Erie County commissioners approved a landmark restructuring of the region’s tourism bed tax on Jan. 28, 2026, fundamentally shifting how approximately $8 million in annual visitor-generated revenue will be allocated across the northern Ohio destination. Commissioners Patrick Shenigo, Matt Old and Steve Shoffner voted to establish a new framework that splits the bed tax revenue evenly, directing half toward traditional tourism marketing and half toward a newly created entity focused on community improvements, according to details of the historic bed tax agreement.
Under the terms of the new Memorandum of Understanding, $4 million of the annual revenue will continue to fund Shores & Islands Ohio for its established mission of destination marketing and regional promotion. The remaining $4 million will be directed to the Economic Development, Public Infrastructure, Community Convention and Visitors Bureau, also referred to as EPIC. This new bureau is tasked with funding public safety upgrades, infrastructure projects like road paving and economic development initiatives. EPIC will also assume responsibility for debt service payments related to the Cleveland Road sports center.
The infrastructure and public safety funding streams now available through EPIC may address longstanding infrastructure challenges throughout the region, including road repairs and enhanced emergency services coverage in rural areas where many outdoor hospitality properties are located.
“Conversations regarding the county’s lodging tax began almost a year ago. The county’s goal was to find ways to deliver a greater return for our residents while preserving the core mission of promoting the region,” Patrick Shenigo, Erie County Commissioner, said after the vote.
The decision marked the culmination of a year-long effort to modernize the local tourism economy. State Sen. Theresa Gavarone, a Republican from Bowling Green, secured the legislation necessary to expand the legal uses of lodging tax funds. Previously, bed tax money was strictly limited to tourism promotion. Now it can be used to pave the roads and fund the police and fire services that tourism requires, fundamentally changing how communities can leverage visitor dollars to support local infrastructure.
The agreement also solidifies a strategic alignment between key local organizations. The Erie County Visitors and Convention Bureau and Shores & Islands Ohio are consolidating under the broader umbrella of the Greater Sandusky Partnership, the regional chamber led by Eric Wobser. This move aims to eliminate redundancies and create a more coordinated approach to regional growth.
“It better aligns how we promote and develop our communities, creating a more comprehensive and coordinated approach to growth,” Eric Wobser, CEO of the Greater Sandusky Partnership, said regarding the consolidation.
When regional tourism organizations consolidate, organizational transitions typically involve database mergers and updates across all regional tourism platforms. Destination marketing organizations often seek high-quality visual content including professional photography and drone footage for promotional campaigns, and unique amenities that differentiate outdoor hospitality from traditional lodging help marketing organizations showcase the full range of visitor experiences available in a region.
With organizational restructuring comes new leadership, updated marketing priorities and refreshed promotional materials. The $4 million dedicated to Shores & Islands Ohio for destination marketing will continue to fund regional marketing campaigns, and package partnerships with local attractions have historically created promotional opportunities that benefit both individual properties and broader destination marketing missions.
The Visitors Bureau board was scheduled to vote on the agreement, followed by the Greater Sandusky Partnership board. If approved, the deal forges a permanent public-private partnership aimed at making Erie County not just a better place to visit but a more sustainable place to live. Officials emphasized that the new structure ensures the tourism industry continues to thrive while simultaneously using visitor dollars to maintain the public services and infrastructure that both tourists and locals rely upon.
Consolidated regional tourism management reflects broader movement toward destination stewardship models that balance visitor attraction with community quality of life. This approach emphasizes environmental responsibility and sustainable tourism practices.
The Erie County restructuring represents one approach to modernizing how tourism tax revenue supports both destination marketing and community infrastructure needs.