Warner Robins council approves new destination-marketing agreement to meet state requirements

Warner Robins — The city council voted unanimously to authorize Mayor LaRhonda W. Patrick to sign a new destination marketing services agreement with the International City Tourism Bureau, a move staff said is required to comply with a Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) review.

City Manager James Drinkard told the council the DCA review found the city's prior 1990-era agreement was out of date and required an annual contract and that no elected official or city staff may serve on the DMO board. "They required that we have no elected official or representative or city official, including staff on that board," Drinkard said.

The new contract allocates the city’s statutory portion of hotel-motel taxes to a designated DMO and includes measurable objectives, reporting requirements and spending limits. Lyra Moncrief, who presented financial details, said the contract limits administrative spending to a maximum of 20% of the DMO’s portion and requires an annual marketing and business plan and twice-yearly reports to mayor and council.

"A minimum of 80% shall be used for the active marketing of Warner Robins as a destination for tourism, conventions and trade shows," Moncrief said, explaining the team defined specific performance metrics such as unique visitors to the Visit Warner Robins website, confirmed bookings and average RevPAR for market-area properties.

Council members asked how the arrangement would be governed and whether the Museum of Aviation’s staff relationship to the bureau created an indirect benefit; staff said the foundation and museum use shared personnel but separate accounts and that contract limits and reporting were intended to prevent overconcentration of funds on any single attraction.

Councilman Derek Mack moved to approve the resolution authorizing the agreement; the motion carried unanimously.

What's next: The DMO will produce an annual business and marketing plan for review by staff and council; staff said the city will revisit the contract annually as DCA requested.