Ohio Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus
37 West Broad Street, Suite 480
Columbus, Ohio 43215
614-241-2226
1-888-505-9552
President's Luncheon 2006
Volume 5, Issue 5Index President's Luncheon Executive Director's Report by Phil Craig Calendar of Events Billboard Updates by Jacob Evans
President's Report by President Dan Hostetler
This year has come and gone quickly. We have accomplished many things, yet we still have much to accomplish. The Ohio Travel Industry is a strong force today, but we could be much stronger. We are considered an industry by some legislators, but many are still not sure what to make of us. Government officials say we are important to Ohio’s economy yet they do little to make sure we have the resources available to do more for the State's travel industry and ultimately the economy. There are still officials that scoff and think we are just a political ball to bounce around and take funding away from when things are tough.
To change this we need to become one voice, one industry. We need to work together as one industry. We have started the ground work, the different organizations are talking and they are starting to work together, but we still all have agendas that get in the way. OACVB members need to step up and make sure we all work together. We need to get out and talk to our local members or constituents to get them involved and working together to talk about the travel industry to our legislators. As I leave office, I challenge all of you as OACVB members and as members of many of the other organizations we work with to push all of the travel industry to work together to speak as one voice to make sure our legislators, the Division of Travel & Tourism, the Office of Development and the Governor all know what the Ohio Travel Industry is, what we do and why we are important to Ohio and our economy. Together we can be strong; together we can be loud. Together we make the Ohio Travel Industry the number one industry in Ohio and help the state's economy at the same time. January begins a new year. We have a new government, new legislators. So get out now, get to work and see what we can do as an industry.