Branson Courier

Month: February 2008

  • Though April elections may come your way, they bring the TIFs which bloom in May

    Alright, so the lyrics of the yet to be written song “April TIFs” are a little different from the old classic “April Showers.” In that song the April rains bring “the flowers that bloom in May.” Unfortunately while the April rains might “bring flowers that bloom in May” Branson’s April election may bring the TIFs that bloom in May.

    It’s really pretty simple. There are three alderman seats up for grabs in Branson’s April election. It is the vote of the Branson Board of Aldermen that determines whether or not developers may use Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for redevelopment projects within Branson. Is it just possible that at least two developers are, stomping in the wings, waiting to see how the board composition changes as the result of the April election before submitting their TIF applications?

    Branson’s April election may very well determine whether there will be a rash of TIF applications coming in May. As they sally forth seeking tax payer dollars to fund their projects, the developers will be driveling about the thousands of year round jobs their projects will create and the revenues they will bring in. Of the thousands of jobs created at Branson Hills and Branson Landing, how many of them ever held the promise of paying enough so that a person, working 40 hours a week, could support a spouse and two children?

    Oh, there is no doubt that revenues are being generated within the TIF districts but that revenue is being generated by people. The same people that the developers, and others feeding at the TIF trough of government financed development, need to make their tax payer financed and supported projects financially viable. Can any reasonable person really believe that, even with the TIF, the Branson Landing project could have gotten acceptable financing without the millions of visitors coming to Branson annually? Is it unreasonable to ask, “What would have done the most to bring more people to Branson, $100 million spent on marketing all that Branson is and has or $100 million to develop Branson Landing?

    But, enough of this frivolity, whether one loves TIF or hates them, the April aldermanic election has the potential to swing the TIF pendulum one way or the other. Those favoring TIFs have to be salivating over the fact that the incumbent alderman in Ward 1, Stan Barker is running unopposed, that incumbent Ward 2 Alderman Jack Purvis is running for reelection and that Marc Williams, the “W” in HCW is running for the seat left vacant by the decision of Alderman Dick Gass not to run.

    Those not favoring TIFs can only hope that the candidacy of Cris Bohinc against Purvis in Ward 2 and Dr. Rick Davis against Williams will provide voters with a choice. Some might ask, “But Seagull why would TIF developers be salivating over the possibility of Purvis and Williams being elected more than Bohinc and Davis?” The answer would be, “History.”

  • Branson CVB to market Hollister other Taney County tourism entities

    By: Gary J. Groman, a.k.a. The Ole Seagull

    Beginning July 1, the Branson/Lakes Area CVB (CVB) will include Hollister, and other tourism related entities located outside the Branson/Lakes Area Tourism Community Enhancement District (the District), in its tourism marketing effort. The CVB has a contract with the District to market and promote tourism with the District. Normally tourism entities outside of the boundaries of the District, such as Hollister, are not eligible to be included in the direct marketing efforts of the District as a matter of right.

    CVB, Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations, Dan Lennon said that doesn’t mean that tourism entities outside of the District haven’t been shown or mentioned in advertising done by the District. They have, but such participation was limited to that fitting into the Districts overall marketing plan to promote tourism within the District. Lennon pointed out that Bass Pro’s Big Cedar, while not being physically located within the District might be seen in some District advertising as part of the overall marketing plan because of its broad appeal that could cause people to come to the District. He also mentioned that selected events outside of the District, such as the Hydroplane Races at Rockaway Beach are listed on the District’s Event Calendar for the same reason.

    As of July 1, all that changes because of the new guidelines the Missouri Department of Tourism (MDT) is using in its Cooperative Marketing Program (CMP). The CMP provides up to 50 percent reimbursement for eligible tourism marketing expenses. Under the new guidelines only one organization within each county, referred to as the Designated Marketing Organization (DMO), will be certified by MDT to receive CMP funding for the promotion of tourism within the county. In Taney County that organization is the CVB.

    Under the MDT guidelines, the DMO must operate within the parameters the DMO’s marketing plan that MDT approved for the promotion of tourism within a respective county. The $1.3 million marketing expenses used to qualify for the 50 percent reimbursement, anticipated to be about $660,000 for Fiscal Year 2009, will come from the District and be spent pursuant to its overall marketing plan to promote the District.

    Lennon said that the primary change for businesses located outside the District will their integration into the Districts overall marketing plan on the same basis as businesses within the District. Specifically, Lennon pointed out that for most businesses that would mean they would be listed without charge in web sites, ads, and promotional pieces and be eligible to purchase ads on the web site, visitor’s guides, promotional pieces, etc. on the same basis as businesses within the District.

    He went on to say that the CVB will be trying to contact those tourism entities outside of the District to make the appropriate notification of the changes that will be taking place. He also said the CVB is in the process of developing the process of establishing a process to get participation and input from those entities outside of the District. He mentioned that he had recently met with Hollister City Administrator, Rick Ziegenfuss to discuss the program.

