As the Exec of the Convention Bureau, I would say that “crowing” about new hotel rooms is a stretch. Channel 2 came to my office and asked if Boise has seen new hotel growth and my answer was “Yes, about 20% new inventory”. Just the answer to a question.

As it relates to visitors – The Bureau’s job is to encourage visitors to come to Boise because it is good for so many local businesses and because it is a great place to visit. I have to agree that there is not great signing, but we do (courtesy of funding from the Greater Boise Auditorium District) run two visitor information centers. One on Vista Ave and one on the Grove downtown. There is signing downtown, on the freeway and on Vista leading visitors to these centers where 50 dedicated volunteers provide lots of information not only about attractions but whatever other information visitors request. We print and provide guides, museum and arts brochures, maps etc. More than 12,000 visitors came to the infomation centers last year.

The Bureau does not generate any revenue from these visitors we are simply committed to seeing that people have the best possible experience while visiting Boise.

Clancy says that the hotel room tax generates “millions” of dollars (about 2.8M annually) and I wonder if they understand that those dollars pay debt on Boise Centre on the Grove and fund the Convention Bureau marketing efforts. The Greater Boise Auditorium District is the one public entity that dedicates the revenue they collect directly back into the community. Its directors earn $5 per month so it is hard to call that a “Bureaucracy”
We appreciate, Guardian, that you believe tourists deserve to be welcome in the city and provided with good information. We are doing everything we can to see that visitors are well served. Is anyone else stepping up?

EDITOR NOTE–Bobbi, glad you read the posting. No one is faulting the efforts of your agency, they–and the GUARDIAN–are saying it is time to get some decent signage. As we mentioned, the ACHD, Boise City, Chamber, G-BAD all need to get together and make Boise a visitor-friendly place. We would also like to get you a spot at the Depot!

Hmmm … might be. But I figured the reason we don’t have signs is the turistas will spend hours wandering around trying to find the few things they’ve heard about, then be hungry and tired, so they’ll eat in a local restaurant and spend the night in a hotel. Then maybe the next day or two, they’ll try again — more restaurant meals and another hotel stay or two. Then they’ll give up and go home.

If everything were clearly posted, they could find the particular things they’re interested in, see them, then be several towns away by the time they got hungry and tired.

Ya reckon?

Expensive hotels and luxurious bar restaurants along with the host of other tourist traps are not what Boise is all about. I’ve lived in innumerable American cities and have never seen a park system as beautiful as Boise’s. The triangle of Art and History museums with the library right in Julia Davis is a stroke of architectural genius. A drive up Harrison Ave . all the way to Bogus is a treat while the same along Warm Springs drive ,viewing the magnifico mansions is more than pleasant.

The Greenbelt and Boise River as well as the old penitentiary and the ” birds of Prey” sactuary… there’s so many places. Boise needs a system of large signs, all uniform, pointing out to tourists which way to go, to be able to enjoy all the above. It’s just common sense ,Team Dave, plus it’s profitable, adds to the cities rep. and everybody,including the taxpayers wins( why not have a local option tax for bus transportation partially funded by tourism profits?)