News for the Hospitality Executive |
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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The new consolidated tourism
marketing organization for Tallahassee and Leon County officially
begins operations today under the name of Visit
Tallahassee. This new organization will combine the
tourism advertising, public relations and marketing research,
previously under the direction of the Tourist Development Council, and
the direct sales and visitor service functions, previously under the
Tallahassee Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, into one
organization that will operate as a department of Leon County
Government. The new organization will promote the
entire Tallahassee area and region without regard to membership. The
Tourist Development Council will still serve as the advisory board to
the Leon County Board of County Commissioners on matters pertaining to
tourism marketing and expenditures of Tourist Development Tax proceeds. Heading up Visit Tallahassee will be Executive Director Lee Daniel, who was hired March 30 of this year and brings over 20 years of tourism related experience to Tallahassee. Staffing will consist of the following individuals and positions: Kerri Post, Senior Marketing Director Brian Hickey, Sports Council Director Chris O’Brien, Sports Council Assistant Director Katie Kole, Marketing Communications Director Lorrie Allen, Leisure Sales Director Raymond (Ricco) James, Visitor Services Director Kaye Hogan, Assistant to the Executive Director Wanda Barnard, Administrative Assistant A Meetings & Conventions/Customer Service director will be named later this week. Along with these exciting new changes comes the announcement of the new advertising agency and marketing research firm that will handle all advertising and public relations efforts for Visit Tallahassee. The Zimmerman Agency, a local firm, will work hand-in-hand with the staff of Visit Tallahassee to help make Tallahassee and Leon County a year-round visitor destination. The Bonn Marketing Research Group, Inc. will provide pertinent marketing research information and tourism economic impact statistics to Visit Tallahassee and the Tourist Development Council. “There is tremendous opportunity to expand tourism in the greater Tallahassee area,” said Lee Daniel. “With the participation and support of our tourism-related partners and our new marketing agencies, we will be able to fully develop our potential as a leading destination for nature-based, historical, heritage, cultural, conference, educational, film and sports related visitation. I am very excited about the future of tourism in Tallahassee.” |
Contact: Lee Daniel (850) 606-2300 |