Branson Courier

Month: March 2008

  • Could “Branson FamilyFreeFest” stoke Hot Winter Fun and market the convention center?

    As he left a recent meeting at city hall, the Ole Seagull noticed a brochure advertising an Easter Brunch at the city’s convention center sitting on the conference table. It kind of set his mind a twittering about column ideas, most of which will probably find their way into future columns but one of which, he’d like to share this week.

    January is probably not one of the biggest economic months for most of Branson’s businesses. It’s not for lack of trying or even things to do as a lot of the theatres, attractions, and restaurants stay open and participate in Hot Winter Fun. Although, obviously an Ole Seagull does not know the real reason people don’t throng to Branson in the winter months he has to believe it has to do with two major factors, the perception of the public, which is not entirely unfounded, that a lot major shows are closed and the primary reason, weather.

    There’s not too much that can be done about the shows that, for individual reasons, are closed during the period. Some might even say, “But Seagull there’s not too much we can do about the weather either,” and they’d be right. Yet, when one thinks of swimming in the winter is the first place that comes to mind Wisconsin Dells, in Wisconsin? Probably not, yet, through the pioneering vision, use and promotion of indoor water parks, thousands of people are swimming at the Wisconsin Dells just about every day all winter long.

    If Wisconsin Dells can do it for water parks all winter long, why can’t Branson have a city wide event for three to six days over one or two weekends in the middle of January to extend its season and promote itself and its convention center at the same time? Branson has the perfect indoor venue to serve as the focal point for it, the Branson Convention Center, and a number of other major indoor venues that could be used to supplement the event, as appropriate.

    In an Ole Seagull’s mind he envisions a “city wide” free event running from 9:00 a.m. to about 4:00 p.m. daily. Except for concessions, and other things such as when a participant chooses to purchase something from a vendor or during an event such as an auction etc., all the Festival events listed on the schedule would be free.

    The main focal point for the event would be the Branson Convention Center which would have its exhibition hall and ball room divided, as necessary, to provide the different venues for the activities taking place. Those activities would be calculated to entertain and encourage attendees to shop, eat, and be entertained elsewhere after the 4:00 p.m. closing time of the Festival. For example one area could be a free bingo game where donated prizes and discount coupons are the prizes. Another could be an actual auction where merchandise of Branson Merchants or show tickets, etc. is auctioned off. Other areas could include but are certainly not limited to inflatable kid’s rides, a children’s craft area, craft exhibit area, and an entertainment area that would provide constant entertainment. Hopefully entertainers from some of the shows and attractions open during Hot Winter Fun would appear to entertain and promote their own show or activity.

    Simultaneously, at venues located away from the convention center there could be other free events such as an ice carving competition at the Titanic or similar sponsored events, “A Taste of Branson,” a back stage tour of a theatre, etc. The actual events would be free and would be listed in a schedule of events similar to that used for the Veterans Home Coming pull out.

    The money spent promoting the Festival will do much more than promote the event. It will be promoting the convention center, Branson, Hot Winter Fun, etc. Now there will be those who say, “I always knew that old bird was nuts, it won’t work.” And they just might be right, but is there not just the possibility that it might not only do as much to market the convention center as a New Years Eve Party or an Easter Brunch but might also help to market Branson and bring some business to the businesses that stay open during the winter in an effort to extend Branson’s season?

  • Politics and business in Branson is a potential conflict of interest but give us a break!

    It didn’t take long for accusations of conflict of interest being hurled at newly elected Alderman Stephen Marshall after Branson’s April 2007 election, not long at all. In a column published April 22, 2007 the Ole Seagull said, “This week’s column is a response to an anonymous post, by someone calling themselves “Grizzly,” addressed to the Ole Seagull, in an on line forum he posts on www.1Branson.com. The post is entitled ‘City aldermen Code of Ethics ???’ Its topic is so very timely and pertinent to the events starting to develop within our community that the Ole Seagull wanted to share it with the whole community through the printed medium before posting it on line to a relatively small segment of that community.”

