Marketing Grant Request Marketing Initiative Funds Request Requesting

Marketing Grant Request

Marketing Initiative Funds Request • Requesting 10% of the annual bed tax collections, totaling $555, 484 for 2014 -2015 • These funds will be used to strengthen and greatly increase our advertising reach • All of these funds are used to grow brand essence and destination awareness to key markets including: • Meeting Professionals Nationally • Southeast • Florida • I-95 Corridor (SC, NC, VA, NY) 11

2013 -2014 Highlights Overall, visitation numbers are the highest we have seen on record • Each month (March –June) have had the highest amounts of Room Revenue since Smith Travel began tracking Jacksonville/Duval County in 2004 • May Hotel Revenue was over $32 million, that’s only a million less than revenue in February 2005 when we hosted the Super Bowl! • Total Revenue is up $17, 850, 129 Year to Date and demand is up 168, 154 room nights • Overall, every month in 2014, Occupancy, Average Daily Rate and Rev. Par has been up. Increases in Transient business: • Over a 12% increase in the last three years in transient business

pt Se r st be em gu Ju ly 48, 0 Au Ja r nu a Fe ry br ua ry M ar ch Ap ril M ay ju ne r be be m ce De m ve Hotel Occupancy to 58, 0 No 63, 0 Oc Oc t No obe ve r m De be ce r m b Ja er nu Fe ary br ua r M y ar ch Ap ril M ay ju ne Ju Au ly Se gu pt st em be r 73, 0 68, 0 2011 -2012 -2013 -2014 53, 0 Hotel Rev. PAR 60, 00 55, 00 50, 00 45, 00 2011 -2012 40, 00 2012 -2013 -2014 35, 00 30, 00

Web Traffic • 1, 030, 360 visits which is an increase of 42% • 39% more visitors over last 12 months • Growth in specific markets – • 62% increase from Florida • 92% increase from Tallahassee • 38% increase from Gainesville • 35% increase from Tampa • 38% increase from Georgia • 29% increase from Atlanta • 42% increase from Savannah • 42% increase from South Carolina

Website Traffic 140 000 120 000 100 000 80 000 2011 -2012 -2013 60 000 2013 -2014 40 000 20 000 pt em be r st Se gu Au Ju ly e ju n ay M Ap ril ch ar M br ua ry y Fe Ja nu ar r De ce m be be m ve No Oc to be r r 0

• Continued focus to digital marketing which is more measureable and has been most successful in recent years • Grow focus on driving traffic to our website and pushing business to our local hotels and attractions • Selected print publications which provide long-term shelf life (annual guides) and strong circulation numbers 12

Leisure

Leisure Con’t

Meetings/Convention Ads