Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Tourism topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Tourism office cites record month and near‑$6 million annual collections; short‑term rentals boost stays
Summary
Tourism Director Ryan Ritchie said fiscal‑year tourism collections were just under $6 million with March setting a single‑month record (over $700,000); he linked strong performance to short‑term rentals and sponsorships.
Ryan Ritchie, director of the Office of Tourism, told the board the office sponsored nearly 189 events and used tourist development tax revenues to support events, capital projects and advertising. He said fiscal‑year tourism collections set a record in FY25 at just under $6,000,000 and noted that March of the current year produced over $700,000 in collections, the largest single‑month haul in office history.
Ritchie attributed much of the revenue strength to short‑term rental collections and said about half or more of current collections come from short‑term rental properties. He described strategic sponsorships (nearly $1.3 million in sponsorship funds) and partnerships with sports organizations and noted the office received a bronze Flagler award for a public relations campaign. Commissioners asked whether length of stay had changed; Ritchie said stays were getting longer and that helped revenue even where ADR remained steady.
The presentation included a proposed budget that remains largely TDT‑funded and identified staffing and operating changes; commissioners commended the office for marketing successes and requested continued tracking of occupancy and ADR trends. No vote was taken at the workshop.