    Ziegenfuss said that he was very encouraged by his meeting with Lennon and by the inclusion of Hollister in the overall marketing of the area. He expressed his personal confidence in Lennon and seemed confident that Hollister’s growing tourism interests would be promoted fairly. As to expectations, it appears that they are in line with the plans of the CVB for the overall marketing plan for the area. He said, “If in fact there is listings and things of that nature, we would hope and expect to be treated the same as other regional tourist destinations.” He also expressed Hollister’s willingness to participate in the planning process and his belief that the process will result in bringing more tourists into the region.

    Furnished courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.

  • Branson’s Edwards wins William Jewell humanitarian services award

    William Jewell College has announced the recipient of the John and Mary Pritchard Humanitarian Service Award for 2008. This year’s award winner is Brittany Edwards of Branson, Mo.

    Edwards will work with Dr. Ruth Kauffmann, professor of languages at William Jewell, to research and develop a new perspective for the college’s Chicano Experience class. The planned updates to the class will examine issues specific to the border area between the United States and Mexico.

    "Because of my passion for border studies and the human rights violations associated with the borderlands, I gladly accept the responsibility of planning the trip in order to raise awareness among my peers," Edwards said. Edwards plans to work through the United Methodist Border Area Mission in McAllen, Texas, and will assist with a Mission Academy for United Methodist youth groups while she conducts her research. She hopes that the project will enable future William Jewell students to approach the immigration question with increased compassion and understanding.

    Edwards is the daughter of William and Deborah Edwards of Branson. She is currently pursuing a triple major in Spanish, English, and psychology at William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo. On campus, she is actively involved in Alpha Gamma Delta, American Humanics, service learning and Christian Related Vocations. She has dedicated much of her college experience to volunteering in the nonprofit field. Her volunteer activities include a disaster relief trip to New Orleans, work with Spanish-speaking junior high students, a Honduras construction and mission trip, co-teaching a class for Spanish-speaking permanent residents seeking citizenship, and an internship as a youth advocate with Synergy House, a shelter for homeless, runaway and abused teenagers in the Kansas City area.

    The Pritchard Humanitarian Service Award is provided by and named for the founders and nurturers of Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City, a provider of affordable housing for low-income families. For more than two decades, the Pritchards sought strong and effective ways to interact with people in need. The award goes annually to William Jewell students who commit to engaging with people in need and developing relationships with people different from themselves in all fundamental aspects while learning about their own unique gifts and calling.

  • Some Branson Landing retailers have concerns others don’t

    Amid all the great revenue reports on the great sales tax revenues coming from Branson Landing (Landing) there appears to be some businesses, mostly the smaller independent owners or franchisees, who have some concerns. According to a credible source, who owns and operates one of the concerned businesses at the Landing, and wishes to remain anonymous at this point, there was a meeting last week at Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que attended by an estimated 15 Branson Landing businesses.

    According to the source, the businesses primary concern relates to the high cost of doing business at the Landing particularly during the months of Jan. through Mar. when customer traffic is down. Those costs, among others, involve the high cost of rent, increased labor costs because of the hours they are required to be open, escalating Common Area Maintenance (CAM) and, for some, the high cost of trash removal.

    Other areas of concern relate to what some of them consider the lack of adequate advertising by HCW and Urban to bring people to the Landing and how the money each business pays into a pool for marketing is spent. When it was pointed out that over 60 percent of all the people coming to Branson went down to the Landing last year, the source replied, “There’s a lot of people walking up and down the promenade but most of them aren’t carrying bags.”

    The source went on to say that there was the possibility that William “Willey” Theisen, the retired owner of Godfather’s Pizza and the owner of a number of Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Ques, might be coming into town to advise and assist the group. Inquiry at the Landing’s Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que to get more information on its concerns and to verify if and when Theisen would be coming to Branson ended with a relayed message from an assistant manager that the manager was on vacation and was the only one who could discuss the matter.

    Rick Huffman, President and CEO of HCW Development, LLC said that he had been in contact with some of the concerned businesses and representatives of Urban Retail Properties, LLC, who operates and manages the Landing for HCW, about the concerns. Representatives of Urban Retail indicated that they were aware of a pending meeting and had offered to attend. They said that they have had no meeting with the group but that its Landing management team would look forward to working, not only with the group, but any individual store having concerns, in addressing those concerns and trying to resolve them in a mutually satisfactory manner.

    Not all businesses have the same concerns. On the way out of the Landing this reporter’s wife and daughter couldn’t resist a sale in the Yankee Candle store. During a discussion with Rose Vinson, the manager of the store since its opening, she said that she was very pleased with the way things were going and pointed out that the store was number eight out of 467 stores, in the chain, for overall excellence and number 20 in profitability in 2007. Chris Lemons, a manager at the Landings Cantina Laredo restaurant, said that their restaurant is doing extremely well and that they are very pleased with the way things are going at the Landing.

    Furnished courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent. https://bransoncourier.com/view_article.php?news_ID=41

  • Legends in Concert announces exciting new Spring Line Up

    Legends in Concert announces exciting new Spring Line Up
    By Gary J. Groman, a.k.a. The Ole Seagull

    “Legends in Concert” opens its 2008 season with an exciting new lineup of stars, new dancers, and exciting new sets. Melody Byrd, Group Sales & Marketing Manager for the theatre is excited about starting the 2008 season.

