Benton County Tourism and Recreation Corporation (BCTR)

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 will develop an Annual County Tourism Plan. Additionally, the Plan will focus on highlighting our natural assets as well as our heritage in order to provide a rewarding and memorable experience to all visitors.

BENTON COUNTY TOTAL EXPENDITURES IN TOURISM-RELATED SIC CODES

FY22…………………………………….$24, 447,361
FY21…………………………………….$22,274,404
FY20…………………………………….$18,626,626
FY19…………………………………….$18,246,504
FY18……………………………………. $17,944,722
FY17……………………………………. $16,726,973
FY16……………………………………. $16,445,767
FY15……………………………………. $15,667,307
FY14……………………………………. $14,538,217
FY13……………………………………. $13,965,436
FY12……………………………………. $14,590,267
FY11……………………………………. $13,998,457
FY10……………………………………. $13,789,041

Tourism spending is up 10% from 2021-2022.

TOURISM-RELATED EMPLOYMENT

2022 – 475
2021 – 473
2020 – 447
2019 – 432
2018 – 420
2017 – 406
2016 – 417
2015 – 402
2014 – 381
2013 – 385
2012 – 383
2011 – 377
2010 – 355

There was a .4% growth in tourism-related spending from 2021-2022.

Benton County Tourism Guest Tax History

(Gross receipts as received from Benton County Collector)

Annual

2022……………………………………$84,171
2021……………………………………$74,141
2020……………………………………$70,316
2019……………………………………$58,733
2018…………………………………….$56,414
2017…………………………………….$54,370
2016…………………………………….$49,646
2015…………………………………….$49,399
2014…………………………………….$43,555

There was a 14% growth in annual guest tax collection from 2021-2022.  (“Benton County Tourism and Recreation”) Please note that the 2022 numbers do not reflect several non-paying lodges who still owe tourism tax from FY22.

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 2023 is both comprehensive and effective and will reach a larger group of potential tourists.   We have also increased our marketing budget by 64% in FY2023 from FY2022.

Warsaw’s sales tax is up 9%, the county sales tax is up 7%, the city of Lincoln’s sales tax stayed the same and the City of Cole Camp’s sales tax is up 12% in 2022 from 2021.

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

BCTR Lodging Tax Annual Budget – 2022

The following income and expense dollars reflected for the Fiscal Year 2022 (Jan 1, 2022-Dec 31, 2022) annual BCTR budget is submitted by the Executive Director of Tourism and approved by the BCTR Board of Directors (compromising of 10 directors – see attached list).

Benton County Tourism & Recreation has five sources of revenue.  Foremost, is the transient guest tax of 3% that lodging facilities collect from their guests and remit to the Benton County Collector of Revenue.  Additionally, the Collector’s office retains .2% of the gross revenue as their collection fee.

We work with Benton County and the Cities within as tourism marketing partners and receive funding from Cole Camp, Lincoln, Warsaw, and the County to go towards budgeted marketing efforts.

Finally, the other sources of income are corporate sponsors, including local banks, Walmart, hospitals and other yearly contributors.

BENTON COUNTY TOURISM FISCAL YEAR 2023 BUDGETED INCOME (estimated)

Transient Lodging Tax…………………………………….$85,000
Cities, Chambers and County Partners.…………. $55,450
Corporate Contributions………………………………..…$8,000
State of Missouri Marketing / Misc Grants..……$64,700
Event Income (before expenses)……………………..$18,540
TOTAL FISCAL YEAR 2023 BUDGETED INCOME $231,690

The Fiscal 2023 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.

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 2023 BUDGETED EXPENSES (estimated)

Advertising/Events/Mktg………………………………….$152,700
Administration……………………………………………….…..$70,020
Professional Memberships/Services……………………….$625
General Reserve…………………………………………………..$8,345
TOTAL FISCAL YEAR 2023 BUDGETED EXPENSES $231,690

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