Visitors bureau wins online award as Lackawanna County posts record hotel-room tax revenue

Kurt Kimoni, director of the Lackawanna County Convention and Visitors Bureau, told commissioners the bureau received International Explorer’s 2025 award for tourism and event planning and is promoting a new 2026 visitors guide.

Kimoni said the county set a new record in hotel-room tax collections for fiscal year 2024–25, reporting "just under $4,500,000," of which the county retains 60 percent while the visitors bureau is funded by the remaining 40 percent. "We distribute, including our digital and online books, well over 100,000 books a year," he told the board, and said the bureau’s website receives about 1,000,000 visits annually.

The director described the visitors guide as a central element of a three-part marketing strategy — the printed guide, a website and social media — and said the 100-page guide and related campaigns are used to promote local partners, attractions, restaurants and sports events that bring visitor spending to county businesses.

Commissioners praised the bureau’s work and encouraged residents and local businesses to pick up and distribute copies. The board did not take formal action related to the award; commissioners approved other routine business during the meeting.

The most recent concrete tourism figure presented to the board was the reported room-tax total for fiscal 2024–25 and the bureau’s distribution and web-traffic estimates. Kimoni said printed guides are available at county offices and local hotels and that the 2026 guide includes a link to digital resources.