The Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce has been the city of Beaufort and Northern Beaufort County’s Designated Marketing Organization (DMO) since approximately 1984 and is well prepared and positioned to continue its DMO services.  As the DMO, the chamber has dedicated itself to being a good steward of the city’s and county’s accommodation and hospitality taxes designated for tourism and marketing activities.<!--more-->
In recent weeks, the chamber has met with city and county representatives concerning DMO activities, and the chamber is excited about some of the ideas presented at these informal gatherings. Ideas discussed included the potential formation of a joint committee between the city and the county to oversee DMO activities. Such a committee would be beneficial regardless of what entity or organization may be designated the DMO in the future.  A joint DMO committee would enhance the partnership between the DMO and the city and county and ultimately would lead to better communication, reporting, and hopefully a more cohesive understanding of how the tax dollars are being leveraged for the betterment of all concerned.
“The chamber is dedicated to the business community in northern Beaufort County, and certainly tourism marketing is a key component of the local economy,” said Jon Rembold, chairman of the Beaufort Regional Chamber Board of Directors. “We are prepared to continue as the DMO as the City and County evaluates its DMO options and in the interim, it is our preference to work with the Visitor &amp; Convention Bureau to market this area to visitors.
As this process moves forward, the chamber will continue to be the DMO for the City of Beaufort and Northern Beaufort County until such a time as these organizations decide to move in a different direction.  The chamber has indeed endorsed its former department and newly minted South Carolina nonprofit, the Beaufort, Port Royal, and Sea Island Visitor &amp; Convention Bureau (VCB) to be considered for DMO designation.
Whether the governmental entities decide to designate the Visitor Bureau as the DMO is wholly within the purview of the City of Beaufort and the county of Beaufort. If the city and county decide not to designate the Visitor Bureau as their DMO, the chamber wants to make clear that it is the current DMO and is not “stepping down” as the DMO.
Please direct any additional questions on the subject to Jon Rembold, 2011-2012 Chairman of the Chamber Board of Directors, at 843.384.5056.