    Why is what happened almost a year ago germane today? In a discussion of the Ole Seagull’s Feb. 24 column entitled, “Though April elections may come your way, they bring the TIFs which bloom in May” taking place in the Ole Seagull’s Forum on www.1Branson.com, a poster identified as “lilley” said, “I sought after this forum after reading about and receiving a letter from Marc Williams running for city alderman ward 3. I wanted to see if I was the only one who thought this was a huge conflict of interest, electing a partner of a firm who is doing business with the city… “doing business with” is a huge understatement by the way. I’m sure he’s a great guy and would be a fine alderman… in another town… but not in Branson where HCW is such a prominent force in business dealings within Branson.”

    Even that alone is not enough to bring up potential conflict of interest again except for the fact that the very first reply was from Grizzly responding, “HCW rents land from the City of Branson. The lease is long term and already signed sealed and delivered. …As far as I know all business HCW has had with the City is completed. Hilton (the company, not the franchisee) has a contract with the City to manage the convention center. Now that everything is built, HCW really is nothing more than a tenant.” Grizzly, in referring to Williams, goes on to say, “If his interests are anything, they are less conflicting than some existing council members.”

    In responding to another poster’s comments about Marshall’s potential conflict of interest Grizzly adds, “And let us not mention the future Hotel/convention center his company is building at Lake of the Ozarks as a moderately potential competitor to our convention center.” Isn’t it interesting, even after almost a year without one iota of evidence indicating anything except Marshall using his expertise to do exactly what he was elected to do, Grizzly and a few others keep playing the potential conflict of interest card in Marshall’s case while choosing to ignore it in the case of Williams and, in some cases themselves?

    Is there a current alderman who has publically suggested the possibility of Marshall being in a potential conflict of interest situation while at the same time failing to recuse themselves on votes where millions of dollars in city funds actually went to the very department in an organization where a close family member worked? If so isn’t that at least the appearance of the conflict of interest and the height of hypocrisy for that alderman to suggest it in Marshall’s case?

    To an Ole Seagull, for Grizzly, or anyone else for that matter, to say, “Now that everything is built, HCW really is nothing more than a tenant” and “If his [Williams] interests are anything, they are less conflicting than some existing council members,” is at best uniformed. For what it matters, an Ole Seagull would suggest that, in fact, the opposite appears to be true.

    Is there another company that has the same manager for its two hotels that the city has for its convention center? Do not some of the different agreements that the city has with the manager of its convention center tie back to the apportionment of expenses to the HCW owned hotels? Are there active agreements between the city and HCW pertaining to expenses etc. for the operation and maintenance of the fountain and other privately owned areas of Branson Landing?

    Is there the possibility that even as this is being written that the city is in negotiation with HCW to purchase some land for the rec-plex expansion for a price of between $1 and 2.2 million? Are there other agreements that the city and HCW are involved in? Does Williams as a principal in HCW, indeed the “W” in HCW have a fiduciary duty to it?

  • Search for Branson’s new city administrator winds down

    The process of finding a new city administrator for the city of Branson is in its final stages. Branson Mayor Raeanne Presley said that it was her goal to have the process completed and the new administrator at their desk by “the end of May.”

    After a careful and deliberative process to select an executive search firm to handle a nationwide campaign to help the board find and select the best qualified, available, and interested candidate for the job, the process moved into the actual recruitment and selection phase on Jan.10. The city’s board of aldermen met with Robert E. Slavin, the President of Slavin Management Consultants, the firm that the board had selected to help them with the actual recruitment and selection of the new city administrator.

    During that meeting Slaving said, “The fit is the key” and went on to point out that although there are a lot of qualified candidates to pick from, the key is to find the one that fits in best with the expectations and needs of the community. During a phone interview on Mar. 6 Mayor Presley reiterated the importance of that fit.

    After the January meeting, Slavin finished the development of the recruitment program, necessary materials, and started the recruitment process. The advertising for the position states the minimum requirements a candidate for the position must have is “the equivalent of a Master’s degree in public administration combined with significant experience as a local government manager or full range assistant in a complex community comparable to Branson” and that the applicant must clearly possess superior management, financial and leadership knowledge, skill, ability, commitment and energy as needed “to achieve the Board’s goals.”

