POLL: Should Beachwood Start a Convention and Visitors Bureau?

The Beachwood Chamber of Commerce proposed a plan for a Convention and Visitors Bureau at Monday's special meeting of City Council.

Some readers have disagreed with the proposal on Beachwood Patch. Micheal Silver, resident and co-founder of Beachwood Residents for Responsible Development, wrote, "This is one of the craziest ideas I've heard in a long time and would be a waste of money that should be used for the taxpayers! Included in the budget is the CVB paying 1/2 the cost of rent and operations for the Chamber! This is nothing more than funding for the Chamber and is not to benefit the citizens of Beachwood!"

The proposal follows a recommendation from an economic development study that the a CVB could help the city attract more business clients and residents.

Chamber Director Wayne Lawrence told Council that the Bureau would help attract conventions to the city - which translates to filled hotel rooms, dinners at local restaurants and other income to Beachwood businesses, Lawrence argued.

He asked Council for $150,000 annually from the city's lodging tax fund to help pay for the bureau.

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What do you think: will a CVB show a return on investment, or should Beachwood invest its dollars elsewhere? Tell us why in the comments!