Pettis County, MissouriSedalia Area Tourism Commission
Historic Katy Depot · Room 216600 East Third Street, Sedalia, MO 65301660‑826‑2932

Eligible expenses

How can lodgings tax funds be used?

Lodgings tax proceeds support tourism marketing projects in Pettis County and administration of the designated marketing organization.

Destination marketing campaigns

Marketing funds are available for the creation, production, distribution, broadcasting, fulfillment, and tracking of products designed to market tourism in the Sedalia area.

Any product proposed for lodgings tax funding should be included in the applicant’s marketing plan. A marketing plan establishes goals, identifies needs, and develops strategies to meet those needs. Those strategies should identify the marketing projects best suited to achieve the desired results.

Destination marketing

Funding categories

Category 1

Missouri State Fairgrounds off-season marketing

Target markets: Camping rallies, livestock association shows or sales, multi-day events, trade shows, and similar off-season uses.

Eligible expenses

  • Media advertising, production, and fulfillment for newspapers, trade publications, magazines, radio, television, and internet
  • Billboard rental and design
  • Travel or trade show registration, promotional materials distributed at trade shows, travel, shipping, and booth acquisition
  • Brochure design and printing
  • Website design, setup, and maintenance
  • Video production and direct mail
  • Customer-retention activities and incentives for use of facilities
  • Research to determine project outcomes

Not eligible

  • Salaries
  • Sponsorship of trophies, banners, blankets, entertainment, or similar items for Fairgrounds events
  • Equipment purchases or rentals
  • In-kind services or in-house costs
  • Items for resale or alcoholic beverages
  • Costs associated with the annual Missouri State Fair
Category 2

Convention & Visitors Bureau destination marketing

Target markets: Leisure travel, group tours, conferences and meetings, multi-day events, festivals, and competitions.

Eligible expenses

  • Media advertising, production, and fulfillment for print, radio, television, and internet
  • Billboard rental and design
  • Travel or trade show registration, promotional materials, travel, shipping, and booth acquisition
  • Brochure design, printing, and distribution
  • Website design, setup, and maintenance; video production; and direct mail
  • A toll-free telephone line used by the CVB
  • Customer-retention activities and outcome research
  • Year-round visitor attraction campaigns for eligible nonprofit entities

Not eligible

  • The value of in-kind services
  • Items for resale
Category 3

Multi-day events

Target markets: Leisure travel, group tours, conferences and meetings, multi-day events, festivals, and competitions.

Eligible expenses

  • Media advertising, production, and fulfillment for print, radio, television, and internet
  • Billboard rental and design
  • Travel or trade show registration, travel, shipping, and booth acquisition
  • Brochure design, printing, and distribution
  • Website design, setup, and maintenance
  • Video production, direct mail, and specialty advertising materials
  • Research to determine project outcomes

Not eligible

  • Salaries or retail merchandise
  • Sponsorship of trophies, banners, blankets, entertainment, or similar items
  • Equipment purchases or rentals
  • In-kind services or in-house costs
  • Items for resale or alcoholic beverages
Category 4

Tourism partner collaborations

Projects representing a collaborative partnership between Sedalia events and attractions are encouraged. Tourism partners may apply together to reach audiences of mutual interest and promote the idea of coming for one event or attraction and staying longer for another. These extended-stay campaigns complement the CVB Sedalia Destination Marketing Campaign.

Administration

Commission and CVB operations

Administration funds may offset direct expenses of operating the Sedalia Area Tourism Commission and the Sedalia Convention & Visitors Bureau as the designated marketing organization. Eligible expenses include management, office space, postage, telephone, printing, photocopying, bank charges, CPA or accounting fees, audit and collection fees, legal counsel, insurance, office equipment, supplies, and similar operating costs.