    She said that the new Spring lineup, running through May 20, includes George Strait (Larry Turner), Marilyn Monroe (Stacey Whitton), Buddy Holly (George Trullinger), The Blues Brothers (Justin Clark and Art Vargas) and Elvis (Dean Z). Dean Z portral of Elvis is the Elvis of the 50’s.

    In addition, Byrd said, “We have also done a face lift to our stage and transformed it into an awesome set accommodating two new male dancers. The new dancers are Gabriel Quintero and Charles Redding. They will be joining Cindy Dardas, Tori Dey Palumbo singer/dancer, Tiffany Powers singer/dancer and Line Captain-Stephanie Drey.

    The Legends in Concert show is a recreation of the artists and their performances. From looks, to performance characteristics, moves and mannerisms, but most important, the actual sounds of their voices, the audience will experience something unique as the performances of some of America’s greatest super stars are recreated by the incredibly talented sound alike and look-alike entertainers recreating those performances. What’s amazing is that the voices being heard are the performer’s actual voices, no tapes or karaoke are used.

    To purchase tickets on line or further information click here.

  • MODOT sinks hopes to eliminate Taneycomo Bridge closing

    The chances for a new bridge were pretty well sunk by the actions of the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). After months of negotiation between the cities of Branson and Hollister, Taney Country and MoDOT’s District 8, local officials received word late last week that both District 8 and MoDOT at the state level had decided that MoDOT’s portion of the project cost was too much. As MoDOT’s District 8 Transportation Project Manager, Chad E. Zickefoose said, “The funds just aren’t there.”

    At a Feb. 1 meeting in Springfield, the Taney County Commissioners, representative of the cities of Branson and Hollister, and MoDOT’s District 8 reviewed and agreed upon the “Project Cost Share Summary for the Taneycomo Bridge/Route 76 Cost Share Project”. The Summary set forth the proposed cost for the project, who was to pay what and would have served as the financial basis for the application for MoDOT cost sharing funds.

    According to the Summary, of the total estimated project cost of $21.6 million, $13,445,149 was to be eligible for cost sharing. The remaining $8,116,735 would have been paid primarily by MoDOT. Of the total $21.6 million for the project, MoDOT, through cost sharing and otherwise, would have been paying $14,839,305 or about 68 percent of the total project.

    MoDOT’s District 8 was to prepare the Cost Sharing Application and submit it to the cities of Branson and Hollister and to Taney County for review and execution so that it could be submitted to MoDOT’s Cost Sharing Committee by Mar. 1.

    According to Zickefoose, during the process of preparing the application and communicating with MoDOT at the state level, it became apparent that the funds just weren’t there. One suggestion that MoDOT had was to go ahead and repair the old bridge with MoDOT paying, local entities and MoDOT sharing the cost of the roundabout, and that the new bridge be funded entirely by local funding.

    The matter was discussed briefly by the Branson Board of Aldermen at its Feb. 19 Work Session Work. There was a noticeable lack of enthusiasm regarding MoDOT’s suggestion. Absent some other solution, the Lake Taneycomo Bridge, between downtown Branson and Hollister, will be close early in 2009 for approximately a year so that it can be repaired.

    The matter will be discussed at the Partners In Progress meeting scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at Hollister City Hall on Thursday, Feb. 21.

    Furnished courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.

  • Branson’s Finance Director departs suddenly

    The sudden departure of Ferris Brown from his position of Finance Director for the city of Branson leaves three senior management positions within the city vacant. Hired to replace the city’s former Finance Director, Deanna Schlegel, less than a year ago, Brown’s last day on the job was Tuesday, Feb. 12. In addition to the vacancy caused by his surprise departure, the city currently has the positions of City Administrator and Director of Economic Development vacant.

    Jerry Adams, Public Information Director for the city of Branson, said that his departure was not the result of the recent independent audit conducted on the city for the year ending Sep. 30, 2007. The audit was conducted by the firm of Cochran Head Vick & Co., PC. At its Feb. 11 meeting, the Branson Board of aldermen accepted a report of the audit which was presented by David L. Cochran of that firm. After hearing the report’s summary, Alderman Stephen Marshall said, “Our house is in good shape” and that he was pleased with the report.

    Adams went on to say that Brown’s departure was a personnel matter and gave no further indication of the circumstances involved with his departure. Attempts to contact Brown at the local cell number he was previously using were unsuccessful.

    Furnished courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.

  • Branson CVB sole Branson organization eligible for $660,000 in state tourism funding

    The Branson Veteran’s Task Force (BVT) and the Downtown Branson Main Street Association (DBMA) will no longer be eligible to receive matching funds from the Missouri Department of Tourism (MDT) under its Cooperative Marketing Program. Under the current guidelines, both organizations, along with the Branson Lakes Area CVB (CVB), had been certified as a Designated Marketing Organization (DMO) by MDT and were eligible to receive matching funds from its Cooperative Marketing Program.

