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Moab Tourism Advisory Board asks Grand County to prioritize mitigation spending; recommends changes to TRT allocations and grants
Summary
The Moab Tourism Advisory Board presented 2025 results and asked the commission to use the maximum allowable mitigation share (55.6%) of TRT—about $4.5 million in 2026—for law‑enforcement and emergency services; the commission approved special events marketing grants and later appointed a new board member.
The Moab Tourism Advisory Board (MTAB) presented its 2025 accomplishments and 2026 priorities on March 17, telling the Grand County Commission that tourism generates roughly $456,600,000 in direct visitor spending and about 3,500 tourism‑related jobs in the county.
MTAB Chair Linda Williams asked the commission to prioritize mitigation spending and recommended directing the maximum allowable share of the transient room tax (TRT) for mitigation (55.6%), which MTAB estimated would provide about $4.5 million next year to support law enforcement, emergency services and other mitigation needs.
“We want to make sure our economy is moving forward,” Williams said, outlining a year of marketing, a new application process for TRT funding and a shift to spread visitation across the year and into shoulder seasons. MTAB also reported expanding special events marketing grants (budgeted to $250,000) and launching new campaigns and partnerships intended to lengthen visitor stays.
Following the presentation, the commission approved the special events matching‑grant recommendations submitted by MTAB, with a set of edited award amounts that included a $5,000 grant for Outer Bike and $4,535 for the Moab Museum; the motion passed unanimously.
The commission also appointed Alicia Batty to MTAB for a term ending Dec. 31, 2030, after discussion about how midyear appointments affect term length. Commissioners complimented the board’s volunteer work and asked staff to continue transparent application processes so the public can follow TRT decisions.
MTAB emphasized its goal of balancing economic benefits with mitigation and directed staff to return future materials showing funding breakdowns and performance metrics.
