Dana Point Courts Tourism, Touts Infrastructure

Dana Point has some of the best city parks and high-quality infrastructure of any South OC city, and it continues to invest in bringing more tourism dollars to town, Dana Point City Manager Doug Chotkevys said.

He touted his city's accomplishments at the South Orange County Regional Chamber of Commerce State of the County Luncheon in Dana Point Friday. City managers from six south OC cities spoke about their finances, various initiatives and infrastructure projects.

He also gave kudos to the companies that run Dana Points hotels and resorts, which bring in about 50 percent of the city's operating budget through transient occupancy, or hotel bed taxes. Even during the recent economic downturn -- during which city bed tax revenue took a $5-million hit -- the Marriott resort in which the chamber held its Friday event made $30 million in improvements.

The city, Chotkevys said, has also been able to maintain its streets, parks and city services.

"We've been able to make those investments during some of the worst times in the U.S. economy," he said.

Chotkevys also mention the upcoming Elephant Parade in which local school children and international celebrities will come together to decorate large elephant sculptures that will be auctioned off to help save Asian elephants from extinction.

As well as contributing to a good cause, the parade was partly conceived to help bring more visitors to Dana Point.