    At an Oct. 10, 2007 meeting with local government officials, and others actively involved in the promotion of tourism in the Branson area, Blaine Luetkemeyer, the Director of the MDT, informed those in attendance of recent changes to the guidelines his department uses in its cooperative marketing program. Based on Luetkemeyer’s responses to the questions asked at that meeting, it appears that Luetkemeyer and his staff arbitrarily put the changes in place without the approval of the Missouri Tourism Commission and without the conscious participation of the CVB, or any other DMO in the Branson area.

    Under the new guidelines, which will be effective for MDT’s 2009 fiscal Year starting July 1, MDT will only certify one DMO within each county for participation in its Cooperative Marketing Program (CMP). Applications for the certification had to be submitted to MDT for approval by Nov. 1, 2007. The Branson Lakes CVB (CVB) was the only organization within Taney County that submitted an application for certification and has been certified as the DMO for Taney County to receive cooperative marketing funds under the MDT Cooperative Marketing Program (CMP).

    The new guidelines provide that the funds each DMO is eligible to receive from the CMP, and what is required to receive them, is largely dependent on the “Designation” and “Level of Certification” that MDT determines for a particular DMO. Based on the new guidelines it appears that the Branson CVB will be assigned to a Level III Certification, MDT’s highest level, and will receive MDT Designations in the areas of Leisure Travel, Convention, and Amateur Sporting Event marketing.

    One final factor to be considered is the County Tourism Level (CTL) which groups counties according to their Fiscal Year 2006 tourist expenditures and available lodging to determine the maximum amount a DMO can receive from the CMP in 2009. Taney County has the highest CTL available a “7.” The guidelines state, “Funding amounts are first limited by the amount allocated per Missouri county, and secondly by the certification level of the DMO.”

    The CTL indicates that Taney County could receive a maximum of $600,000 to market Leisure Travel and an additional $60,000 to market Conventions and or Amateur Sporting Events for a total of $660,000. Under the guidelines, the Branson Lakes Area CVB, with its Level III Certification, could qualify to receive a total $660,000 under the CMP.

    Dan Lennon, Vice President Marketing & Public Relations, Branson/Lakes Area CVB, said that there are different dates for submitting the applications for each designation. He pointed out that the application for the $60,000 to market Conventions has already been sent and was received by MDT prior to its Jan. 31 deadline. Lennon said that the application for $600,000 to market Leisure Travel is currently in the process of being developed and will be submitted in time to arrive at MDT prior to its Apr. 15 deadline. He said MDT should issue a notification of funding award on or before May 30 for both and anticipates that the maximum amount in each designation will be awarded.

    Lennon was also quick to stress that the $660,000 would not be available for use until MDT’s Fiscal Year which begins on July 1. He also pointed out that to get the $660,000 from MDT the Branson Lakes Area CVB must spend $1.3 million because, in addition to the programs built in maximums, it will only reimburse up to 50 percent of eligible marketing expenses. The $1.3 million used to qualify for the MDT reimbursement will come from the Branson/Lakes Area Tourism Community Enhancement District as part of its overall marketing program for the district.

    Furnished courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.

  • “It’s the Marketing, Stupid” not the TIFs!

    The word “stupid” is meant in the same context as it was used in a headline on the cover of the Jan 21, issue of Time Magazine proclaiming “It’s the Voters, Stupid.” A “sub-headline” went on to proclaim “Forget the experts, forget the polls, forget the T.V. ads. How the American people defied the odds, upended expectations and gave us a real race.”

    As applies to Branson, a paraphrase of the Time cover could be, “It’s the Marketing, Stupid.” An appropriate sub headline could be, “For get the TIFs, forget the auditor’s outlooks, forget the developers hype. How Branson keeps on marketing, exceeding visitor expectations, and gives America an entertainment experience available no where else.”

    A conclusion contained in the “Economic Outlook” of the city of Branson’s recent Independent Auditors Report said, “In the years prior to the Branson Landing opening, the City of Branson has experienced very limited growth.” Oh really, for a little town in the Ozark Mountains some might say that prior to the opening of Branson Landing, partially near the end of May 2006, that Branson had experienced phenomenal growth.

    Why some might even say that “but for” the millions of visitors already coming to Branson that Branson Landing might never have been built. Some might even say that tourism and the number of people coming to Branson was already on the rise before Branson Landing even opened. Come to think of it someone did.

    At the Aug. 30, 2006 meeting of the Branson Board of Aldermen, the Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB gave its marketing report for the period ending Jun. 30, 2006. As compared to a similar time frame in 2005, the report indicates that the total number of visitations to Branson was up 6.5 percent, first time visitors were up by 13.7 percent, the average spending per visitor was up 11.3 percent, the average length of stay up 16.7 percent, and the number of families visiting Branson was up by 17.9 percent.

