Brooklyn Park ponders way forward for tourism board | Native Information

While Maple Grove was considering ending its relationship with the Northwest Minneapolis Tourism Board, the Brooklyn Park City Council held a working session on May 3 to discuss its future with the organization.

The council agreed to consider moving from the multi-city tourism board to a Brooklyn Park-only model.

In its current form, the board sponsors travel and tourism in three cities: Maple Grove, Brooklyn Park, and Brooklyn Center. Meals are financed by accommodation taxes levied on hotel room rentals in each city.

“Their main purpose is to jointly market the three cities,” said Breanne Rothstein, director of economic development and housing at Brooklyn Park.

“At least 50% of their work is focused on attracting events that they don’t know will be coming to Brooklyn Park. They know they will be coming northwest of Minneapolis. … They are trying to attract events and tourism from a national perspective and people don’t want to pay to be downtown or they don’t want to be downtown because it’s too impractical. You are looking to the northwest of Minneapolis.

According to the contract, Maple Grove must give one year ‘s notice before leaving the board of directors. According to Brooklyn Park city officials, Maple Grove announced to the board in January that the city would spend the year evaluating its future participation in the organization.

Six of the 13 board members represent Maple Grove companies or their city government. Maple Grove also owns more than half of all hotel rooms in the consortium, contributing more than half of the property tax revenue to the approximately $ 1.8 million pre-COVID budget. If the city withdraws from the consortium, the organization’s budget will shrink significantly.

Without Maple Grove, Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center could continue to operate together, or develop a new agreement of joint powers, become self-employed, or abolish the lodging tax and tourism board as a whole.

With a single operation, “Brooklyn Park would have more control, particularly over branding and board activities,” said Rothstein, “but the future is uncertain.”

She said city officials would likely recommend canceling the agreement even if the city plans to continue operations with the Brooklyn Center.

Brooklyn Park is contractually required to give 18 months’ notice before resigning from the board.

In 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, Brooklyn Park housing tax raised approximately $ 419,000.

Councilor Lisa Jacobson said the city should pull out of the company and set up its own board. The city is not always happy with the attention it received in the agreement, and a single effort would allow the city to focus on its own priorities, she said.

Not only should the city focus on its own tourism authority, but it could also develop its own trade authority to promote local businesses, she said.

“We have to be proactive in this,” said Jacobson. “Our companies deserve attention.”

Rothstein said it was not uncommon to use housing tax revenue in this format. A local chamber of commerce tied to the tourism authority would likely comply with state law and not require specific legislation for the allocation of taxpayers’ money for accommodation.

Councilor Terry Park agreed, saying the city should focus on creating its own board.

“I think we have the staff. I think we have the right place, ”he said.

The city could consider funding a combined Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau, then push for special legislation to allow excess funds to be used to create tourist destinations like a new city festival, Councilor Susan Pha said.

“I’m not against a partnership with the Brooklyn Center, but I think only if it’s specific to Brooklyn Park can we really offer it to Brooklyn Park. We can be very specific about how we want to promote Brooklyn Park, ”said Pha.

Councilor Wynfred Russell, who sits on the Northwest Minneapolis Tourism Board, said the body would be stronger with two member cities than with one. The city should continue to invest in assets that attract tourism, such as venues with amplified sound, and engage the African communities who travel to the city for shopping, he said.

Russell called the board “a great addition to the city”.

Brooklyn Park doesn’t have the kind of amenities to bring national tourist attraction, said councilor Boyd Morson.

“Someone who’s planning on vacationing here, and I understand what you’re saying, I don’t think they have any real plans to come to Brooklyn Park,” he said. “I think we have to be more aggressive.”

“My thought process is to have something of my own,” said Councilor Tonja West-Hafner.

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