The Tourism Council reports increased lodging tax revenue and upcoming board elections as members prepare to step down
Tahlequah: At the recent meeting on January 16, the Tourism Council had some exciting updates. They talked about the lodging tax revenue for Tour Tahlequah and Explore Cherokee County, plus the upcoming board elections.
Tourism Director Victoria Byrd shared that the lodging tax revenue is looking good. They’re at 65% of the budget for Tour Tahlequah and 80% for Explore Cherokee County. Last year, they were at 78% and 86%, respectively.
Byrd mentioned that in November, they were down $714 compared to last year, but by December, they bounced back with an increase of $7,150. That’s a whopping 142% jump year-over-year! January is also looking bright with a 155% increase in hotel/motel tax.
Austin Patton, a council member, noted that while they expect to surpass last year’s collections, they might not hit the projected numbers. He said if they perform as well as last year, they could collect an extra $20,000 to $30,000.
Chair Brandi Ross explained that if they don’t meet the budget, they can go back to the City Council to amend it. The budget shows a 10% increase for the city and 5% for the county compared to last year.
Byrd also reported that Explore Cherokee’s December numbers were up by 123%, and January was up 122%. She pointed out that even in the colder months, they’re only down 1%, which is pretty impressive.
Six council members are terming out this year, including Ross, who has been chair for two years. She announced she won’t seek the chair position again but wants to stay on the council.
Other members stepping down include Traci Huggins, Junior Sierra, Austin Spears, Tyler Wagers, and Brian Manley. Ross encouraged anyone interested in continuing their term to let her or Byrd know before the voting in March or April.
Ross mentioned that the chair plays a significant role, serving on the executive team for the Tourism Council and the Tahlequah Area Chamber of Commerce.
She added that she had committed to two terms and feels that’s a big enough commitment for now.
Looking ahead, they have some exciting events coming up, like the Crawfish Festival on April 4-5 and the Red Fern Festival on April 25-26.
Byrd also mentioned that the Oklahoma FreeWheel is set to come to Tahlequah, although details are still being finalized. This event will be a five-day bicycle ride through eastern Oklahoma, starting and ending in Tahlequah from June 1-5.
The next Tourism Council meeting is scheduled for February 20 at 8 a.m. at the Cherokee Nation Innovation Hub, followed by a strategic planning meeting.