    That same “Economic Outlook” went on to say, “FY 2007 tourism tax collections compared to FY 2006 are up between seven and ten percent in all areas except theatres. All of this activity has been spurred by the development of the Branson Landing and Branson Hills Projects.” WOW, when was the last time you planned a vacation to a destination based on the fact that it had a Target, or a Home Depot or, even, as nice as it is, a shopping mall like Branson Landing. One can just imagine the excitement within the family as they are told that the highlight of their vacation will be the fire and light show at Branson Landing and a two for one hammer sale at Home Depot.

    The audit report goes on to attribute the revenue increases to “a result of the many changes and activities the city has entered into, including the city’s successful use of tax increment financing.” Specifically, the report cites the main components of the revenue growth as coming from “increases in sales taxes, increases in utility revenues, and new revenues from tax increment districts.”

    Interestingly, and more importantly from a “tell” perspective, the audit report does not contain even a mention of the increased marketing of the Branson area as a potential causal factor in the revenue increases. In terms of revenue, it doesn’t make any difference how something is built, TIF or no TIF, what is important is the revenues that are generated. In Branson’s entertainment retail environment the generation of revenue has a direct relationship to the numbers of people coming to Branson.

    Every business person in Branson, excluding perhaps, those located in Branson Landing and Branson Hills, should ask themselves this question, “What will bring more people into my business, the millions of dollars being spent to pay off the city debt on Branson Landing and Branson Hills or the same millions spent on the marketing in an effort to bring more visitors to Branson?” The baseless conclusions of the audit report aside, in terms of ascribing a reason to Branson’s recent revenue increases, an Ole Seagull would suggest that the answer, for most business in Branson is obvious.

  • Independent audit shows “Our house is in good financial shape”

    After hearing the summary of the independent audit conducted on the city of Branson for the year Sep. 30, 2007, Alderman Stephen Marshall said, “Our house is in good shape” and that he was pleased with the report. The audit report was presented by David L. Cochran, CPA, with the Kansas City firm of Cochran Head Vick & Co., PC, who was hired by the city of Branson to do its annual independent audit.
    The report’s financial highlights indicate that at the close of fiscal year 2007, the city’s assets exceeded its liabilities by $140,727,459. Of that total amount, $14,879,216 of unrestricted assets is available to meet the city’s “ongoing obligations to citizens and creditors.” The report also states that the balance of the city’s general fund at the close of the fiscal year was $12,850,529 and that the city’s total debt decreased by $3,085,653 or approximately 1.57 percent of the city’s total debt.
    Another financial highlight of the report indicates that the city’s total net assets increased by $2,799,819 during the fiscal year. It points out that the increase represents “the degree to which increases in ongoing revenues have outstripped similar increases in ongoing expenses.” The report goes on to attribute the increase to “increases in revenues, a result of the many changes and activities the city has entered into, including the city’s successful use of tax increment financing.” Specifically, the report cites the main components of the revenue growth as coming from “increases in sales taxes, increases in utility revenues, and new revenues from tax increment districts.”
    The report shows that about 56.5 percent of the city’s total revenue comes from its sales and tourism taxes. Only about 4.4 percent of its revenues come from property taxes. The funds from intergovernmental activity taxes increased $2,129,328 during the fiscal year 2007. The intergovernmental activity taxes reflect the TIF taxes captured from other government entities that the city used to support the debt service requirements of its development districts.
    The $12,850,529 balance of the general fund at the close of the fiscal year reflected a decrease during the year of $803,939. This decrease was attributed to an increase in expenditures in connection with the opening of the convention center and other “across-the-board increases in general operating expenditures.”
    The economic outlook states, “In the years prior to the Branson Landing Opening, the City of Branson has experienced very limited growth.” It goes on to state that “Revenues have expanded at an unprecedented pace, surpassing the rapid increases experienced in the 1990’s” and that all this activity has been spurred by the development of the Branson Landing and Branson Hills projects.

  • Even Kimberling City can’t win the pot unless they ante up, or can they?

    By: Gary J. Groman, a.k.a. The Ole Seagull

    In the game of Tourism Poker, it appears that the “Table Rock Lake Area Chamber of Commerce (TRLACC) wants to win $200,000 from the Missouri Division of Tourism without having the ante or the money to play the hand. Instead, they would have the Branson Lakes Area Tourism Community Enhancement District (TCED) provide $400,000 to fund their game with the Missouri Division of Tourism.

    As is the case with any game, it is important to have the terminology straight. What is now called the Table Rock Lake Area Chamber of Commerce (TRLACC) was, until recently, commonly referred to as the Kimberling City Chamber of Commerce. A Google Search on Feb. 8 for the terms “Table Rock Lake Area Chamber of Commerce” came up with a top listing of “Table Rock Lake Chamber of Commerce (Kimberling City Area)” with link to the TRACC website which shows its address as “14226 State Hwy 13
    Kimberling City, MO 65686.”

    The Branson Lakes Area Tourism Community Enhancement District (TCED) is a “body corporate and politic of the state,” established by law, and covers a specified area that was required to be described “by metes and bounds, streets or other sufficiently specific description” when the TCED was established by the Taney County Commission. The official map of the TCED indicates that the vast majority of Stone Country, including Kimberling City, Branson West, Cape Fair, Talking Rocks, etc. is not within the TCED.

