CRVA PROMISES TO IMPROVE
| The chairmanship of the taxpayer-supported Charlotte Region Visitors Authority has been one hot seat lately. In the wake of what some regard as questionable spending by the CRVA (lavish meals and free event tickets for would-be clients and a $100K bonus to a CRVA executive), new board chair Joe Hallow vows transparency. |
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One of the first orders of business was releasing a printed version of a $25k PricewaterhouseCoopers study the CRVA commissioned to shed light on its spending habits and other procedures, says Joe, who was named board chair this month. (The original verbal study drew immediate criticism, since all the public saw was a two-page, CRVA-generated summary. The printed version was released Monday.) Tourism and hospitality is a $4B industry for the Charlotte region, Joe notes, acknowledging the board?s mission necessitates public trust. The board, he says, will continue to review and modify CRVA policies concerning discretionary spending by CRVA management and sales teams. ?Our goals are to remain highly competitive with other cities, yet assure the highest possible levels of accountability.? (Meanwhile, the City Council Monday night voted to cut a $10M funding request from the CRVA to $2.5M. It will consider paying out the balance next month.) |
