Decatur Convention Bureau

By Paul Huggins, Staff Writer, The Decatur Daily

The Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau board of directors on Thursday:

•Reported the city has collected $398,420 in lodging taxes for fiscal year 2010, an 18 percent drop compared to the same period in fiscal 2009. The bureau receives 75 percent of the lodging taxes for operating and promotional expenses.

•Reported the $2-per-night room occupancy fee generated $37,685 in February (collected in April), which was $7,603 more than the same month in 2009. For the fiscal year, the fee has generated $228,328, which is down $20,692 or 8.3 percent compared to last year.

•Reported four April fishing tournaments filled 272 room nights for a total economic impact of $124,570: Southern Collegiate Bass Championship, 154 room nights for a $71,065 economic impact; American Bass Anglers, 43 room nights for an $18,519 economic impact; Bassmaster Weekend Series, 33 room nights for a $16,467 economic impact; Fellowship of Christian Athletes Bass Anglers Classic, 42 room nights for an $18,519 economic impact.

•Reported the Gulf South Conference Softball Tournament in April filled 322 room nights for a $166,870 economic impact and the Calhoun Women’s Softball Tournament filled 41 room nights for a $21,758 economic impact.

•Reported the Alabama Community College Conference State Tennis Championship in April filled 18 room nights for a $9,969 economic impact. The tourney had one less team than last year’s event, which filled 31 room nights.

•Reported the Racking Horse Spring Celebration in April filled 186 room nights for a $91,769 economic impact. The event filled 26 more rooms than last year.

•Reported the bureau office on Sixth Avenue Southeast will get a new $5,000 roof because of hail damage. The bureau paid a $500 insurance deductible.