    After the TCED was set up, and two elections later, the voters within the TCED anted up with a retail tourism tax on themselves. Specifically, they voted to impose a one percent retail sales tax on themselves for the “the purpose of promoting tourism in the district.” Oh, has it been mentioned that the vast majority of Stone Country, including Kimberling City, Branson West, Cape Fair, Talking Rocks, etc. is not within the TCED?

    At this point it’s probably appropriate to mention that, unlike what Taney County did, neither Stone County nor Kimberling City, although they could have, even attempted to establish a Tourism Community Enhancement District. Even worse, the Stone County Commission stood idly by and did nothing while the Taney County Commission established a TCED and encroached into a small area of Stone County including Indian Point and Silver Dollar City.

    Businesses within the TCED have been collecting and remitting the TCED Tourism tax for about two years and residents, and others, shopping within the TECD, have been paying it for a like period. The TCED Board has entered into an agreement with the Branson Lakes Area Convention and Visitor Bureau (CVB) to conduct and administer functions such as public relations, sales, and marketing of tourism on behalf of the district. The statute authorizing the TCED requires that “Such marketing, advertising, and promotional activities shall be developed into a comprehensive marketing plan, for the benefit of the district.”

    Now along comes the Table Rock Lake Area Chamber of Commerce (TRLACC) and the the residents and businesses it represents, who have chosen not to pay for their own tourism marketing, in an effort to, you guessed it, get free money from the Missouri Division of Tourism without having to ante up. Instead, they are proposing that the Board of the TCED ante up the $400,000.00 they need so that they can get the $200,000 in free money from the state which they will then give back to the TCED.

    Some might say, “The money might be free to TRLACC because they are not the ones paying the ante but it’s certainly not free to the TCED, it will cost them $200,000.” Others might ask, “How much media and advertising can be brought for $400,000 to promote tourism within the TCED.” Still others might ask, “How effective and comprehensive is a marketing plan that has the flexibility to be gerrymandered in a manner that would permit something like this to happen in the manner that it is?

    Why some might even say, “Surely the TCED board wouldn’t even consider something like this?” Oh, they’re more than considering it.

    At their last meeting the board passed a motion directing the Board’s president to “write a letter to the Table Rock Lake Area Chamber of Commerce that the board is interested in encouraging the Branson CVB to subcontract with the Table Rock Lake Area Chamber of Commerce to obtain the $200,000 funding through the Missouri Department of Tourism.” For that to happen, $400,000 of TCED marketing funds that are supposed to be used to promote tourism in the district will be funneled to the Table Rock Lake Area Chamber of Commerce through the Branson Lakes Area CVB.

    See related news article entitled: "$200,000 in Branson tourism tax funds might be used to market Stone County"

  • $200,000 in Branson tourism tax funds might be used to market Stone County

    A portion of the retail tourism tax collected by Branson retail establishments, theatres, hotels, motels, restaurants, and attractions for marketing within the Branson/Lakes Area Tourism Community Enhancement District (TCED) may be diverted to market areas outside of the TCED as far away as Galena, Crane, and Cape Fair. Under a proposal currently being considered by the TCED Board, $400,000 of TCED marketing funds would be channeled to the Table Rock Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, formerly known as the Kimberling City Chamber of Commerce, in an attempt to get a $200,000 reimbursement from Missouri’s Division of Tourism.

    Under the proposal, as discussed thus far, the funds would not go directly from the TCED but would be funneled through the Branson Lakes Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). The CVB currently has a contract with the TCED to market the TCED and it is through that contract that the funds would be funneled to the Table Rock Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.

    Wyli Barnes, President/CEO of the Table Rock Lake Area Chamber of Commerce made a presentation to the TCED Board at its Feb. 6 meeting outlining the proposal. The only official action taken by the board as a result of the presentation was to pass a motion directing the Board’s president to “write a letter to the Table Rock Lake Area Chamber of Commerce that the board is interested in encouraging the Branson CVB to subcontract with the Table Rock Lake Area Chamber of Commerce to obtain the $200,000 funding through the Missouri Department of Tourism.”

    At least one of the members of the TCED Board, Bill Skains, Manager, Engler Block, Branson, expressed his concern that the TCED was doing something outside of its legislative authority. In response board member Bert Lehman, co-owner of Artilla Cove Resort, Indian Point, said “We’re not doing anything outside of our TCED.” Skains said, “I disagree” and Leman said, “Table Rock Lake is in the TCED.”

    An examination of the current map used by the TCED to show its boundaries indicates that Table Rock Lake is not included in the TCED. Further, it shows that only a small portion of the southeastern portion of Stone County, including Indian Point, Silver Dollar City, and selected portions of Stone County, mostly west of State Highway 265 to the shoreline of Table Rock Lake and north of the southern boundary of the State Park are in the TCED. Not only geographically but economically, the vast majority of the TCED is located within Taney County and the city of Branson.

