May 22, 2012
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) --- It's a lot of paperwork. Pages and pages of events that KTSC call "bookings". Major events, or small ones like weddings.
They all go towards the corporation's economic impact total, a goal that gave Gloria Ray her bonus.
No doubt a lot of work, just don't tell Shelly Wascom that.
"If there is something they've done we don't know what it is." Wascom told us.
Her non profit Community Shares, puts on the annual Brewers Jam a big event for them and a big event for KTSC.
One that acting the tourism company says helped them bring in close to half a million dollars for Knox County.
But if KTSC helped, Community Shares never saw it.
"We used to do these gift bags and they offered some maps." Wascom explained, "And we don't really have any other relationship. Other than after the event they'd contact us and ask us how many people were coming from out of town."
We asked KTSC for specifics on what they did to help Brewers Jam, why it made the list of bookings. They sent us this statement:
"In light of the past six weeks, KTSC is currently evaluating all processes, including the booking lists for meetings and events. We understand that during this evaluation process, we will determine that reporting on some events needs to be done differently. With that in mind, KTSC has been in contact with Brewer’s Jam to discuss the future, and at this time we do not feel the event should be on the booking list in light of how the lists are currently being reviewed. This list will be rebranded in the near future so that everyone has ownership in its content. Over the next few weeks, KTSC will evaluate all processes to determine the best direction and reporting for the future.”
Bumpas tells us they'll review every event on their list and are considering changing the formula they use to define events that they take credit for.
Making sure the events on their booking list are ones they have actually had a hand in setting up.
"How we look at events," Bumpas told us on her first day as acting President, "how we address events, all of that is on the table."
