MONROE - Monroe hotel and motel owners say their business is down 10 to 15 percent this year. One business owner said downtown stores need more customers.
Monroe has been a victim of decreased tourism, and the Visitor and Promotion Board wants to figure out how to reverse the trend.
Board Chairman and Mayor Ron Marsh opened Wednesday's board meeting discussing re-evaluation of present and future projects. Board members agreed a more proactive approach may be necessary.
"We always sit here and wait (for requests for funding to come in)," Marsh said. "But our obligation is to fund locals first."
Sherrill Kelly and Cherie Hughes requested funds for a new Web site designed to spotlight downtown businesses and geared toward reaching areas outside of Green County, like Chicago.
Marsh said the project could be acceptable under the board's guidelines, but only if the Web site led to overnight stays in Monroe.
"This board is getting (into) more accountability," Marsh said. "If you develop this Web site, what is the ratio of hits that would make it a successful site?" Marsh asked.
Kelly said the site would be linked to stores' Web sites, and would include those of other businesses, especially hotels, motels and restaurants, outside the downtown.
"We want all the advertising we can get in," Kelly said. "We think this will be of help bringing in people for overnight stays."
The board tentatively approved $500 of funding for the site and an additional $250 in matched funds, reserving a final review before disbursement of the money.
The board also discussed how the city or business owners could determine success rates of other funded projects.
Earlier this year, the board expected Monroe to see more people in the region taking shorter trips and, thus, visiting Monroe, rather than long-distance tourists.
That didn't necessarily materialize for the city's hotels and motels.
Randy Gobeli and Richard Thoman, who own businesses in the industry, said their business (represented by room use) was down 10 to 15 percent so far this year. Board funding comes from a 4 percent room tax. The 10 to 15 percent decline in room use means $6,000 to $8,000 less for the board.
Monroe has been a victim of decreased tourism, and the Visitor and Promotion Board wants to figure out how to reverse the trend.
Board Chairman and Mayor Ron Marsh opened Wednesday's board meeting discussing re-evaluation of present and future projects. Board members agreed a more proactive approach may be necessary.
"We always sit here and wait (for requests for funding to come in)," Marsh said. "But our obligation is to fund locals first."
Sherrill Kelly and Cherie Hughes requested funds for a new Web site designed to spotlight downtown businesses and geared toward reaching areas outside of Green County, like Chicago.
Marsh said the project could be acceptable under the board's guidelines, but only if the Web site led to overnight stays in Monroe.
"This board is getting (into) more accountability," Marsh said. "If you develop this Web site, what is the ratio of hits that would make it a successful site?" Marsh asked.
Kelly said the site would be linked to stores' Web sites, and would include those of other businesses, especially hotels, motels and restaurants, outside the downtown.
"We want all the advertising we can get in," Kelly said. "We think this will be of help bringing in people for overnight stays."
The board tentatively approved $500 of funding for the site and an additional $250 in matched funds, reserving a final review before disbursement of the money.
The board also discussed how the city or business owners could determine success rates of other funded projects.
Earlier this year, the board expected Monroe to see more people in the region taking shorter trips and, thus, visiting Monroe, rather than long-distance tourists.
That didn't necessarily materialize for the city's hotels and motels.
Randy Gobeli and Richard Thoman, who own businesses in the industry, said their business (represented by room use) was down 10 to 15 percent so far this year. Board funding comes from a 4 percent room tax. The 10 to 15 percent decline in room use means $6,000 to $8,000 less for the board.