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*Photo by Discover St. Charles

DO YOU LOVE SAINT CHARLES! Then this one is for you. 

Not an event guide, but still something you will want to do. Buckle up, I promise you will want to read till the end.

Hello friends,
 
I don’t often step into politics here, but this moment is too important for the future of St. Charles. There is a proposed restructuring at City Hall that would combine our nationally recognized and award-winning Tourism Department with Special Events.
 
On the surface, this may sound like a small change. But as someone who welcomes visitors daily through my shop, and as a member of the Tourism Commission, I’ve seen what happens when departments are merged or restructured, even with the best intentions and seemingly common goals - One side always suffers. And if that side is tourism, our small businesses, our festivals, and ultimately our city’s revenue will feel the impact.
 
Tourism is one of St. Charles’ strongest assets. Visitors bring fresh energy and crucial sales tax dollars. Tourists spend differently than locals. 

FUN FACT! When you’re on vacation, calories and dollars don’t count! That’s why our tourism team must remain led by tourism experts who understand how to market our city, grow our reputation, and keep St. Charles thriving.
 
Many rumors are going around, and I personally can’t confirm everything that’s been said. I can only speak to what I’ve seen and heard personally: I have never heard the Mayor say he wants to end Christmas Traditions or Legends & Lanterns. What I do know is that he has suggested changes to the events that I feel would take away from what makes these festivals unique, successful, and shift the focus away from Main Street.
 
What’s really at stake is whether St. Charles continues to lead as a destination city. Weakening tourism would be a costly mistake in the short term and a devastating one in the long term.
 
I’m sharing this because I care deeply about our community, our businesses, and the visitors who keep Main Street vibrant. I hope you’ll join me in paying attention to this issue.

Below, I'll share some key facts about how tourism supports St. Charles, along with simple, actionable steps you can take today to make a difference.
 

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Tourism by the Numbers – St. Charles, MO
 
Tourism is one of St. Charles’ most powerful economic engines. The following facts illustrate the scale of its impact and why maintaining a dedicated, specialized Tourism Department is critical to sustaining and growing a strong community.
 
Economic Impact
• In FY2023, St. Charles County logged $1.154 billion in tourism-related taxable sales and supported 22,036 jobs.
• This outpaces Taney County (Branson), which reported $868M in sales and 11,931 jobs.
• Tourism spending drives the 1% lodging tax and 1% restaurant tourism tax. A significant amount is paid almost entirely by visitors.
 
Visitor Traffic & Attractions
• Ameristar Casino draws over 11 million visitors annually, one of the most visited attractions in the St. Louis metro region.
• Historic Main Street hosts more than 65 festivals and events annually, drawing millions of visitors each year.
• The St. Charles Convention Center and Foundry Art Centre bring in thousands of out-of-town visitors for conventions, trade shows, and events.
 
Growth & Demand
• Mayor Borgmeyer has noted the city’s need for 1,000 additional hotel rooms to meet rising convention and tourism demand.
• The Greater St. Charles Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) is the designated Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) for St. Charles County, enabling it to secure matching grant dollars to promote attractions throughout the county.
 
Risk of Restructuring
• Even a small decline in visitors has a significant revenue impact: a 5% drop in hotel stays equals $3M in lost hotel revenue and $30,000 in lost lodging tax – not counting restaurant tax or retail losses.
• Competing destinations from Hermann to St. Louis are increasing tourism investment. Weakening our efforts hands them our visitors.
 
Diluted Messaging = Fewer New Visitors
Tourism marketing and resident communications have very different goals and audiences. Merging the Tourism Department into Special Events risks blurring that line. 

Without a dedicated team focused on attracting first-time visitors, St. Charles will rely too heavily on repeat local customers, and repeat customers alone cannot sustain our small business economy. We need specialized tourism staff to continually bring new visitors, new spending, and new growth to our city.
 

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NEXT STEPS
 
If you share my concern or perhaps you are for the proposed restructuring of the Tourism Department, I encourage you to reach out to your City Council representative. Hearing directly from residents and business owners makes a difference.
 
I can personally attest that if you use equal parts feeling and facts, your Council Member will listen and seriously consider what you’re saying when they vote. But I encourage you to approach it with the respect of a conversation, not the noise of a shouting match.
 
I also don’t want you to just copy and paste my words; your unique perspective is what matters most. But to make this process easier, here’s a simple framework you can use to write your own email or make a phone call:

1. Introduce yourself
2. Share why you care about tourism
  • Maybe it’s the festivals you attend every year.
  • Maybe it’s the downtown businesses you shop with.
  • Maybe it’s the pride of showing off our community to visiting family and friends.
3. State your concern
  • Share in your own words why you believe the Tourism Department should remain its own department led by professionals.
  • You can emphasize that tourism brings vital revenue, keeps St. Charles vibrant, and supports small businesses.
4. End with a clear ask
  • Ask your council member to oppose restructuring that puts Tourism under Special Events.
     
Here is the contact information for each Council Member:
  • Bill Otto — Bill.Otto@stcharlescitymo.gov | 314-906-0756 (Ward 1)
     
  • Mark A. Hollander (VP) — Mark.Hollander@stcharlescitymo.gov | 314-792-0887 (Ward 2)
     
  • Vince Ratchford — Vince.Ratchford@stcharlescitymo.gov | 636-284-0641 (Ward 3)
     
  • Mary West — Mary.West@stcharlescitymo.gov | 636-925-3877 (Ward 4)
     
  • Denise Mitchell — Denise.Mitchell@stcharlescitymo.gov | 636-634-1643 (Ward 5)
     
  • Justin Foust — Justin.Foust@stcharlescitymo.gov | 636-354-8528 (Ward 6)
     
  • Brian Gould — Brian.Gould@stcharlescitymo.gov | 636-829-5527 (Ward 7)
     
  • Michael Galba (President) — Michael.Galba@stcharlescitymo.gov | 636-206-6294 (Ward 8)
     
  • Bart Haberstroh — Bart.Haberstroh@stcharlescitymo.gov | 636-288-0121 (Ward 9)
     
  • Steve Hollander — Steve.Hollander@stcharlescitymo.gov | 636-367-0702 (Ward 10)

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Photo by Discover St. Charles

Thanks for reading all the way to the end. YOU MADE IT!
 

Thank you for caring about St. Charles as much as I do. Forward this to a friend who will want to make their voice heard.

This is how we build the kind of community we all want to live in. We may not always agree or get exactly what we hope for, but when we come to the table with respect, openness, and a few solid facts, big things can happen.

338 S. Main St.
St. Charles, Missouri 63301, United States