The Missouri House of Representatives passed House Joint Resolution 43 this morning. The resolution would raise the threshold to 60% voter approval for any initiative petition to change the State Constitution. If approved by the Missouri Senate, the measure would go to voters on a statewide ballot.

The Senate Economic Development and Tax Policy Committee held a hearing on several media/entertainment industry bills early this week. The House Economic Development Committee held their hearing on media/entertainment industry bills yesterday. Several testified in support of the proposed legislation in both chambers. There appears to be bipartisan support to get the incentives passed this session.

Governor Parson announced this morning that the Missouri Governor’s Challenge Team to Prevent Suicide among Service Members, Veterans, and their Families has launched a new website to further the state’s efforts in reducing suicides, www.mogovchallenge.com.

MORNING BREW CREW

Please join us for Morning Brew Crew Friday, February 10 at 8:30am. Start your day off with networking and new connections. This event is free to attend and free from agenda. Thank you to Branson Café for sponsoring the first Brew Crew of 2023! Click the link below to RSVP.

Friday, February 10 | 8:30 AM

Branson Chamber & CVB Building

4100 Gretna Road Branson, MO 65616

TANEY COUNTY CAREER DAYS EMPLOYER SIGN UP

The 2023 Taney County Career Days is to be held at Forsyth, Hollister, and Branson High Schools March 7, 8, and 9. We are asking employers to sign up to represent one of the industry sectors for all three days. The industry sectors are listed below. To sign up, click the link below and enter the business information in the Google Sheets below. The last day for employers to sign up for Taney County Career Days is March 2.



Industry Sectors:

Architecture, Construction & Trades

Finance & General Business

Government & Public Administration

Health & Sciences

Hospitality, Tourism & Entertainment

Information Technology

Marketing & Communications

March 7 | Hollister High School

March 8 | Branson High School

March 9 | Forsyth High School

GRANT WRITING TRAINING IN BRANSON, MO

The Taney County Health Department and Grant Writing USA will present a two-day grant writing workshop in Branson, Mo. — March 6-7. This training is for grant seekers across all disciplines. Attend this class and you'll learn how to find the funding sources and write winning grant proposals. Click the link below for event details.

A NEW ROADBLOCK TO BUSINESS

TRAVEL RECOVERY IN 2023

Business travel has been slow to recover compared to the leisure industry after the COVID-19 outbreak. Although COVID-19 has been the main obstacle delaying business travel, there is a new roadblock nearing 2023. Global economic concerns are the new obstacle replacing COVID-19 to complete recovery. A survey conducted by the Global Business Travel Association shows that international business travel has hit the halfway mark. Domestic business travel has reached 63% of 2019 volumes. GBTA CEO Suzanne Neufang, says “We continue to see progress as business travel makes its way back to being a $1.4 trillion global industry, pre-pandemic.”



Looking at the new year, only 4% of respondents believe that COVID-19 will be an issue regarding business travel. In comparison, 80% of suppliers feel the greatest threat to bookings is travel budget adjustments due to inflation or an impending recession. Suppliers and buyers both believe that business travel will be better in 2023 compared to 2022. Around 80% of travel managers have planned for their employees to take more business trips in the next year than they did in 2022. Suppliers believe that year-over-year bookings will increase in 2023 (85%). Although there are many concerns regarding business travel recovery, the odds are in its favor.