WHO IS BENTON COUNTY TOURISM & RECREATION?

Benton County Tourism and Recreation is a 501c3 non-profit organization whose mission is to increase visitation and awareness of the Benton County Area. Our goal is to harness the county’s great tourism potential and transform it into an engine for growth and development that contributes to the goal of a prosperous economic future.

By utilizing the transient guest tax combined with corporate support for this continued economic growth, we develop an Annual County Tourism Plan. Additionally, the Plan focuses on highlighting our natural assets, our history and heritage, and the shopping and dining options in order to provide a rewarding and memorable experience to all visitors.

WHO ARE TOURISM’S STAKEHOLDERS?

 

Tourism has many stakeholders – being directly or indirectly associated to the outcomes produced from successfully marketing our destination.  Such examples would be:

• Realtors
• Banks
• Retail businesses
• Transportation
• Outdoor recreation
• Restaurants
• Attractions
• Fishing guides
• Property Management: Airbnb, motels, hotels, long-term rentals
• Education
• Utilities and infrastructure
• Marinas
• Boat mechanics
• Storage facilities
• Charities and non-profit organizations
• Owners and employees of each of these businesses

To name a few.

WHY IS LOCAL TOURISM IMPORTANT?

Drawing visitors from far and wide has substantial benefits.  When tourists travel to a community, they bring opportunities for local business owners and the hard-working individuals who hold the area together.  Ultimately, tourism paves the way for positive change.  Businesses and governments allocate resources to enhance the visitor experience while improving residents’ everyday lives.

Below are the statistics showing expenditures and tourism-related employment in Benton County, MO.

THE CASE FOR TOURISM

BENTON COUNTY TOTAL EXPENDITURES IN TOURISM-RELATED SIC CODES

FY23…………………………………….$27,187,365
FY22…………………………………….$24,447,361
FY21…………………………………….$22,274,404
FY20…………………………………….$18,626,626
FY19…………………………………….$18,246,504
FY18……………………………………..$17,944,722

Tourism spending is up 11.21% from 2022-2023.

TOURISM-RELATED EMPLOYMENT

2023 – 491
2022 – 475
2021 – 473
2020 – 447
2019 – 432
2018 – 420

BENTON COUNTY TOURISM FISCAL YEAR 2024 BUDGETED INCOME (estimated)

Transient Lodging Tax…………………………………….$80,000
Cities, Chambers and County Partners.…………. $55,250
Corporate Contributions…………………………………..$9,000
State of Missouri Marketing / Misc Grants..…….$36,000
Event Income (before expenses)……………………..$19,000
TOTAL FISCAL YEAR 2024 BUDGETED INCOME  $199,250

The Fiscal 2024 BCTR Annual Budget expenditures are divided into four major categories.  The budget is established annually by the BCTR Board of Directors, which is proposed by the Executive Director.

The major expenditures in marketing include major Missouri magazines and print publications, website and online presence, special events and festivals, marketing strategy including search engine optimization and search engine marketing, exhibiting at travel shows, billboards, collateral for shows, mailings to Missouri Welcome Centers, marketing videos and photography, county-wide event cards, radio advertising, a digital billboard in Sedalia, and memberships in tourism-related organizations for networking and promotional purposes.  Administration includes everyday responsibilities of insurance, contractor salary and D&O insurance, as well as phones, internet, mileage, checks and tax preparation.  The Executive Director is a contractor who pays her own insurance and taxes and does not receive paid vacation or sick days.

BCTR FISCAL YEAR 2024 BUDGETED EXPENSES (estimated)

Advertising/Events/Mktg………………………………….$109,625
Administration……………………………………………….….$87,876
Professional Memberships/Services……………………….$625
General Reserve…………………………………………………..$1,124
TOTAL FISCAL YEAR 2024 BUDGETED EXPENSES    $198,126

Furthermore, we work in conjunction with the cities of Cole Camp, Lincoln and Warsaw, as well as the three Chambers of Commerce for each town to promote attractions, shopping, events and dining to tourists and future residents within our county.  Likewise, we know that tourism plays a large role in the economic development of our county.

BCTR is able to continue to increase our marketing efforts due to the support of organizations, corporate contributions and individuals who believe in the promotion of tourism and economic development in Benton County.  We believe our marketing plan for 2024 is both comprehensive and effective and will reach a larger group of potential tourists.

The city of Lincoln’s sales tax went up 7%, the City of Cole Camp’s sales tax is up 8% and Warsaw’s sales tax stayed the same from 2022 to 2023.

Tourism Development is the key to our economic future for the reasons listed above.

SUMMARY

One of the many primary benefits of local and community-based tourism is the positive impact on local economies. By promoting small-scale tourism and working with local businesses, tourism can create jobs and generate income for the community. This economic benefit can help improve the standard of living for local residents and provide long-term economic sustainability.

TOGETHER WE CAN DO MORE!

