑tax distributions, recent events and destination marketing. County staff said a state reporting issue delayed one quarter’s detailed distribution data but that funds have been transferred to the county.

The panel’s reappointment and new appointment were handled under the panel’s administrative business. A motion to reappoint John Duncan to a two‑year term passed. Christina Dixon, owner of Telluride Moto in Placerville, described herself during the panel interview as a tourism business owner who hopes to “collaborate with the tourism” organizations and bring ideas from Placerville; the panel voted to appoint her to a two‑year term.

Carmen Warfield, the county staff member who runs the panel’s meetings, told members the state has returned lodging‑tax funds to San Miguel County but that the state’s reporting system lacked full address coding and therefore the county could not yet apply the money to specific recipients. Warfield said the state was working on the issue and that a distribution could be possible by Dec. 20 if the coding was fixed.

Becky Hannigan, president of the Norwood Chamber of Commerce, updated the panel on holiday events in Norwood, reporting a successful Noel Night with 32 vendors and activities that chamber surveys showed were “very profitable” for businesses. Hannigan asked the panel for flexibility to finalize the chamber’s 2025 budget in January; the panel agreed the paperwork could be ratified at a later meeting.

Kira Skinner, executive director of the Telluride Tourism Board, reviewed the board’s 2024 initiatives and its proposed 2025 budget that includes an estimated $60,000 from San Miguel County. Skinner described programs funded by county lodging taxes such as visitor center operations, the telluride.com website and central reservations. She said the tourism board’s reservations platform and partnerships increased booking revenue by 53% and lodging revenue by 41% year to date, and that the board’s consumer email database has roughly 85,000 addresses with a consumer e‑blast open rate around 21% and a local “peak sheet” open rate about 45%.

Skinner also presented winter lodging metrics from a commercial data partner showing destination occupancy and revenue patterns. She said overall destination occupancy was down modestly for some early‑season periods but that average daily rate (ADR) had increased in parts of the destination. The tourism board asked the panel to renew the county contract for 2025 to continue marketing, visitor services and stewardship programs; the panel voted unanimously to approve the agreement.

Panel members discussed restrictions on lodging‑tax use. County staff and the tourism board reminded members that, under current state law, the funds can be used for destination marketing and related visitor services and that any change in permitted uses would require a ballot question.

The panel agreed to meet next in Norwood in March and adjourned after the scheduled business.

Votes at a glance

- Reappointment: John Duncan reappointed to a two‑year term (motion passed). - Appointment: Christina Dixon appointed to the lodging‑tax panel for a two‑year term (motion passed). - Contract approval: Panel approved the 2025 agreement with the Telluride Tourism Board to administer county lodging‑tax marketing funds (motion passed, unanimous).

The panel deferred formal ratification of Norwood Chamber paperwork until January to allow the chamber’s treasurer time to close year‑end figures and finalize a 2025 budget.