Tourism Development Program recommends $17.5K to city events

The Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau recommended that $10,000 be awarded to the Norm Stewart Classic basketball tournament and $7,500 to the “We Always Swing” jazz series. All awards are pending approval from City Council.

The Tourism Development Program, which is funded by a portion of the hotel tax, funds events and projects that submit an online application. One percent, or one fifth, of the 5 percent hotel tax backs the program, which gives it over $400,000 annually to support awarded projects.

The advisory board for the program reviews applications four times a year. This year the program has spent over $290,000, which does not include the $17,500 the board awarded today.

Money that is not used is saved for the tourism program, which started in 2000. The programs savings currently stands at $2,778,000. That money is reserved for the exclusive use of the Tourism Development Program.