The Halifax County Convention and Visitors Bureau today presented commissioners with its annual report.
Lori Medlin, president of the bureau, said in the report, “This past year was challenging, economically, in all facets of the tourism industry. The HCCVB took the position of remaining proactive and decisive during these uncertain times. We chose to place ourselves at the front of the economic recovery.”
Tourism spending in the county grew 4.35 percent last year. She said visitors spent approximately $75,926,391 in area hotels, restaurants, retail and service businesses. Visitors spent $12,148,222 just in hotels.
“One of the factors in our success has been and continues to be developing and keeping relationships with our clients, which are critical in realizing success on many fronts,” the report notes. “Our team has responded to these tough times by working harder and smarter while maintaining and growing client relationships.”
Staff at the bureau has not increased in the last six years, the report says, yet, tourism spending has grown by 27 percent.
Gene Minton, chair of the board, told commissioners, “We hold our employees in tourism at a high level of responsibility. They are out on Saturday nights and holidays. They give a lot of effort.”
Minton said Medlin is working on certification in her field and when she completes hers, he wants to rest of the employees to do the same.
Commissioners today also:
With Rives Manning voting no, approved an ordinance regulating ambulance service and the granting of franchises to ambulance operators.
Approved its transportation plan, which gives officials a glimpse of road plans for the next 25 to 30 years. The plans include making Highway 158 a freeway and include plans to widen Highways 4, 125, 122, 258 and 301. The plans include rerouting a portion of a Highway 43 to eliminate a five-way intersection at Highway 561 in Hollister. Scotland Neck officials are interested in having a fixed public transportation route from Scotland Neck to Roanoke Rapids, instead of the current program through the Choanoke Public Transportation Authority.
Recognized the retirement of Patsy C. King as an EMT-paramedic from county EMS. King, the resolution notes, has spent 33 years in state and local government up until her retirement at the end of May.
