Orlando Sentinel by Barbara Petersen, Guest Columnist August 31, 2017 One of the big controversies swirling around Tallahassee during the 2017 legislative session centered on House Speaker Richard Corcoran’s vow to slash funding for Visit Florida, the statewide tourism council. Corcoran pitted himself against Governor Rick Scott who initially sought an increase to Visit Florida’s budget. The two […]
House leader wants answers from local tourism agencies on spending
Tallahassee Democrat by Arek Sarkissian August 25, 2017 House Speaker Richard Corcoran wants a dozen tourism offices to show how they spent more than $550 million in locally collected taxpayer dollars after they stepped away from VISIT FLORIDA to avoid new transparency rules. On Friday, Corcoran sent letters to the 12 tourism development councils, saying he […]
Visit Orlando hides spending records for millions of tax dollars
Orlando Sentinel column by Scott Maxwell August 25, 2017 Three decades ago, local leaders wanted to do more to promote Orlando as a vacation destination. Basically, the tourism industry was tired of paying for all its own advertising. So chamber-of-commerce types teamed up with county commissioners to launch a convention and visitors bureau in 1986 […]