Tourism plan released
25.07.2007, 15:08
The final version of the Marshall tourism plan has been released.
Hotels
Tourism task force steering committee project manager Ron Munden told Marshall business owners, members of community organizations and city leaders at a meeting Friday at OS 2 that consulting firm Destination Development Inc. had sent him an electronic copy of the final plan. Hard copies of the plan are being sent from the DDI offices in Washington state for Marshall City Commissioners.
The next step is for DDI's Roger Brooks to present the report to the city commission.
"He wants to come down as soon as he can," said Munden.
It was suggested at a previous meeting of the private sector that it would be more effective to have a representative from DDI present the plan to the commission.
"Contractually Destination Development has met all its commitments," said Munden. "The city will pay a fee for Destination Development to make the presentation."
"One of the first issues to be address is to put the Convention and Visitors Bureau board in place," said Munden.
He added that DDI has a list of seven people it is recommending be named to the board which will have two phases. Members will serve an approximate two year term to build the brand, and then will evolve to include those who it will utilize their time implementing "Marshall Texas Center Stage!"
"People involved in building the brand may be different than those involved in implementation," Munden said. "The process on exactly how to do that, I don't have the details on."
Munden added that he did not know what names were on the list for board candidates.
Henry Bradbury, a member of the tourism task force steering committee, encouraged those in attendance to endorse the branding plan.
"One of the comments I've heard is 'I don't know about that entertainment thing,'" said Bradbury. "What they are recommending is that we invest in downtown."
"Five to 10 years from now we end up with a stronger community," Bradbury said.
"The more consensus we have before it gets to the commission the easier it will be," said Jerry Cargill. "Our growth, our excitement, our enthusiasm becomes exponential. This community is on the brink of really breaking loose."
District 1 City Commissioner Katie Jones said, "I'm looking forward to the plan coming before us."