Tourism noted in the 2009 report spending in the county totaled $73,284,831, a 5.1 percent increase over the previous year.
Lodging revenue in 2009 was $11,725,573, which equals a $125 return on investment for every dollar spent.
Tourism in the county employs 500 people directly and more than 2,000 indirectly, the report notes.
“This is an opportunity to say thank you for what you do in our program,” outgoing tourism board Chairman Jim Frazier told the audience at Riverside Mill in Weldon tonight.
Frazier said it was not an accident the figures looked good. “It took good planning, good execution and a whole lot of support from people like yourselves.”
Halifax County Board of Commissioners Chairman James Pierce congratulated tourism on its accomplishment for the previous year. Commissioners created the department in 1987, Pierce said as he introduced a video, The Power of Tourism.
Roanoke Rapids Mayor Emery Doughtie said he appreciated tourism following the loss of textile jobs in the city. “Tourism has been able to replace some of those industries. The city of Roanoke Rapids is proud to support this impressive organization.”
Doughtie spoke of improvements of the Roanoke Canal Museum and the increasing interest in the Dallas Jones Roanoke Valley Veterans Center. “When you go to it, it makes you want to stay awhile.”
Meanwhile tonight, tourism recognized three nominees and one overall winner in the first Spirit of Hospitality awards.
Joseph Mandy, a 72-year-old employee of the Days Inn in Weldon received the award for driving people to the airport and taking them to dinner.
Nominees were James Hudson of the Hampton Inn maintenance staff, Edward Wilkerson of Medoc Mountain State Park and Reginald Newsome of Sylvan Heights.
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