    In a telephone interview on Feb. 7, Lehman, while acknowledging that the current map is the map that has been used to determine the TCED boundaries up to this point said that the map may not be accurate because it has never been digitized. He further pointed out that the boundaries of the Village of Indian Point encompass a portion of Table Rock Lake but he does not know whether or not the metes and bounds description used to initially formulate the TCED included any portion of Table Rock Lake.

    At meeting held at Silver Dollar City on Oct. 10, 2007 Blaine Luetkemeyer, the Director of the Missouri Department of Tourism informed those in attendance of recent changes to the guidelines his department uses in its cooperative marketing program. Luetkemeyer and his staff arbitrarily put the changes in place without the approval of the Missouri Tourism Commission or broad dissemination to the various county commissions throughout the state who they had charged with implementing them.

    The new arbitrarily imposed guidelines mean that the Division of Tourism will only recognize one entity within each county for participation in its cooperative marketing program. Under the program, the Division will provide matching funds to only one entity in each county. Stone County has designated the Table Rock Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, located in Kimberling City as that entity. The map of the TCED indicates that Kimberling City and the vast majority of Stone County are not within the TCED.

    To get $200,000 in reimbursement from the Division of Tourism, the Table Rock Lake Area Chamber of Commerce must spend $400,000 and then apply for reimbursement from the state. Information presented during the presentation indicates that the Table Rock Lake Area Chamber of Commerce does not have the $400,000 necessary to maximize the reimbursement available from the state. The purpose of the request is to try to fund the Table Rock Lake Area Chamber of Commerce with sufficient funding to do so.

    Furnished courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.

    See related editorial entitled: "Even Kimberling City can’t win the pot unless they ante up, or can they?"

  • Convention Center bookings exceed projections

    By: Gary J. Groman, a.k.a. The Ole Seagull

    According to the quarterly report received by the Branson Board of Aldermen at their Jan. 28 meeting, bookings for the Branson Convention Center are exceeding benchmark projections. While presenting the report, Mark Hartman, General Manager, Hiltons of Branson, reported, “In 2008 we are now at 198 event days.”

    He continued, “This compares to the CS & L Study that was done prior to the convention center opening and their projection, for the convention center with a hotel attached, was to have 177 event days at stabilization.” The study being referred to was the “Feasibility Analysis of the Proposed Branson Downtown Exhibition and Convention Center Study” conducted by CSL International which was sent to the city of Branson in Feb. 2003. The study used the term “stabilized year” which, it says, is assumed to occur by the fifth year of operation.

    Hartman said, “In 2007 we booked $4.8 million of revenue into the Branson Convention Center. That’s just food and beverage and meeting room rental. There’s additional revenue which pertains to parking, the laundry, show events, and decorating services that will add to that number.”

    He went on to point out that although the $4.8 million figure represents business “booked” in 2007, it includes bookings in other years. He specifically noted that of the $4.8 million booked in 2007, that $2.5 million of that was for 2008 and that they have also “layered in revenues into 2009, 2010, 2111, and 2112.”

    An analysis of the “Sales & Marketing” portion of the report presented indicates that in 2008, as of the end of Dec. 2007, there are 186 event days booked definitely, 81 tentatively and 25 prospects. Hartman pointed out that the difference between the 198 he cited earlier and the report is because 12 additional events have been booked between the closing date of the report, Dec. 31, 2007 and his presentation during the meeting.

    In discussing the event days that are booked Hartman stressed that one of the big focuses of the sales team was to focus on multiyear events. The rational being, he said, “So that as we finished up a year we didn’t have to go back and resell that client.”

    Alderman Stephen Marshall asked, “Of the business that has been booked, how much of it is new business that has never been to Branson before?” Harman replied, “I would guess about 60 percent.” Hartman also pointed out that there is convention business coming to Branson and going to other places beside the Branson Convention Center that were made aware of Branson as a potential convention site because of the publicity and advertising relating to the Branson Convention Center.

  • Event Days aside, Branson’s convention center wasn’t built to make a profit, but…

    One of the foundational documents used to support the building of the convention center in downtown Branson estimated that the convention center would have an annual net operating deficit of ($530,000) per year in a stabilized year of operation. The document, a study entitled, “Feasibility Analysis of the Proposed Branson Downtown Exhibition and Convention Center Study,” (CS&L Study) was received by the city of Branson during Feb. 2003.

    The CS& L study was used as one of the primary documents in supporting the building of the convention center downtown and, it appears, is being used as a benchmark in determining how successfully the convention center is being operated. As recently as Jan. 28, the study’s estimate of 177 Event Days for a stabilized year of operation was cited as a benchmark in evaluating the Event Days scheduled for 2008, 198 so far.

    As the study used the term, a “stabilized year” is assumed to be the normal operation of the facility that would occur by the fifth year of operation. It acknowledges the time it takes to ramp up a convention center operation and generate the stream of bookings and Event Days necessary to generate a reliable revenue stream. But what is an Event Day and why is it important?

    Based on conversations with various people, the term “Event Day” means different things to different people and different things to the same person depending on the day. Based on those conversations, and for purposes of this column, an Event Day is considered a day that one party is paying to hold an event in the convention center.

