The Duval County Tourist Development Council approved grants Thursday based on hotel occupancy to help bring 12 groups to Jacksonville that are expected to book 11,317 room nights.
The grants for the conventions total $72,518.
Downtown hotels will be the destination for 10,607 conventioneer room nights. The 963-room Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront, Jacksonville’s largest hotel, is expected to book 10,112 room nights.
Eleven of the groups will be convening for the first time in Jacksonville, said Kim Ritten, Visit Jacksonville senior director of sales.
The Battelle Memorial Institute will bring delegates June 10-13 for 1,525 room nights at the Hyatt. A $7,625 grant was awarded based on a $5 per room night.
The American Music Therapy Association will have its annual meeting Nov. 18-24, 2013, at the Hyatt. The organization received a grant of $11,578 based on $7 per room night.
Another group planning its 2013 annual meeting at the Hyatt is the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance, which is scheduled for Feb. 9-13 with a grant of $13,750 based on $10 per room night.
Our Little Miss Inc. held its 2012 meeting July 2-8 at the Hyatt and received a $6,770 grant based on $5 per room night.
The Best Friends Animal Society has also booked its annual convention at the Hyatt for Oct. 9-13, 2013. The organization was granted $10,000 based on $5.40 per room night.
The Hyatt also will host the NISSCO Restaurant Dealer Group from April 29 to May 2. The group received a $2,500 grant based on $5 per room night.
Two Men and a Truck will convene its 2013 international franchised convention March 14-23 at the Hyatt. The group was awarded a grant of $4,270 based on $5 per room night.
The Additive Manufacturer Users Group has scheduled a April 12-19, 2013, meeting at the Hyatt. Based on $5 per room night, the grant amount is $5,000.
The Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Riverwalk will host the 2013 USS Henley Reunion Feb. 9-15. The group was granted $825 based on $3 per room night.
The International Society of Logistics is checking out of the Omni Jacksonville today after its 9-day convention. The group was granted $1,100 based on $5 per room night.
Grants for two conventions outside Downtown also were approved: a grant for MedAxiom 2012, held Dec. 9-13 at One Ocean Resort Hotel and Spa, for $4,100 based on $10 per room night and a grant for the 85th Annual National Convocation House of God Saints in Christ. The group received a $5,000 grant based on $16.67 per room night Oct. 14-21 at the Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Airport.
In addition, the council also approved a $30,000 marketing grant for the Oct. 19-21 Sea and Sky Spectacular at Jacksonville Beach. The popular event – a partnership between the City of Jacksonville Special Events Department and Mayport Naval Station – features the U.S. Navy flight demonstration team The Blue Angels.
The groups use the grant funds to offset the costs of marketing their events, transportation and other expenses incurred at the host hotels.
Ritten said Visit Jacksonville hosted several site visits in April, May and June for event planners who are considering Jacksonville as a group meeting destination. She said the sales staff has a 99 percent closing rate when planners visit the area for a tour.
Along with the approval of grants, council also voted to proceed to renew the contract of Visit Jacksonville, the marketing arm of the TDC, based on the recommendation of a subcommittee that evaluated responses to a Request for Proposals for marketing and sales services.
City Procurement Director Greg Pease said the Office of General Counsel determined there was no conflict of interest in the selection process, as was alleged in a protest filed in reference to the RFP.
Assistant General Counsel Jim McCain said he anticipates that a new contract can be prepared for approval by City Council and then executed by Sept. 30, when the existing agreement between the City and Visit Jacksonville expires.
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