Subject:
Title
Tourism Promotion Agreement with The Greater Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, Inc., for a Fiscal Year 2026 Elite Event.
label
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of the Tourism Promotion Agreement with The Greater Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (Dunedin Chamber) for a Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Elite Event.
• Agreement with the Dunedin Chamber for a total of $30,000.00 supports Dunedin Mardi Gras.
• Funding is allocated between sponsorship benefits, and marketing and advertising expenditures and is paid post event:
o $9,000.00 for sponsorship benefits.
o Up to the sum of $21,000.00 for pre-event marketing and advertising expenditures.
• FY26 Elite Event funding was recommended by the Tourist Development Council on June 25, 2025, and approved by the Board of County Commissioners (Board) on July 22, 2025.
• As determined, the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) will leverage the use of available data sources to substantiate attendance and estimate economic impact and total room nights for Elite Events.
Body
Strategic Priorities:
Prosperity and Opportunity
3.2 Provide and promote tourism opportunities
Summary:
The Tourism Promotion Agreement is for the Dunedin Mardi Gras, which is scheduled to be held on February 17, 2026, in Downtown Dunedin. Funding will be paid on a post event basis upon receipt of a report and other supporting documentation.
Background/Explanation:
On July 22, 2025, the Board approved 49 events for the FY26 Elite Event Funding Program (Elite Program) for a maximum (or ”up to”) total funding amount of $2,685,000.00.
This is the 2nd year this event has received funding through the Elite Program. New this year, as determined, the CVB will leverage the use of Street Level One LLC and Placer.ai market intelligence data, as well as other data sources, to substantiate attendance and to estimate economic impact and total room nights, which all play a role in the evaluation of an event for future funding.
Funding for FY26 Dunedin Mardi Gras is allocated between sponsorship benefits, and marketing and advertising expenditures, which are detailed in Exhibits A and B. Funding is paid on a post event basis upon receipt of a report and other supporting documentation.
Fiscal Impact:
$30,000.00 Total Cost
Funding to support the Elite Event Funding Program is included in the CVB’s Annual Operating Budget. The source of funding is the Tourist Development Tax Fund.
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the County Administrator to sign this Tourism Promotion Agreement is granted under Code Section 2-62 (a)(1).
Staff Member Responsible:
Brian Lowack, Director, Convention and Visitors Bureau
Partners:
Tourist Development Council
Attachments:
Tourism Promotion Agreement