    Let’s look at two illustrations. The first, “Prayem,” is a group of 11 people coming to the convention center early this Tuesday morning for fellowship and prayer. While there, they will have a continental breakfast. That is one Event Day. The second, “Holdem,” an association of 4,000 card players, is coming to the convention center for three days of fellowship and card playing starting Wednesday of this week. During each of those three days it will have a continental breakfast, beverage and break service, and a buffet lunch. Wednesday will be an Event Day as will Thursday and Friday. The Holdem group will account for three Event Days.

    Outside of being a tool some statistician can use to try to make something look the way they want it to or to show that there is some activity going on at the convention center can anyone explain to an Ole Seagull of what importance an Event Day is in determining the successful operation of the convention center without attaching a qualitative standard to it?

    Surely the Ole Seagull’s not the only one who, from an operational success standpoint, sees a difference in the two Event Days mentioned above. Does it take a Solomon to see that 365 Event Days of Prayem probably wouldn’t result in as much benefit to the convention center’s bottom line, or Branson as a whole, as 365 Event Days of Holdem would?

    From an Ole Seagull’s perspective all Event Days are not created equal and it is the quality of the Event Day, as well as the their quantity, that will determine the success of the convention center both in terms of its own financial success and its overall benefit to Branson. Event Days aside, is there just the possibility that, based on the way things appear to be going, that the convention center just might prove the CS & L Study wrong and make an operating profit during, or prior to, its first year of stabilized operation? For what it matters, an Ole Seagull wouldn’t bet against it.

  • Branson’s Grand Pianist tickles the ivories and the palate!

    By Gary J. Groman, a.k.a. The Ole Seagull

    Dino and Cheryl Kartsonakis present their
    24 Karrot Carrot Cake at Mr. Gilbertis.

    What does piano playing have to do with carrot cake? Probably not much unless the piano is being played by Grand Pianist Dino Kartsonakis and the carrot cake has been developed and “baked” by him with the same enthusiasm, commitment, and exacting quality evident in his piano playing.

    Literally millions are familiar with Dino’s piano playing virtuosity. For over a decade visitors to Branson have had the opportunity to experience not only the wonder of his piano playing skills, but his showmanship, commitment to his family and his Lord, and that special synergy exiting between Dino and his wife Cheryl as they perform together. It is an experience that has been shared with the world as they travel in the off season performing and appearing on T.V. in shows such as the “Dino Show” on the Trinity Broadcasting network and numerous others.

    What most people are not familiar with, however, is Dino’s love for cooking. That love has its roots in his child hood and a dad who was a chef in New York City. Dino said, “Dad would share his ideas on how to combine ingredients that give the food such amazing moistness and flavor.” It is that fondness for cooking that led to the development of Dino’s signature cake, the “24 Karrot Carrot Cake.”

    Although the recipe for the cake is secret Dino said, “I started with a basic recipe and started changing some things and adding a little more of this or that.” The end result was a carrot cake that people simply loved, even people who didn’t normally like carrot cake. After sharing the cake with family and friends for years and getting encouragement and advice from Wayne and Sue Gilberti of Gilberti’s Pizza on Acacia Club Road in Hollister, Cheryl and Dino decided to take the next big step and market not only the carrot cake but a full line of cakes from recipes that they had developed. The result is a line of cakes branded “Dino’s Karrot Cakes” consisting of their signature Carrot Cake, Red Velvet Cake, Coconut Cake, Italian Crème Cake, Chocolate Fudge Cake, Strawberry Cake and Petit Fours.

    As with the production quality of their show, they wanted to maintain control over the quality of the total process so that the end product gave their customers the experience they wanted them to have. Rather than sub contract the cake out to a commercial bakery, they decided to get personally involved and control the process from beginning to end. As a result they purchased the bakery, formerly known as “Chuck’s Bakery,” at 12 Downing Street in historic downtown Hollister.

    Although the name of the bakery has been changed to “Dino’s 24 Karrot Bakery,” they retained the services and expertise of Chuck Braum, the former owner, to be their Head Baker. Jerry Spicer will manage the total operation including the retail portion of the bakery and the wholesale and internet marketing of the entire line of Dino’s 24 Karrot Cakes.

    Speaking from personal experience, the Ole Seagull can testify that the 24 Karrot Carrot Cake is one of the best carrot cakes he has ever tasted. Its flavor, texture, and moistness are just what he loves in a cake, its sweetness is balanced and not over powering, and there’s just something about that frosting. He can also testify from personal experience that Dino’s Italian Cream Cake is a creamy tantalizing treat for the taste buds. There is truly, “Delight in every bite.”

    Although it is anticipated that a large part of the sales of the 24 Karrot Cake line will be whole sale and over the internet, Dino and Cheryl have expanded the bakery to not only provide plenty of baking space but a pleasant retail environment where people can come in and either purchase a whole cake or enjoy just a piece of cake or a petit four and coffee on the premises. Dino’s 24 Karrot Bakery is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be reached by phone at 417-239-2822.

    Furnished courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.