Brevard Tourism Development Council Agrees to Curtail Advertisements, Spending During Teleconference

By  //  March 25, 2020

(Video Archived)

BREVARD COVID-19 UDPATE: coronavirus having massive negative affect on tourism tax collections

LISTEN TO REPLAY: Giles Malone, Chairman of the Brevard County Tourism Development Council, conducted via telephone the monthly meeting of the volunteer advisory board, which provides direction to the Space Coast Office of Tourism county staff on how to manage the annual tourism tax proceeds and market the Space Coast to visitors.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The Brevard County Tourism Development Council held its monthly meeting via teleconference and its nine members unanimously agreed to suspend advertising and largely wait and see how COVID-19 will affect the Space Coast going forward, before spending further tourism tax proceeds.

Hoteliers up and down the Space Coast were on the call and reported that until COVID-19 hit, their occupancy was tracking at about 10 percent up over last year.

Since the virus became reality in Brevard, the picture is much different.

“We are experiencing 10-15 percent occupancy levels in our four Cocoa Beach – Cape Canaveral hotels,” said Tom Hermansen.

“At this time of year, we are typically at 100 percent.”

Bob Baugher, the owner of five hotels in the same areas, reported much the same and said that he had actually closed two of them – the Cocoa Beach Suites and the Cocoa Beach Sheraton 4Points.

The Space Coast Office of Tourism staff, led by Executive Director, Peter Cranis, presented their best projections on future collections and a plan to market later in the season when it is prudent.

“We need to conserve our funds and be ready to promote to the drive market when it is time,” said Cranis.

Brevard County Commissioner, Dr. Kristine Isnardi, reiterated the consensus of the group.

“We need to be conservative, stop spending where we can and be ready to recover,” said Isnardi.

LISTEN TO THE ABOVE TELECONFERENCE FOR THE FULL STORY

Special Meeting of Brevard County Commission Scheduled for Friday to Discuss Possible Beach ClosureRelated Story:
Special Meeting of Brevard County Commission Scheduled for Friday to Discuss Possible Beach Closure

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