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September 15, 2020
2:00PM - 3:00PM

Funding Futures: Options for Empowering Your DMO with Recovery Funding

Presented by John Lambeth & Tiffany Gallagher of Civitas

Virtual

Sept. 15, 2020 at 2 p.m. ET - Funding Futures: Options for Empowering Your DMO with Recovery Funding  | Presented by John Lambeth & Tiffany Gallagher of Civitas

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Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) are facing an unexpected and unprecedented crisis through the COVID-19 pandemic. A few DMOs have closed. Many DMOs, hotels, restaurants, and retail businesses have laid off or furloughed large portions of their staff.

To the extent that state and local government budgets have been reduced, they have lost much of their ability to fund or supplement destination marketing services. As a result, the services that DMOs offer are in higher demand than they ever have been, and yet DMOs have fewer resources to meet the need. In addition, most marketing and sales services provided directly by hotels have been dissolved.

This webinar will summarize the findings and recommendations from "Funding Futures," a major study of the recovery and future of tourism and DMO funding coming out of the COVID-19 crisis. The project analyzed 115 North American cities, all 50 U.S. states and 10 Canadian provinces to summarize the current situation, the impact of the COVID-19 crisis, and the outlook for recovery. The study also introduces and explores ten alternative funding options for DMOs to be “built back better” – options for more balanced, resilient and sustainable funding.

We will also explore how a Tourism Recovery & Improvement District provides the opportunity to create a stable revenue stream, untethered to the jurisdiction's general fund.  This secure revenue to fund recovery efforts paves the way for an expedited recovery, additional room demand, and industry jobs while providing organizations with the funding to rebuild what has been lost, and prepare for the future.

Key Takeaways: 

• Best practices in securing long-term stable recovery funding
• Alternatives to reliance on local government funds
• Insight to creating a Recovery Plan using Tourism Recovery & Improvement District revenue
• Building for the future with strategic recovery funding

About the Presenters:

John Lambeth, Founder & CEO, Civitas

John Lambeth, attorney and Civitas’ Founder & CEO, specializes in developing unique funding strategies for tourism and travel promotion. As a special districts attorney, John has been working with groups of hotels and DMOs for 20 years and has revolutionized the funding paradigm for destination marketing throughout the US.  John has assisted in over 200 improvement districts, including 100 tourism focused districts and has drafted tourism funding legislation in 16 states. He is a former member of the U.S. Travel Board, and is currently the Chair of the Destinations International Foundation Board, and General Counsel for CalTravel. As the leader of Civitas, he has helped raise over $1.7 billion for his hospitality clients.

Tiffany Gallagher, East Coast Branch Manager, Civitas

Tiffany Gallagher serves as the Branch Manager of the East Coast Division of Civitas. Ms. Gallagher began her career in hotel operations, rising through the hotel departmental leadership chain, finally managing large, full service, conference hotels. Throughout her career, Ms. Gallagher has shown strong commitment to the tourism and business communities. She brings an in-depth knowledge of the New York market and a proven record of strong leadership and civic involvement. Most recently, Ms. Gallagher served as the President of the Greater Syracuse Hospitality and Tourism Association and currently serves on the New York State Hospitality and Tourism Board of Directors. Her relevant experience includes; serving on the Board of Directors of Destination Marketing Organizations, Strategic Planning Councils, and Business Improvement Districts.

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