Benton County Tourism & Recreation
PO Box 1245
Warsaw MO  65355
www.visitbentoncomo.com
Phone:  (660) 438-2090
Email:  lstokes@visitbentoncomo.com

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BENTON COUNTY TOURISM FISCAL YEAR 2022 ACTUAL INCOME 

Transient Lodging Tax…………………………….……….$75,000
Cities, Chambers and County Partners.….………. $55,750
Corporate Contributions………………………….…….. $10,000
State of Missouri Marketing / Misc Grants…..…..$62,700
Event Income (before expenses)………………….…..$15,420
TOTAL FISCAL YEAR 2022 BUDGETED INCOME $218,870

The Fiscal 2022 BCTR Annual Budget expenditures are divided into five major categories.  The budget is established annually by the BCTR Board of Directors, which is proposed by the Executive Director.

Please review our 2022 Marketing Plan for detailed information on how we are spending our funding.

BCTR FISCAL YEAR 2022 ACTUAL EXPENSES 

Advertising/Events/Mktg……………………………………..$157,220
Equipment/Assets…………………………………………………..$1,500
Administration………………………………………………..…….$80,085
Professional Memberships/Services…………………..……..$620
General Reserve………………………………………………….…………$0
TOTAL FISCAL YEAR 2022 BUDGETED EXPENSES   $239,425

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BCTR Lodging Tax Actual income and expenses – 2021

BENTON COUNTY TOURISM FISCAL YEAR 2021 ACTUAL INCOME 

Transient Lodging Tax…………………………….……….$67,289
Cities, Chambers and County Partners.….………. $47,500
Corporate Contributions………………………….………$10,000
State of Missouri Marketing / Misc Grants…..…..$20,734
Event Income (before expenses)………………….…..$20,285
TOTAL FISCAL YEAR 2021 ACTUAL INCOME      $165,808

BCTR FISCAL YEAR 2021 ACTUAL EXPENSES 

Advertising/Mktg/Events……………………………………$103,175
Administration………………………………………………..…..$56,011
Equipment/Assets……………………………………………………$510
Professional Memberships/Services…………………..……$525
Housing Study………………………………………………….….$11,000
TOTAL FISCAL YEAR 2021 ACTUALEXPENSES        $171,221

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2020 Benton County Tourism Income & Expenses

BENTON COUNTY TOURISM FISCAL YEAR 2020 ACTUAL INCOME

Transient Lodging Tax…………………………………….$65,665
Cities and County Partners……………………………. $37,041
Corporate Contributions…………………………………$15,351
State of Missouri Marketing Grants………………..$38,964
Event Income (before expenses)……………………….$2,430
Housing study grant………………………………………..$22,000
TOTAL FISCAL YEAR 2020 ACTUAL INCOME      $181,451

BCTR FISCAL YEAR 2020 ACTUAL EXPENSES

Advertising/Events/Mktg…………………….……….……..$76,797
Administration…………………………………….……………..$51,870
Professional Memberships/Services…………….…………$765
BCTR Grant…………………………………………………………..$3,450
Housing study grant……………………………………..…….$11,000
Reserved for 2021…………………………………………………$5,798
General Reserve………………………………………………….$31,771
TOTAL FISCAL YEAR 2020 ACTUALEXPENSES       $181,451

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2019 Benton County Tourism Income & Expenses

BENTON COUNTY TOURISM FISCAL YEAR 2019 ACTUAL INCOME

Transient Lodging Tax……………………………….…….$53,765
Cities and County Partners……………………….……. $35,518
Corporate Contributions………………………….………$10,937
State of Missouri Marketing Grants………….……..$  4,599
Event Income (before expenses)…………….……….$   5,871
TOTAL FISCAL YEAR 2019 ACTUAL INCOME      $110,690

BCTR FISCAL YEAR 2019 ACTUAL EXPENSES

Advertising/Events/Mktg……………………………..……..$46,139
Administration………………………………………….………..$46,025
Professional Memberships/Services………….…………$1,295
BCTR Grant…………………………………………………………..$4,664
General Reserve………………………………………………….$12,567
TOTAL FISCAL YEAR 2019 ACTUAL EXPENSES      $110,690

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2018 Benton County Tourism Income & Expenses

BENTON COUNTY TOURISM FISCAL YEAR 2018 ACTUAL INCOME

Transient Lodging Tax………………………………………$55,308
Cities and County Partners……………………………….$27,200
Corporate Contributions………………………………..…$15,019
State of Missouri Marketing Grants………….………$   1009
Event Income (before expenses)………………….…..$   8,337
TOTAL FISCAL YEAR 2018 ACTUAL INCOME       $106,873

BCTR FISCAL YEAR 2018 ACTUAL EXPENSES

Advertising/Events/Mktg……………………….……………$46,942
Administration……………………………………….…………..$40,426
Professional Memberships/Services…………………….…$522
BCTR Grant…………………………………………………………..$3,760
General Reserve………………………………………………….$15,223
TOTAL FISCAL YEAR 2018 ACTUAL EXPENSES      $106,873