Subject:
Title
Tourism Promotion Agreement with St. Pete Pride, Inc. for a Fiscal Year 2025 Elite Event.
label
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of the Tourism Promotion Agreement with St. Pete Pride, Inc. (Pride) for a Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Elite Event.
• Agreement with Pride for $75,000.00 supports St. Pete Pride.
• Funding is allocated between sponsorship benefits, and marketing and advertising expenditures and is paid post event:
o $25,000.00 for sponsorship benefits.
o Up to the sum of $50,000.00 for marketing and advertising expenditures.
• FY25 Elite Event funding was recommended by the Tourist Development Council on July 17, 2024, and approved by the Board of County Commissioners (Board) on August 13, 2024.
Body
Strategic Plan:
Prosperity and Opportunity
3.2 Provide and promote tourism opportunities
Summary:
The Tourism Promotion Agreement is for St. Pete Pride, which is scheduled to be held in St. Petersburg during the month of June. Funding is paid on a post event basis upon receipt of a report and other supporting documentation.
Background/Explanation:
On August 13, 2024, the Board approved 39 events for the FY25 Elite Event Funding Program for a maximum (or “up to”) total funding amount of $2,000,000.00.
The County has supported St. Pete Pride through the Elite Event Funding Program since FY18. According to the Convention and Visitors Bureau’s (CVB’s) research firm, the FY23 event resulted in a direct economic impact of $36,480,958.00 to the County. New this year, the CVB contracted with Street Level One LLC to capture and measure digital foot traffic data during the 2025 St. Pete Pride. This data will be used to inform the review committee on future Elite Event Funding Applications from Pride.
Funding for this event is allocated between sponsorship benefits and marketing and advertising expenditures, which are detailed in Exhibit A and B of the agreement. Funding is paid on a post event basis upon receipt of a report and other supporting documentation, which is due within 45 days of event completion.
Fiscal Impact:
$75,000.00 St. Pete Pride
Funding to support this Tourism Promotion Agreement in the amount of $75,000.00 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