    It goes on to say that there would be some preference for experience in a growing community with a tourism-based economy and that the applicant must be a superior communicator with the skill and ability to build trust-based and effective working relationships with the Board, department heads, employees, the community and a variety of critical external stake holders. The final day for submitting resumes for the position is Mar. 17.

    Mayor Presley said that she anticipated that Slavin Management will vet the resumes, background checks etc. and, depending on the number received, submit them to the board in an executive (closed) session meeting along with their recommendation within two or three weeks after the Mar. 17 deadline. The objective of the process is to narrow the list down to a final list of a few of the very best candidates that would then be interviewed toward the middle of April.

    Mayor Presley went on to say that, based on those interviews and all the other factors involved, they would pick a candidate to offer the position to. Assuming the first candidate the job is offered to accepts, it is the Mayor’s hope that the new city administrator will be at their post by the end of May.

    Furnished Courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.

  • Area legislators say Taneycomo Bridge will not be closed!

    At a unique March 7 meeting in Hollister City Hall, local stake holders and representatives of the governments of Branson, Hollister, and Taney Country were told by the areas state legislators that they had been told by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) that the downtown Lake Taneycomo Bridge between Branson and Hollister would not be closed. The meeting was unique in the fact that it was a local meeting attended by virtually all of the state legislators representing the area, Senator Jack Goodman, and Representatives Dennis Wood, Maynard Wallace, and Ray Weter to address a specific problem.

    The meeting was the result of the action initiated at the Feb. 21 Partners In Progress meeting after MoDOT had informed the group that it did not believe that the Cost Share Funding that had been the basis of the planning up to that point would be available. As a result of MoDOT’s action, those at that meeting decided that the Cost Share Application should be submitted formally to MoDOT so that its rejection could serve as the basis for further action, including but not limited to getting local legislators involved. In addition, the group wanted to try to set up a local meeting with the area’s state legislators to enlist their help. Western District Taney County Commissioner, Ron Herschend, volunteered to coordinate the setting up of the meeting.
    After a brief introduction by Herschend, Rick Ziegenfuss, Hollister City Administrator, gave an overview of the process that had led to the meeting culminating with MoDOT’s action regarding the unlikelyhood of getting Cost Sharing Funds for the project. After the presentation by Ziegenfuss, Representative Wood commended the group for the leadership they had given the project and for the high esteem in which they are held by MoDOT.

    He then informed the group that he, and the other state legislators present had had a meeting with MoDOT on March 3 in his office. While cautioning those present that he was not speaking for MoDOT he said, at that meeting, attended by Keith, Chief Engineer for MoDOT, they had been told by MoDOT leadership that the “bridge closing is not an option” and that “something else will be done.” The other three legislators present agreed with Wood as to his interpretation of what happened at the meeting.
    Although the clear impression that the “something else” would involve a new bridge no specific details were available. The legislators present believed that some of the details would be discussed during a MoDOT meeting in Jefferson City during the week of March 10.

  • Who was it that said they had never met a TIF they didn’t like?

    In his Feb. 24 editorial entitled, “Though April elections may come your way, they bring the TIFs which bloom in May,” available on line under “Editorials” at www.bransoncourier.com, the Ole Seagull suggested that who one votes for can influence the use and growth of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) within our community. In that column, without casting any disrespect on Branson Landing, which he thinks is a great addition to Branson, he asked, “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?”

    On the website www.1branson.com, in the Ole Seagull’s Forum, where a capsule of the column and link to it were posted, Branson Alderman Jack Purvis responded to the column by, among other things saying, “Let me see if I understand this right. We don’t want any TIFs,NIDs, or CIDs and we have an historic economic slump in Jan, and Feb., but we want investors in Branson. Let’s get these same investors to build our bridge. Seriously…ideas please.”

