[Blogmaster Note: Oro Valley contributes $75,000 annually to the Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau (“MTCVB”). It is our contention that this expenditure is not justified. It is the contention of many others that MTCVB, itself, is a poorly functioning, poorly performing organization. Click here to see our Tuesday, November 1, 2011 posting on MTCVB to learn more about our thinking.]
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Item D On the Consent portion on the Town Council Agenda on December 7, 2011 is for approving (“rubber-stamping”) the Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau (“MTCVB”) first quarter report of performance in relation to the Town of Oro Valley. In my opinion, the report is incomplete and warrants the full attention of the members of the Oro Valley town council.
The first page of the first quarter report shows statistics on MTCVB’s performance under Convention Sales, Convention Services, Travel Industry Sales, Communications and Marketing.
Convention Sales
Target Quarter YTD
Sales Leads
350 92 92
Site Inspections 44 11 11
At least a few examples (detailed breakdown) of these 92 sales leads should be provided. Are they all from the same source? Do they count call-backs as 2 leads? Shouldn't the town ask for a couple of examples of the 11 site inspections for Oro Valley Properties. Who asked for the site inspections? Where and when did the inspections take place?
Convention Services Target Quarter YTD
Meetings/Conventions Serviced 30 7 7
Which meetings and/or conventions were serviced?
Communications Target Quarter YTD
Travel Articles 31 9 9
MTCVB included 9 "travel articles" in the supporting exhibits:
- A letter securing of the U S Triathlon Duathon in 2012 in Oro Valley. This is specific to Oro Valley.
- A Smart Meetings Magazine article that refers to the Hilton Tucson El Conquistador. There is no mention of Oro Valley.
- An Explorer News article that observes that the Western National Parks Association is located in Oro Valley and that is looking for volunteers.
- The fourth exhibit is from the Newbienomore blog site which mentions that the Catalina State Park is in Tucson.
- The fifth exhibit is from the Republic-Arizona Central, talking about restaurants. No restaurants in Oro Valley are mentioned.
- An article from the Green Valley News and Sun talking about “Oro Valley Hosts Summer Crafts Fair” at El Conquistador. This is specific to the El Conquistador and Oro Valley.
- The seventh exhibit mentions Mr. Ericksen, General Manager of the El Conquistador, being honored as hotelier of the year. This is specific to the El Conquistador.
- The eighth exhibit is from “Tucson On The Cheap.” The article mentions the Metropolitan Grill. This is specific to Oro Valley.
- The final exhibit is from the “Group Travel Leader,” but makes no mention of Oro Valley tours.
Also, The El Conquistador is a member of MTCVB and has a marketing agreement with MTCVB that is independent of the Town of Oro Valley. So, wherever the El Conquistador is mentioned in any of the exhibits, MTCVB is taking "double credit"for it.
[Blogmaster "Follow the Money" Note: Hilton Manager Erickson contributed $250 each the Campaigns of Snider, Hornat and Waters. Hilton manager Garman contributed $400 to Hiremath's campaign.]
Why does the Town of Oro Valley continue to donate between $70,000-75,000 to MTCVB for incomplete or questionable performance?
