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The Jacksonville Tourism Development Council moved closer to finalizing a contract for a marketing program designed to attract more visitors to Duval County.

In a special meeting Thursday, the TDC unanimously approved four components for a pending contract that Visit Jacksonville and the marketing firm Dalton Agency will have to follow for the next year.

While the contract is not finalized the board agreed to stipulate the contract results in:

A 5 percent increase in leisure visitors.

A 5 percent increase in tourist tax revenue increase.

A 10 percent increase in online site visitation by potential tourists using Jacksonville internet pages and social media.

And a development of goals and targets by the contracted agencies.

The vote came after the board heard an extensive presentation from Dalton Agency President Michael Munz and his staff on how they would handle the contract. The presentation came after TDC board member and City Councilwoman Lori Boyer said in June she wanted to see a more focused marketing program.

Dalton representatives outlined how they projected theyd be able to increase online site visits by 10 percent in the next year by utilizing an estimated $1.28 million that would be earmarked for spending on media buys. That budget figure is about $300,000 more than what was earmarked in the 2017 fiscal budget and about $500,000 more than the 2016 expenditure.

Dalton officials also detailed how they would focus their performance and target three areas of visitation including outdoor tourism, history and culture and sports.

The TDC still has to finalize financial stipulations for the contract before the proposal advances to the City Council for final review before the next fiscal budget begins Oct. 1.

In other action, the TDC unanimously approved a temporary contract for Visit Jacksonville to handle tourism visitor centers that will run from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31. The development comes as the TDC has opened the request for proposals for an entirely new contract structure to handle visitor centers, which was particular target of Boyer.

While the TDC will entertain new submissions for a new contract for operating visitor centers, Deputy General Counsel Lawsikia Hodges said it is unlikely the contract will be settled by Oct. 1, prompting the necessity for the temporary contract that calls for Visit Jacksonville, which currently runs the visitor centers downtown on Laura Street, at the Jacksonville International Airport and at the Beaches to handle those duties until a new contract is settled.

Boyer has previously said she wants more mojo out of visitor centers and would prefer performance that attracts tourists on the level of St. Augustine, a traditional tourist hub.

We have great history . We have great amenities. Why cant we have a visitor center of that quality? Boyer said in June.

Drew Dixon: (904) 359-4098.

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Jacksonville Tourism Development Council tightens marketing contract, holds off on moving on visitor centers - Florida Times-Union