As a 30-year veteran of the hospitality industry, Clark Hill, general manager of the Hilton Naples and Towers, knows both the importance and the challenge of booking hotel rooms during the off-season. Now he's putting that knowledge to good use in the community. To help complement local, regional and state amateur sports events in Naples, the Collier County Parks and Recreation approached Clark Hill two years ago about establishing the Sports Organizing Committee (SOC) in an effort to attract more out-of-town visitors. Hill, who in 1993 founded the SOC in Lee County, accepted the challenge.

The all-volunteer committee consists of local hoteliers, parks and recreation representatives, interested citizens, and officials of the Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) and the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce, among others.

The SOC's efforts will coincide with the opening of the $58.3-million North Naples Regional Park in May 2006. The park, to be built near Immokalee and Livingston roads, will include eight soccer fields, five softball diamonds and a gym on 212 acres.

1What are the overall financial expectations of the SOC's efforts, and how will they affect Collier County's revenues and jobs?

Tournament participants and their family and friends stay in local hotels, motels and resorts, dine in our restaurants, shop, and seek various entertainment options. These activities contribute to an increase in county tax revenues. With an increase in local business, the need for creating new jobs will automatically follow. We expect that the sales revenues and taxes generated from off-season tournaments will be considerable and that the events will help balance the seasonality of our local economy.

2How much of an increase in off-season business do you envision?

The efforts of the SOC, CVB and the Department of Parks and Recreation are directed solely toward off-season sporting events. Within the next five years, we anticipate booking an additional 7,000 hotel room-nights in Collier County during the off-season. The potential increase in sales tax and lodging tax revenues will greatly benefit our community.

3How is the tourism and lodging tax applied and how does that help our community?

Visitor spending patterns affect all types of business. Currently the 3-percent tourism and lodging tax generates about $10 million annually. Sixty-five percent of this amount is earmarked for beach renourishment, directly reducing each taxpayer's bill by $500 dollars annually.

4What is the ultimate goal of the committee?

Our goal is to bring business to town during the off-season, and to generate revenues and reduce the overall tax burden. The long-term vision of the SOC is to make Naples a popular destination for local, regional and national amateur sports events.

5What challenges is the SOC encountering?

Everything needed to become a very successful sports destination is right here in Naples. But, as with any volunteer endeavor of this magnitude, additional funding is needed-as well as the budget for a full-time person to be devoted to aggressively pursuing sporting events contracts.