Teaming up on tourism

SANDUSKY — Through a renewed united front, local officials representing various area organizations came together in a move they said will best serve locals, tourists and anyone else who values Erie County. On Thursday, these leaders jointly announced what they're calling a new strategic partnership to, among other priorities: • Better align regional promotion and development • Strengthen public-private collaboration • Ensure transparent and responsible stewardship of local lodging tax dollars Who's leading who This multifaceted deal involves the Erie County commissioners; along with those employed by Shores & Islands Ohio, the tourism bureau for Erie and Ottawa counties; the Erie County Visitors and Convention Bureau, an Erie County-specific tourism agency; and the Greater Sandusky Partnership, a regional chamber and economic development organization. The strategic partnership largely involves a reorganization of existing tourism- and economic development-based entities to streamline their operations, create efficiencies and reduce redundancies while best spending taxpayer dollars. Going forward, here's how the hierarchy shapes out: • Erie County commissioners entered into a new five-year agreement with the Erie County Visitors and Convention Bureau. This bureau specifically oversees tourism in Erie County. What's mainly new here: The Greater Sandusky Partnership, through a separate agreement, will manage the bureau. • The Greater Sandusky Partnership will also manage a realigned Shores & Islands Ohio board, which covers Erie and Ottawa counties. This does require eventual approval from the Ottawa County Visitors and Convention Bureau. Talks are underway for this to occur. • Eric Wobser, CEO of the Greater Sandusky Partnership, will lead this new organization. Larry Fletcher, the president and CEO of Shores & Islands Ohio, will stay on to support this transition. • The visitors and convention bureaus from Erie and Ottawa counties will continue providing tax dollars, as they previously have done, toward Shores & Islands Ohio. This continues a collective marketing partnership under the Shores & Islands Ohio brand. Officials stressed how these internal changes won't significantly impact tourism-related funding available to promote the region: what everyday locals and tourists externally see. And they underscored how they'll work together this year to "limit any negative impact on existing staff and operations," according to the statement. Making sense of the dollars and cents Local officials bank tourism tax dollars every time someone books a room at a hotel or anywhere accommodating overnight stays, like an Airbnb or VRBO. This is what funds the bureaus and, in turn, Shores & Islands Ohio. In most Erie County-located political subdivisions, overnight guests see 7% in taxes tacked onto the total bill. This means for a $100 room, they're paying $107 in total. From this overall tax percentage: • 3% goes to the local city, village or township where the hotel/motel/lodge is located; For instance, people staying at Great Wolf Lodge on Milan Road (U.S. 250) contribute taxes going to Perkins Township. • 4% goes to Erie County, which further breaks down with: * 2% going to fund regional promotion through Erie County's visitors bureau; This money has funneled through and will continue to help fund Shores & Islands Ohio. * 2% going to pay off existing debt for the existing Cedar Point indoor and outdoor sports centers Because of the sports centers' overwhelming success, more people are staying overnight in Erie County, creating a budget surplus, officials said. With this extra cash and while still paying off debt, county commissioners want to direct extra funds generated from this 2% tax to create a new, separate visitors bureau, known as EPIC. It's short for economic development, public safety, infrastructure and community visitors and convention bureau. This new bureau will receive lodging tax dollars to — as its name implies — specifically fund tourism-related economic development programs, infrastructure improvements and public safety upgrades benefiting Erie County residents. Effectively, tourism-related taxes will produce advantages for everyday residents. It's believed, from the 2% tax amount going to the new EPIC visitors and convention bureau, about $1 million a year will enter this new bureau's coffers. No specific projects have been outlined or formally suggested for funding. Officials stressed how the new bureau won't duplicate services offered by pre-existing organizations, like Shores & Islands Ohio. Speaking up Local officials overseeing this restructuring of tourism-related organizations collectively agreed on how this new funding process best benefits those calling Erie County home while still catering to visitors in a tourist-heavy economy. Among those chiming in on this entire deal: • Erie County commissioner Pat Shenigo: This agreement would not have been possible without months of hard work among the various stakeholders. We are enormously grateful to (state) Sen. Theresa Gavarone for her leadership at the Statehouse, which paved the way for this agreement. The change in law — which now permits lodging tax expenditures to include economic development, safety and infrastructure — was the inspiration for the newly created EPIC Visitors and Convention Bureau. Through EPIC, this agreement will lead to millions in meaningful investments that will benefit not just those who visit but also those who reside in Erie County. Note: A 2025 state law change expanded the ways in which tourism tax dollars can be spent. • Erie County commissioner Matt Old: This agreement reflects the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission and creates a more transparent and responsible structure to safeguard taxpayer dollars. Through months of good-faith conversations, we've created a structure that better aligns economic development and tourism promotion and prioritizes the safety and infrastructure needs of the county. • Shores & Islands Ohio president and CEO Larry Fletcher: Shores & Islands Ohio has built a strong foundation over many years that helps drive the region's multibillion-dollar tourism economy. This partnership builds on that success. Thank you to all whose work in shaping this approach has created a plan that will ensure the regional brand remains strong while creating greater capacity to align tourism promotion with efforts to develop the broader vitality of our communities. • Greater Sandusky Partnership board chair Duff Milkie: Our region is uniquely positioned. It is large enough to warrant a comprehensive, coordinated strategy and nimble enough to implement it. This partnership builds on models that are already working, combining promotion, development and engagement efforts to create a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. • Erie County Visitors and Convention Bureau board chair Brian Peiffer: This agreement reflects a thoughtful and collaborative process that preserves strong regional marketing while responding to changing realities. Through the work of board and staff leadership from multiple organizations, a plan has been developed to position us well for the future. • Shores & Islands Ohio board chair David Dunn: Our joint marketing efforts have allowed us to present the region as the connected yet diverse and dynamic destination it is. I'm pleased this plan seeks to preserve the valuable marketing partnerships already in place as it adds The Greater Sandusky Partnership's economic and destination development power. Under this new structure, we stand to gain scale to elevate the region's shared assets and strengthen our position as a premier destination.