    The Ole Seagull doesn’t know about the bridge investment aspect, but here’s a “serious idea.” How about people investing in Branson the old fashioned way, with their “own” money, the same way everyone did, prior to the “TIFamania” coming to Branson? How many TIF dollars did it take to build the Titanic or the Sight and Sound Theatre? How many TIF dollars did it take to get Wal-Mart at its original location on Highway 76 or to move to its current Branson Mall location? How many TIF dollars did Country Mart, K-Mart, Grand Country, etc. get?

    Was it a TIF that built Branson or was it individual investment, and entrepreneurship? Would a TIF even have been relevant in Branson but for the millions of visitors who were already coming to Branson? Can a reasonable person believe that the Branson Landing would have gotten off the ground without the financial foundation provided by those millions of visitors?

    Purvis went on to ask, “What happened to the votes of Marshall, McDowel,and Williams on the council? It takes a majority to pass anything and 3 is not a majority of 6.” The Ole Seagull would point out that the reason that Marshall, McDowell and Williams weren’t mentioned in the editorial was because they are not on the ballot for the election in April. The reason Stan Barker, Jack Purvis, Cris Bohinc, Rick Davis, and Marc Williams were mentioned is because they are on the ballot for the April election.

    He then warns readers, “Don’t assume that just because Gary says it, that I WILL vote for every TIF to come along. Remember, Gary writes an OPINION column.” The Ole Seagull echoes Purvis’ words in regard to the fact that his Sunday column is an opinion column and would also point out that’s the reason it appears on a page that is labeled in huge letters “Opinion.” Further he would suggest that the editorial never said that Purvis, or anyone else for that matter, would vote for a TIF period, let alone “every TIF.” However, in an Ole Seagull’s opinion, based on his voting record up to this point, a reasonable person might get the impression that Purvis never met a TIF he didn’t like, or was that Will Rogers?

  • Branson tops 1 Billion in actual retail sales

    For the first time in history, Branson’s gross retail sales value for a 12 month rolling period exceeded $1 billion. The data for the 12 month rolling period of retail sales value from Nov. 2006 to Nov. 2007 was released on Feb. 15. It showed that the total retail sales value for the period was $1,133,681,350. This was up from $920,136,098, or about 9 percent, for the same period in 2006.

    The data in the Feb. 15 report indicates that the sales tax receipts from the city’s 1 percent Sales Tax for Branson Landing went up from $93,729 in 2006 to $115,704 for the same period in 2007 or about 23 percent. The report further shows that the sales tax receipts for Branson Hills went up from $33,697 in 2006 to $54,195 for the same period in 2007 or about 61percent.

    The sales tax receipts for the rest of Branson, all other retail activity except Branson Landing and Branson Hills, went up from $949,161 in 2006 to $963,782 for the same period in 2007 or about 2 percent. Although the 2 percent increase is not as large as the p8ercentage of increase within Branson Landing and Branson Hills it is certainly a lot better than the decrease that was originally forecasted for existing retail located outside of Branson Landing for its first two years of operation during its early planning stages.

    The increased revenues from Branson Hills and Branson Landing are consistent with the economic outlook portion of the independent audit report of the audit conducted on the city of Branson for the fiscal year ending Sep. 30, 2007, by the Kansas City firm of Cochran Head Vick & Co., PC. It said 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.

    Furnished Courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.

  • Branson Convention Center Manager Retires

    On March 28, Hilton Hotels, HCW Development Company, and the city of Branson will lose a key member of its convention center – hotel complex team. Mark Hartman, General Manager, Hiltons of Branson, and the personification of the Hilton image within the Branson community, has announced his retirement effective March 27.

    Hartman has had a 25 year career with Hilton Hotels during which he spent most of that time traveling throughout the country opening hotels. Prior to coming to Branson he had opened 13 hotels for Hilton including a number that had extensive meeting and conference centers in them as well as those that were immediately adjacent to separate independently owned convention centers.

    When asked if he had ever opened two hotels and a convention center at one time before Hartman said, “I don’t think anybody has ever opened two hotels and a convention center in one year.” He described it as a huge accomplishment for his team while saying that he didn’t think that he would want to try for four. The Hilton Promenade Hotel at Branson Landing opened on Valentines Day 2007 followed by the Branson Convention Center on Aug. 17, and the Hilton Convention Center Hotel on Aug.27. When asked what advice he would give to someone who was contemplating trying to do the same thing, he replied, “Do one.”

