While Greensboro’s Convention and Visitors Bureau received, well, a little scrutiny over the questionable funding of the new aquatic center, Winston-Salem’s tourism development authority —– also funded with hotel tax dollars —- gets off to a fresh start as Richard Geiger was introduced yesterday as the new president of Visit Winston-Salem.
Geiger will be faced with a decline in hotel-motel occupancy tax revenue —– as a result, Visit Winston-Salem’s $1.7 million budget for fiscal year 2009-10 is down 36 percent from a year ago. Geiger will be closely watched —- or at least he should be, considering the fact that former president Bob McCoy left following a dispute with Forsyth County Commissioner over administrative expenses.
