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17
Fall 2012 Issue
PUBLIC POLICY
On Jun. 13, the Ohio General Assembly
passed Senate Bill 314 – an important
piece of legislation that creates a new
funding model for the state’s tourism
division that will result in hundreds
of millions of new tourist dollars. The
bill provides a steady and sustainable
source of funds to market Buckeye State
attractions by investing sales tax revenue
from the tourism industry sector into
TourismOhio, with a maximum of $10
million per year, up from the current
figure of $5 million.
For three years, the ORA worked closely
with its partners in hospitality, particularly
Former Director of TourismOhio Amir
Eylon and his staff, to establish a more
sustainable tourism funding model for
the state. The coalition researched best
practices from the states with the most
successful tourism promotion programs
and, ultimately, settled on a version of the
Missouri model. Rather than relying solely
on the Ohio General Assembly for funding,
this new model will provide the state’s
tourism industry with much needed
revenue without raising taxes.
“After working with our hospitality partners
for the past three years, we now have a
state-of-the-art model that will expand
Ohio’s tourism spend,” said Geoff Hetrick,
ORA President & CEO. “Through this
expansion, it will be easier to attract more
out-of-state visitors, an important segment
of growth for Ohio’s tourism industry, as
these guests spend more in restaurants
and hospitality than any other segment of
tourists. This new model creates a direct
infusion of nearly a quarter of a billion
dollars in food and beverage sales for the
foodservice industry in Ohio.”
The ORA expects that a more robust
level of spending to encourage out-of-
state visitors to Ohio will have a direct
impact on virtually every segment of the
restaurant industry.
Before the legislation was signed into
law, the ORA sat down with Eylon, who
has since departed his position with
TourismOhio and is now serving as vice
president of partnership development
for North America at Brand USA. Eylon
shared his unique insights from his years
as director of the state’s tourism office.
He applauded the legislation and said
that it would directly benefit the state’s
foodservice operators.
“The nice thing about tourism is
everyone travels on their stomach,”
Eylon said. “Food and beverage is the
number one spend for tourist dollars.
As culinary travel expands, Ohio is
really growing a niche following. The
more money directed at tourism, the
more guests restaurant operators will
see filling their establishments.”
Eylon noted that Ohio has truly become
a hub for culinary enthusiasts and
pointed to Columbus’ own Jeni Britton
Bauer of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams and
Cleveland’s Michael Symon, who owns
and operates multiple concepts in Ohio,
How Politics and Tourism Help Fuel
the State’s Restaurant Industry
SB 314 will boost tourism funding
and guest traffic in your establishments
Governor John Kasich and other lawmakers, industry representatives and dignitaries gathered for the signing of Senate Bill 314
at the Ohio Statehouse. Included among the special guests was ORA President & CEO Geoff Hetrick.
Former Director of TourismOhio Amir Eylon shared his
insight with the ORA on the valuable role that advocacy
plays in the restaurant industry when ensuring more
tourism funding for the Buckeye State.
..cont’d on page 18