Meeting Notes

by Paul Huggins, Staff Writer, The Decatur Daily

Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau
The Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau conducted the following business during in monthly meeting for August:

Reported end of fiscal 2010 figures showing revenue was $65,553 below budget projections. After adjusting the budget expenses during the year, the bureau ended fiscal 2010 with a $39,118 deficit.
Reported July revenue was $64,832, which was $9,934 above budget projections. July expenses exceeded the budget by $10,745, so the month had a $848 deficit.
Reported the city collected $81,872 in lodging taxes in May, up 6 percent from the same month in 2009. For fiscal 2010, the city has collected $623,854 in lodging taxes, down 12 percent from fiscal 2009. The bureau receives 75 percent of lodging taxes for operating and advertising.
Reported the $2-per-night room occupancy tax generated $47,775 in May, up $5,814 from the same month last year. For the year, the tax has generated $356,075. The money goes toward developing tourism products, such as Ingalls Harbor.
Reported Decatur hotels filled 58 percent of their available room nights in May, up 7 percent from the same month in 2009. It was the highest rate for May going back to 2002.
Reported special events in July filled 776 hotel room nights, creating an economic impact of $394,838. The largest event was spillover business from the Jehovah’s Witness district convention in Huntsville that generated 508 room nights. The same convention also filled 205 room nights in June.
Paul Huggins