Seneca County collects record-high lodging tax

Tourism funding got a boost in the third quarter as Seneca County collected a record amount of "bed tax" dollars. Destination Seneca County announced that $48,755 was collected, surpassing the pre-pandemic high of $47,690 set in the third quarter of 2019. The lodging tax, or bed tax, is a 3% fee collected from people who stay in hotels or similar accommodations when visiting the county. "The increase in lodging tax revenue is an indicator that more people are visiting Seneca County," said Executive Director Bryce Riggs. "Seeing this number continuing to grow is proof that Seneca County is coming back from the pandemic stronger than ever. It also tells us we're on the right path of marketing our growing community as a destination. Tourism is truly a community effort and we're proud to be a part of this positive trend." Money collected from the tax funds promotional work by DSC, which in turn, draws more people to visit the county. "A majority of our budget is promotion. It's the foundation of what we use to promote the community," Riggs said. "It really allows us to do what we need to do." Since he was hired as the executive director, Riggs said the focus has changed. "I've kind a readjusted the way we look at things," he said. The focus is on digital promotions rather than print. In addition, the visitors guide has been redesigned, including an online version, and he said the website is undergoing a redesign. Riggs said DSC used to share information and promotions created by individual businesses, but now office personnel are creating content and sharing it with individual destinations. While each destination promotes itself, he said the office works with them to help maximize their ideas and improve their ability to reach potential visitors. In addition, he said DSC provides services to promote Seneca County as a whole and is working toward increasing the number of bus tours, which would assist each destination separately and the county as a whole. DSC has worked with several entities to create videos and update promotional photography — Downtown Tiffin, Seneca Parks and Fostoria Iron Triangle Railpark, among others. One of the newest items for the local visitors bureau, in partnership with Sandusky County's visitors bureau, has been its selection to host one of two workshops through the Ohio Travel Association call the Heartland-Approved Epic Group Experience Designation Program. The one-day workshop is to take place 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at The Renaissance downtown. Riggs said workshop registration costs only $150. "We're eating a lot of that cost to allow our stakeholders to be successful when tour groups come into town," he said. "The fact that we were chosen as a host site is exciting for us." Destination Seneca County also has been working to tap into niche tourism markets, Riggs said. For example, the office worked with a local geocaching group this fall to launch the first geocaching trail in Seneca County, which is also the first geotrail in northwest Ohio. Riggs said people who enjoy geocaching have been using the trail. Other promotions have included a trail brewery tour, he said, and a well-attended local shopping tour. He said DSC has worked with the universities to place flags downtown, and funded the purchase of cups for destinations taking part in the DORA — Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area — in downtown Tiffin. Riggs said tourism has a cumulative effect. When people visit Seneca County and have a good experience, they encourage more people to visit. "We've got a lot to show," he said. "When guests come here, we have to make sure they have a good experience. I takes everyone to be part of that experience."