Spartanburg tourism bureau awarded $310,000 to develop marketing plan

The Spartanburg Convention and Visitors Bureau, which is under the umbrella of OneSpartanburg, Inc., has been awarded the lion’s share of accommodation tax revenues budgeted for this year.

The Visitors Bureau received $310,000 out of $445,500 awarded to 12 tourism-related organizations, according to Derrick Norris, chairman of the Spartanburg County Tax Advisory Committee.

Spartanburg County Council recently approved the allocations for 2021-22 as recommended by the advisory committee, which relies on funding applications and interviews to decide which organizations receive funds.

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The accommodations tax is a 2% tax on hotel and motel room rental. The tax was enacted in 1984 by the state General Assembly to provide funding for the tourism industry. A portion of the funds is forwarded to counties to distribute.

Norris said projects submitted by organizations must draw people to an event or attraction from at least 50 miles away, even if they are primarily local in nature.

The Visitors Bureau plans to use its funds to develop a tourism marketing plan, according to Norris. The bureau seeks to extend the length of stay by visitors and increase spending by travelers.

Chapman Cultural Center was awarded $30,000 for its Arts Partnership of Greater Spartanburg.

“The committee decided to increase money awarded to the CVB to assist with many upcoming efforts to market the Spartanburg destination as well as the Chapman Cultural Center for the many events and attractions they bring to the area,” Norris said.