The Journal voices its approval of a raise and 28k bonus for Visit Winston-Salem president Richard Geiger. The Tourism Development Authority approved the raise and bonus by a 5-1 vote, with Forsyth County Commissioner Debra Conrad casting the lone ‘no’ vote.
The Journal cites as justification for the raise and the bonus an $800,000 hike in collections from the county’s hotel occupancy tax, in its mind evidence that Visit Winston-Salem is effectively luring tourists. The Journal adds:
It’s easy to see the improvement in the quality of the city tourism efforts and its marketing sophistication. Geiger has introduced the latest in marketing-research science to promote Winston-Salem to the right markets and it is paying off. The agency’s latest campaign, “Winston-Salem, Your Southern Wake-up Call,” part of a $175,000, 18-month project emphasizing the city’s arts, culture, history and culinary delights, is the product of detailed, state-of-the art research. It’s smart and it’s sophisticated.
Seems to me like pretty sketchy evidence to justify such a bonus when during tough economic times. And it’s still taxpayers’ money, no matter the source.
