AFSCME Privatization Update

Source: By Christine Stapleton and Deana Poole, Palm Beach Post (FL), Wednesday, February 21, 2007

The Convention and Visitors Bureau doesn't provide adequate management and operational oversight of the convention center and shouldn't oversee the $84 million county-owned facility, an audit released today concluded.

....... The audit report stopped short of calling for the county to take over management at the center. But the audit's release comes just days before county commissioners are scheduled to debate the matter.

Posted by Info Center at 11:12 AM in Audits/Reporting | Convention Centers | Permalink

Source: W. Scott Bailey, San Antonio Business Journal, 7:00 p.m. ET Feb. 19, 2006

San Antonio's municipally operated Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) has been without a permanent director since Melvin Tennant abruptly resigned nearly nine months ago. Some members of the hospitality industry are now using that fact to help convince top-level city leaders that the time has come to outsource CVB responsibilities to a new public-private organization. ..... In January 2001, long before the events of 9/11 changed everything in the tourism industry, officials here were flirting with the notion of privatizing San Antonio's CVB. ..... There are a couple of ways City Hall can look to outsource CVB operations. One option being discussed is the formation of a convention authority that would offer better long-term funding security and still provide management plenty of autonomy. Another possibility is the creation of a tax-exempt corporation. Some local leaders say that model may prove to be the most practical approach.

Posted by Info Center at 10:15 AM in Convention Centers | Permalink