    Recent reports by Hilton Hotels to the city of Branson, verified by the city independent asset manager, Senate Hospitality, indicate that the operation of the Branson Convention Center is going very well and exceeding forecasted expectations. Hartman attributes the success of the convention center operation to, among other things, the support and structure that Hilton Hotels has provided, the support of city staff, and the Hilton management philosophy of staying focused on the “customer.”

    In going over his career Harman said that he draws the most personal satisfaction from seeing employees succeed. He went on to describe his excitement as he walks through the two hotels and the convention center and senses the pride that the employees have for the opportunity to work in such a facility.

    When asked why he is retiring now Hartman said, “One of my goals was to retire by the age of 50. I exceeded that goal by a year.” He went on to say that with the opening basically completed and an excellent operational, management, and sales team in place that now was an excellent time for a transition.

    He pointed out that since being in Branson the scope, intensity, and magnitude of the project has taken up the vast majority of his time. When asked the usual question, “How do you plan to spend your retirement?” he gave a very unusual answer.

    Oh, it started off with the usual, like catching up on a lot of projects and responsibilities that he has put off but then, in an almost sudden but reflective manner he stopped. With obvious sincerity, affection and appreciation in his voice he simply acknowledged how much he owed his wife, Stephanie, for all the support, accommodation, and sacrifice she has given for him and his career over the years and indicated that one of the first things he wanted to do was to spend more time with her and do some of the things that they have not been able to do up to this point.

    Furnished Courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent

  • Hollister Waterpark resort ground breaking to be followed by cinema complex

    Ground breaking ceremony with Mayor David Tate
    extreme left and Justin Gage at etreme right.

    The Feb. 29 groundbreaking ceremony for Hollister’s Wilderness in the Ozarks Waterpark Resort is the first major step in the development of the Hollister Interchange Entertainment District (The Interchange). Another major step will be the building of a 60,000 square foot entertainment center containing a movie complex, bowling alley, food court, and a restaurant.

    The Interchange’s centerpiece will be the Waterpark Resort containing southwest Missouri’s largest indoor/outdoor waterpark. The resort is designed and operated by the Wisconsin Dells based Wilderness Resorts which has helped develop the Wisconsin Dells into the Waterpark Capital of the World. Its first resort property, the “Wilderness Territory in Wisconsin,” has grown into the “Number One Waterpark Resort in America.” Pete and Pat Helland, of the Wilderness Resorts, attended the ground breaking. Hellend said, “Over the course of the last 15 years we have created and refined the indoor waterpark resort concept. It’s a concept that works and it’s a concept that we love to be bringing to this area.”

    The resort will consist of two major interrelated components, waterpark and residential. The waterpark component will have 75,000 square feet of indoor space and four acres of outdoor space featuring different water play areas, the latest innovative thrill rides such as Surf Rider and Tornado, a Wave Pool, four large family tube rides, spray features, and all the other amenities of a resort waterpark. The indoor portion of the waterpark will be covered with a special “foil-tec” roof giving guests the feel of being outdoors even on the most inclement days.

    The residential component, which will surround the waterpark, includes 400 two-bedroom condominium residences. Current plans call for 200 of the residences to be whole ownership condominiums and 200 to be time share. The condominiums are designed for families and come in a variety of floor plans including a lock-off capability. The full ownership residences are currently priced in the high $100 to the low $500 thousand range. All owners may elect to participate in the Resort’s optional on-site rental program. In its normal day to day operation the facilities of the waterpark will only be open to those staying at the resort, either owners or those renting on a nightly basis through the resorts on-site rental program.

    In his opening remarks Justin Gage, one of the principals in the Hollister Interchange Development Company, shared the Gage family’s dream for the development of a family entertainment complex at the interchange. In a very touching and poignant, yet dignified moment, he dedicated the development to his father, Albert Steve Gage, who went to be with his Lord earlier this year.

