The Duval County Tourist Development Council approved a $25,000 grant for the Jacksonville Jazz Festival on Thursday, a figure half of what City officials sought.
Sarah Horn Ausherman, acting director of the City’s Office of Special Events, appeared before TDC seeking a $50,000 grant to help finance the festival. The request was based on the City guaranteeing 1,750 hotel room nights associated with the event and would be used for social media and advertising in regional publications and billboards, she said.
She said last year’s festival drew 1.1 million Facebook “posts” and 42,000 tweets and that visits to the festival’s website increased to 270,000, compared to 56,000 in 2010.
“We want to build on the success of social media,” Ausherman said.
TDC member Fred Pozin said the cost of social media is “pretty minimal.”
Ausherman disagreed. She said the City partners with The Dalton Agency, which has a team of people to “keep the dialogue going in Facebook.”
Ausherman said the festival generated 1,600 room nights in 2010 and 1,700 last year.
Pozin questioned the amount of the grant request and suggested TDC should offer the $25,000 grant for the festival based on at least 1,750 verified room nights, which was approved by a vote of the members.
The City needs to “get off the dole and find some sponsors – do what they’re supposed to do,” he said.
Based on the overall discussion at Thursday’s meeting, Memorial Day weekend will be bordering on historic for Downtown
In addition to the May 24-27 Jacksonville Jazz Festival along Laura and Main streets, the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witness 2012 is booked at Veterans Memorial Arena and the U.S. Men’s National Team soccer match against Scotland is scheduled May 26 at EverBank Field.
The combination of the three events is likely to fill Downtown hotels to the brim over the traditionally soft weekend for the hospitality industry.
Also from Thursday’s TDC meeting:
• The largest grant approved Thursday was $31,560 for meetings of students enrolled in Capella University scheduled for September and October. The events are expected to generate 5,260 room nights at the Hyatt Downtown.
• It also approved a grant of $17,000 for the Kappa Kappa Gamma Biennial Convention, scheduled June 20-24, also at the Hyatt.
Visit Jacksonville is the marketing arm of the TDC. Its Senior Director of Sales Kim Ritten said the grant is for transportation from Jacksonville International Airport to the hotel. She said about 800 of the 1,000 delegates expected to attend will arrive and depart through JIA for the convention.
• A $15,000 grant for the 142nd Annual Grand Session of the Most Worshipful Union Grand Lodge was also approved. The Wyndham Riverfront on the Southbank is the host hotel for the April 13-19 meeting, which is expected to result in 1,500 room nights.
• The TDC’s next meeting is scheduled at 10 a.m. May 17 in Suite 425 at City Hall.
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