Tourism promotion without a face

In the Front Royal, 2021 budget proposal made by the Interim Town Manager (ITM), tourism would be outsourced at an expense of $225,000. The ITM did point out that in 2019, Tourism expenses were “409,000” ($409,640 to be precise). Then, he and Jacob Meza were pleased with what they saw as reducing the size of government and saving money.

But, the difference between the two figures (409,000 and 225,000) is the employees. The ITM cut out the employees’ salaries of $234,090. The happy budget-cutting pair of Tederick and Meza did not explain how to do tourism without enough money to pay employees.

Tederick-Meza Tourism plan: cut salaries, cut staff = Tourism promotion without a face. Wonder how that will play in online trip advisory reviews, Gail, Nellie and fellow Visitors Center staff?

How do you do Tourism without employees? How do you run a Visitor’s Center without at least four employees to do the bulk of Tourism tasks? The current staff keeps the records, does the ordering, accounting, and reporting. They all work part-time and in pairs which is essential to manage the incoming travelers. And, they are highly rated by visitors: “Best Visitor Center ever.”

We need to remember the payback supports 170 tourism-related businesses in the region; provides lodging taxes to the town and county of $2,940,000; supports at least 1700 jobs and a payroll of $23,000,000 for the workers in the hospitality industry.

Would Town Council oppose the current budget proposal as written by adding more money to the budget? That is a wait and see what happens question.

Linda Allen
Front Royal, Virginia