    Hollister’s past City Administrator, John Lewis, attended the groundbreaking and said that he feels great about the development of the interchange area and that they are “Absolutely heading in the right direction.” Branson Mayor Raeanne Presley also attended the ground breaking and said “Hollister’s success will be Branson’s success” and that it’s the entire area working together that will pay off “big time down the road.” Dennis Woods, State Representative for District 62, said that he was excited about the jobs the development is bringing to the area and the expansion of the areas tourism base.

    When asked what the plans were for the 60,000 square foot entertainment complex to be located in the area immediately to the west of the waterpark, Gage said, “We are proud to announce that we are going to do a beautiful cinema, probably a ten screen cinema, a ultramodern high end bowling alley, a food court, and a restaurant.” He went on to say that it would be a really nice family entertainment center designed, not only to entertain the guests at the waterpark resort but to be a blessing for the people in the surrounding area.

    Furnished courtesy of the Branson Daily Independent.

  • Oh, hush my beating heart; HCW does own the city’s convention center web site!

    In a recent column concerning the Branson Convention Center web site, the Ole Seagull wrote, ‘“Oh hush my beating heart,’ is it even possible that HCW is the registered owner of the Branson Convention Center web site that the city is spending thousands of dollars in taxpayer money promoting?” The question, when asked, was rhetorical and the answer then, and as of 6:16 a.m. Feb. 29, was a resounding “Yes.”

    In his very next column entitled, “Gut feeling – Relax, Hilton is doing a great job with the convention center!” he wrote, “For the record, in the Ole Seagull’s gut and heart, he feels and believes that Hilton is doing an excellent job in operating and marketing the Branson Convention Center. Does he have hard data on bookings etc. to back that up? No, that’s why it’s a gut feeling.”

    Subsequent reports by Hilton to the Branson Board of Aldermen, as well as a recent independent review of the convention center operations by an asset management firm hired by the city have removed the “gut feeling” from the equation. They have conclusively established that the convention center is exceeding expectations and is being run and managed efficiently and professionally.

    Does that mean that no one should be concerned about the convention centers web site? Absolutely not, although the total operation is going well that doesn’t mean that there’s not a glitch here and there. One of those glitches that presents a current apparent conflict of interest situation and could cause problems in the future, if not corrected immediately, is the fact that the convention centers web site www.bransonconvention.com is owned by, and registered to, HCW Development Company (HCW); LLC. 3027 West Highway 76, in Branson.

    The question some might ask is why isn’t the internet address of Branson’s Convention Center www.Bransonconventioncenter.com? The obvious and simple answer is, “Because someone else got the name first.” Still others might ask, “Why is the city spending tens of thousands of dollars promoting a web site it doesn’t own? One that has a clear bias toward the promotion of HCW’s Branson Landing as compared to all the other businesses in Branson?” To both, an Ole Seagull would have to answer, “Got me stumped.”

    Simply put, in today’s marketing environment, a major segment of most marketing plans is the establishment of an internet web site. Although traffic to the city’s convention center site is not as important as it might be were the site being used to market another product, the fact remains that as of right now, each dollar spent to advertise www.bransonconvention.com is being spent to advertise a site the city doesn’t own.

    Even worse, is the fact that HCW’s Branson Landing is being promoted on the site in a manner that is disproportionate to the manner in which Branson’s many other businesses and attractions are promoted. For example, when one selects “Attractions” from the submenu under the main menu topic of “Experience Branson” they see two pictures, one of Branson Landing’s fire and light show and the other of its trolley. Could anything possibly say “Branson Attraction” more than a picture of the Branson Landing Trolley? Why is there a separate submenu item for HCW’s “Branson Landing” and none for Historic Downtown Branson, or other shopping areas or districts within Branson?

    To an Ole Seagull, because of the relationship the city of Branson has had with HCW in the development of Branson Landing, this creates the appearance of an apparent conflict of interest. Even while acknowledging HCW’s generosity in hosting the site; is it inappropriate to recommend that it is time for the city to obtain and advertise its own convention center web site and take immediate steps to eliminate the obvious bias towards Branson Landing currently on the site? For what it matters, an Ole Seagull doesn’t think so.