Criticism is mounting over Mayor Larson’s plan to outsource tourism marketing to Duluth; Advisors intervene

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DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth city councilors speak out and raise questions – a day after Mayor Emily Larson boldly announced plans to pass up longtime Visit Duluth for the city’s next valuable tourism marketing deal of nearly $ 2 million and choosing instead Minneapolis-based Bellmont Partners and its partner, Lawrence & Schiller.

Mayor Larson told FOX 21 that she is sticking to her plan and understands it’s uncomfortable for some, but she thinks Bellmont is the right fit to promote Duluth to the next level.

(10/8/21: Mayor Larson explains the reasoning behind the new tourism marketing plans)

It comes after a new multi-month application process for the marketing position that included two local finalists – Visit Duluth and DECC, and three companies from Greater Minnesota.

But critics are growing unhappy with the $ 1.8 million contract that is expected to be spent out of town – not only bypassing Visit Duluth, who has held the job since 1935, but also advertising and marketing agencies. local marketing from here to home.

Maarja Hewitt, former Director of Communications at Visit Duluth.

The contract decision ultimately comes down to a city council vote on Monday.

Some of the councilors weighed in on FOX 21’s Dan Hanger on Wednesday, as one of Visit Duluth’s well-known faces called on Mayor Larson.

Former Visit Duluth communications director Maarja Hewitt lambasted Larson and his administration on Wednesday in an email to city councilors who called Visit Duluth’s relationship with the town “ruined” forever – while

“I hope that as city councilors you will ask tough questions and advocate for our tourism tax dollars to stay local, to support local talent, and to stimulate the local passion and expertise that fuel this industry. for decades, ”Hewitt said. “Duluth’s visit made it clear to the City that we are ready to make changes, listen to City input and work together towards a new vision. It fell on deaf ears.

Hewitt finally said she couldn’t take the stress anymore, quit her job a few weeks ago and called Larson’s approach a “powerful move.”

Meanwhile, city councilors are all ears ahead of a vote Monday on Bellmont’s one-year contract for tourism marketing in 2022.

Municipal Councilor Joël Sipress

“Councilors hear from a lot of people who are generally concerned about keeping our tax dollars in Duluth,” said Joel Sipress, a Duluth city councilor. “My point is that we shouldn’t be sending this money out of town unless we have a very good reason to do so.”

Sipress said there were two issues: Should Visit Duluth continue to have a contract? And if not, should the city search locally or outside the area?

“We have a lot of very, very successful advertising agencies that clearly have the skills and ability to do a significant part of the marketing work of the Duluth tourism industry, and of course they are interested in having this opportunity to do this work. And this is a factor that we have to take into account, ”added Sipress.

City Councilor Derek Medved

Councilor Derek Medved congratulates Mayor Larson for using a ‘Request for Proposals’ (RFP) process with tourism tax revenues used to pay for the marketing contract and says that is how it should have been since start.

“I think the process the mayor followed was very appropriate – it’s a lot of money,” Medved said.

But he would like to make sure Visit Duluth has a chance to stay put and fix anything Larson thinks is broken before outsourcing the funds.

“I think Visit Duluth received divorce papers a little too early. If we weren’t communicating with them appropriately, haven’t we given them a lot of areas to improve on, they had concerns from us, ”Medved asked. “Once these funds get out of our city, they benefit other local vendors, and I think the ripple effect… can greatly affect our local economy.

City Councilor Arik Forsman

Meanwhile, councilor Arik Forsman, who was part of the finalist interview process for the post, said he fully understands the criticisms of local dollars likely to be leaving town, but he thinks – overall – that the process unfolds as it should.

“The council is there to be that brake and that counterweight. We have different levels of government in our strong mayor system. But at the end of the day, I think the decision the board will have to make is whether the RFP is valid, whether we are following the purchase requirements, and is it the right decision, ”Forsman said. “And I understand a wide range of opinions. I had my own thoughts on this, but at the end of the day I think it was a fair, open and competitive process.

Larson offered Visit Duluth a much smaller contract of $ 400,000 for next year to manage the coordination of the convention and the visitor center. Visit Duluth President Anna Tanski said Tuesday the board is weighing its options and more details are expected to be released in a virtual video call at 8:30 am Thursday, to which media are invited.

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