The Metro Tourism and Convention Commission voted to approve the minutes and the financial report after staff presented quarterly figures showing continuing strength in hotel-tax collections and overall revenues.

Jeff (staff member) told commissioners that hotel-tax collections reported through February and subsequent reporting periods brought total collections for the period to just over $95,000,000, and that the portion dedicated to tourism promotion was about $27,500,000. He said that for the nine months ended in March, the total amount allocated by the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CBC) to the Metro contract was just over $24,000,000 and that total revenue for the period from all sources was just over $30,000,000, “including the additional $6,000,000 in revenue that the CBC raised from other sources to supplement our Metro contract funding.”

Jeff told the commission there have been no unexpected or unusual events on the expense side and that spending was running below budget in total. He said the primary discretionary program spending during the final quarter will be in advertising, website development and support for new direct international flights from BNA. “So again, in summary, the year is performing well financially and we're on track to meet or exceed our budget targets,” he said.

Commissioner Derek Free moved to approve the minutes earlier in the meeting; his motion was seconded and carried. Later, the commission voted to approve the financial report; Derek Free moved the approval and Britney Chandler seconded. All present voiced aye and the motions carried.

The report noted that October set a new all-time monthly record for hotel-tax collections and that four of the eight months then reported set record highs for those months. Staff emphasized that hotel taxes are not direct revenue to the CBC; the CBC is reimbursed for actual promotion expenses under its Metro contract.

Less-critical details discussed included that trade-show expenses and the largest events of the year were already recorded, and that the CBC had increased non-Metro revenue by approximately $6 million to supplement contract funding.

A motion to adjourn carried at the end of the meeting.