Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Events And Festivals topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Golf tournament, festivals and races highlight tourism impact in ATAX hearings
Summary
Organizers of Hilton Head’s Darius Rucker tournament, wine and food events, cycling fundraiser and Harborfest told the ATAX committee their programs bring multi‑day stays and measurable visitor impacts; several asked for continued or increased ATAX support.
Presenters representing large island events told the Accommodation Tax Advisory Committee on Oct. 24 that their programs continue to attract out‑of‑area visitors and generate hotel room nights.
Christy Cohen, membership director at Long Cove Club, said the Darius Rucker intercollegiate — nationally televised on the Golf Channel and Peacock — produced measurable exposure for Hilton Head. Cohen said the tournament’s post‑event survey showed 32% of respondents visited Hilton Head specifically for the tournament and that the event produced a 56% increase in tourists over last year. She also reported the last year’s ATAX grant for the event was $50,000 and that the tournament’s ticketing and zip‑code capture support estimating visitor origins.
Jeff Berger, executive director of the Hilton Head Wine & Food Festival, said the festival drives longer stays (average stay about four days) and contributes scholarship funds and local economic activity. “We think we bring about $4,000,000 to the local economy between hotel room nights, people dining out and related spending,” Berger said, and he noted a repeated ATAX request of $130,000 for the festival.
Russ Whiteford presented Pedal Hilton Head Island (the Boys & Girls Club cycling fundraiser) and outlined 2024 participation and marketing plans; he said the event serves as both fundraiser and tourism driver and requested $40,000 in ATAX funds targeted to out‑of‑region marketing.
Shelter Cove Harborfest and the Harbour Town Merchants Association outlined summer programming and fireworks. Shelter Cove reported survey results showing about 78% of attendees from beyond 50 miles and that 92% stayed in taxable lodging; Harbour Town’s Rob Bender presented an estimated 9,400 viewers for the Harbour Town fireworks and requested $29,000 in ATAX funding (same as prior years).
Committee members probed measurement methodology, asked applicants to supply supporting ZIP‑code and room‑night evidence, and urged applicants to clarify how marketing dollar requests map to tourist‑specific promotion. No awards were made at the hearing; staff requested supplemental documentation before funding recommendations are finalized.
