river falls area chamber of commerce

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RIVER FALLS AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & TOURISM BUREAU TOURISM ADVISORY GROUP & TOURISM COMMITTEE GUIDELINES SEPTEMBER 2013 Statement of Purpose The purpose of the Tourism Advisory Group is to promote and encourage tourism in River Falls through projects, initiatives and/or events that are likely to generate paid overnight stays at more than one establishment. The primary role of the Tourism Committee is to serve as an advisory council for the development and execution of the tourism marketing plan, advertising schedule and budget to promote tourism in River Falls. Expenditures from tourism revenue are to be spent within the parameters and requirements of the definition of the WI Room Tax Statute. Membership Article I Section A

Section B Section C Section D

Article II Section A

Tourism Advisory Group The Tourism Advisory Group shall consist of at least one representative from the following segments: lodging, restaurant, retail, City of River Falls, media, University of Wisconsin River Falls, and other interested local business owners. Tourism Advisory Group meetings will occur quarterly. Meetings may be scheduled or canceled as needed. The Chief Executive Officer and/or the Tourism Sales Marketing Manager shall hold permanent seats on the Tourism Advisory Group. The Tourism Sales Marketing Manager will serve as Chair of the Tourism Advisory Group. Duties shall be as follows: 1 – Oversee the functions of the Tourism Advisory Group. 2 – Submit an agenda & facilitate Tourism Advisory Group meetings. 3 – Report directly to the Chief Executive Officer at the River Falls Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau with dotted-line reporting to the Chair of the Tourism Committee. 4 – Manage the day-to-day tourism operations for the Chamber and address visitor inquiries. 5 – Serve on the Tourism Committee.

Tourism Committee The Tourism Advisory Group shall have a separate Tourism Committee consisting of a Chair, Co-Chair, and Secretary plus two Tourism Committee Members At Large.

Section B Section C Section D

Elected Tourism Committee Members must be a member of the River Falls Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau in good standing. Tourism Committee meetings will occur monthly. Meetings will be cancelled or scheduled as needed. The Chief Executive Officer and the Tourism Sales Marketing Manager shall hold permanent seats on the Tourism Executive Committee.

Officers Section A

The Chair oversees functions of the Tourism Committee. The duties of the Chair shall be as follows: 1. Partner with Chamber staff to create tourism meeting agendas. 2. Submit agenda and facilitate all monthly Tourism Committee meetings. 3. Serve on the River Falls Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau Board and provide tourism updates to the Chamber Board. 4. The Chair will serve a three-year term.

Section B

The duties of the Co-Chair shall be as follows: 1. Assist the Chair. 2. Perform the duties of the Chair in his/her absence. 3. The Co-Chair ordinarily succeeds the Chair of the Tourism Committee 4. The Co-Chair shall serve a three-term.

Section C

The duties of the Secretary shall be as follows: 1. Submit written summary of each meeting with formal motions and action items documented within one week of the meeting to the Tourism Committee. 2. The Secretary shall serve a three-year term.

Section D

The duties of the Tourism Committee Members At Large shall be as follows: 1. Serve as advisors as defined in the Statement of Purpose. 2. The Tourism Committee Members At Large shall serve a one-year term.

Article III Section A

Room Tax Requirements According to the WI Room Tax Statue, at least seventy percent (70%) of the amount of room tax collected must be spent on tourism promotion and development. “Tourism promotion and development” means any of the following that are significantly used by transient tourists and reasonably likely to generate paid overnight stays at more than one establishment. Marketing projects, including advertising media buys, creation and distribution of printed or electronic promotional tourist materials, or efforts to recruit conventions, sporting events or motorcoach groups

Section B

1. Transient tourist information services 2. Tangible municipal development such as a convention center The City of River Falls Ordinance 3.14.060 – Administration of Tax Collection requires the net room tax collection be allocated as follows: 1. The tourism entity shall receive sixty-seven percent (67%) of the collected tax receipts of which eighty-five percent (85%) shall be placed in a segregated account to be expended for tourism promotion and development-related capital improvement projects in the City. The tourism entity shall advise and inform the common council of each capital in which it intends to implement prior hereto. If the common council objects to such expenditure, it shall inform the tourism entity of its objection and no tax money shall be spent on that particular project. The remaining fifteen percent (15%) shall be used by the tourism entity for administrative purposes. 2. The City shall retain thirty-three percent (33%) of the tax receipts to be used for tourism promotions and development, beautification, and marketing. The city shall contract the administration of tourist promotion and development with a tourism entity equipped with the staff, support services, and assistance to develop and implement a program or programs to promote the City to visitors. 3. The tourism entity shall submit an annual report to the City on or before April of each year with respect to the previous calendar year’s promotion and development activities in which it engaged. 4. The records of the tourism entity pertaining to its tourism promotion and development activities shall be made open and available to the City at all times.