Daytona Beach, FL – The man hired from across the country nearly 2 years ago to stabilize the Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is calling it a career.
Executive Director Tom Caradonio announced during a staff meeting on Tuesday that he plans to retire. His final date on the job has not been set yet.
Caradonio – the CVB’s 3rd Executive Director since 2011 – guided the organization through a new marketing campaign and 2 years of record-setting tourism growth after replacing Jeff Hentz in May 2014.
9.1 million tourists came to Volusia County in 2014 – the most since the 1980’s – and 2015’s numbers are expected to be even bigger.
The 66-year-old came to Daytona Beach from the New Mexico town of Albuquerque, where he was the senior Sales Director for the city’s Convention & Visitors Bureau. He beat out over 120 candidates during a 3-month search process to replace Hentz.
Caradonio – who spent over 40 years in the tourism industry – accepted the job at a starting yearly salary of around $125,000 along with a relocation package of up to $15,000 and benefits similar to what other county employees receive when he accepted the job, including a 401k and both life and health insurance. His pay has since been bumped up by 4% to $128,750.
Relationship problems between Halifax Area Advertising Authority board members and Hentz was a large reason behind why he resigned in February 2014 after roughly 18 months on the job.
Public record emails later showed Hentz calling the political scene in Volusia County “toxic”, especially the relationship between the HAAA and the Ocean Center, which he compared to the Hatfields & McCoys.
Caradonio’s replacement could be in place by April, according to CVB officials.
The HAAA is responsible for using bed-tax revenues collected in the Halifax area to promote the Daytona Beach area as a tourist destination.
Tom Caradonio (photo courtesy Daytona Beach Area CVB)
Copyright 2016 Southern Stone Communications.