Tourism Board Meets in Marathon, Key Decisions on Bed Tax Funding
The Monroe County Tourist Development Council met on December 4 at the Marathon Government Center to review marketing plans and bed tax funding allocations that shape tourism promotion across the Keys. The meeting matters to local residents because the council advises on contracts and event and capital project funding that affect lodging operators, local events, and county infrastructure supported by bed tax revenues.
The Tourist Development Council convened on December 4 at the Marathon Government Center to consider agenda items tied to the county bed tax and the FY 2026 marketing strategy. Members reviewed meeting packets and supporting materials posted on the county TDC page, including resources for the FY 2026 Marketing Plan and the FY 2025 Marketing Plan, as well as bed tax funding distribution charts and community outreach information.
The council is the county body that shapes tourism marketing for the Florida Keys and Key West and advises on how bed tax revenues are allocated among marketing contracts, event funding and capital project funding. Those allocations directly influence which festivals and sporting events receive support, how much is invested in destination promotion, and which infrastructure projects can be advanced using tourism related revenues. For Monroe County residents and business owners, those decisions affect visitor volumes, seasonal demand for lodging, and the flow of contract dollars to local vendors and promoters.
Materials from the meeting remain available to the public through the county website. The TDC also maintains a 2025 meeting schedule and agendas online so residents can track upcoming topics and see how bed tax distributions are proposed and approved over time. Public documents included charts that illustrate the distribution of bed tax funds and explanatory materials intended to support community input and transparency.
The council operates out of the TDC office at 1201 White Street, Suite 102, Key West, and the office may be reached at 305 296 1552 for questions about agenda materials or to request further information. For those who follow local tourism policy, the TDC meeting on December 4 is an important step in shaping marketing priorities for FY 2026 and in allocating revenues that sustain events and capital projects across Monroe County.
Residents and business owners with an interest in event funding or marketing contracts should review the posted packets and the funding charts to understand how bed tax dollars are being targeted and to prepare input for future meetings.
