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Visit Greenville proposes modest budget increase to back sports marketing as CEO announces retirement
Summary
Visit Greenville presented a FY26–27 proposed budget with a 3% revenue increase focused on sports tourism and cooperative marketing; CEO Andrew Schmidt announced he will retire, and the agency asked council to approve a $2.265 million budget to support a new sports sales specialist and a creative 'Be Here Now' campaign.
Visit Greenville (the local convention and visitors authority) presented a proposed FY26–27 budget to council on May 14 focused on sports tourism and destination marketing. President and CEO Andrew Schmidt said the budget is crafted around a modest 3% revenue increase and a request to use some capital reserve to support sports-related events and sales.
Schmidt told council the organization is planning to add a sports sales and services specialist to support the new sports complex and to continue cooperative marketing with the city’s recreation and parks department. He said the proposed total budget is approximately $2.265 million, that occupancy‑tax receipts are the primary revenue source, and that the authority will continue to provide 1% of occupancy tax receipts to the Greenville Convention Center as required by interlocal agreement. Schmidt also announced his pending retirement and thanked council for support during his tenure.
Council members praised the CVB’s record performance in recent years and commended the leadership for a forward-looking approach to sports marketing and cooperative promotions. The presentation was received; council did not take a separate financial vote at the meeting beyond including the request in the city budget process.
