Letter To The Editor
By John Dunn, Chairman of the Board of Dunn Hospitality
I read the CCO criticism of the salary for the CVB director. Â I feel that paying a local person with no experience as a director or assistant director any amount to lead the efforts of the CVB is unwise.
I guarantee that $125,000 salary isn’t enough to pay a person who is experienced and knowledgeable about tourism and conventions is definitely not enough to attract a director from a major city to Evansville. Â It may be enough to attract a person that is second in command in a larger community who we may be able to retain for 5 or 6 years while he or she is proving themselves as a proven leader in the industry that can then go on to a much larger city and a lot more money.
This is a complex business and we cannot afford to keep hiring people looking to retire in Evansville or with unproven abilities to lead our efforts.
We must be honest with ourselves that we are not a major convention city and focus our efforts on that segment we can accommodate. Â We must develop various tourism strategies that bring people to our city. Â The sports market has proven to be our largest single attraction and it is a vast market that we can continue to grow but there are other strategies that a proven director can develop that can come close to or exceed the sports market.
My hope is that the Board does not rush to hire just anyone but take their time to find that right person to lead in the Tourism and Convention business.
FOOTNOTE: This Letter To The Editor was posted without bias or editing.
