Auditor Blasts Fast-And-Loose Spending By Tourism Bureau Under Nicki Grossman

Broward’s tourism and convention bureau routinely violated the county’s and state spending rules for years, according to a critical audit released this week.

Among the shocking findings:

• Former Tourism Czar Nicki Grossman handed out $178,000 in sales commissions over two years to 14 members of her staff – extra pay based on hotel rooms sold — without having any proof of results, the audit stated.

The audit of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Tourism and Convention Bureau began in June 2016.  Grossman retired after 21 years the same month and was replaced by Stacy Ritter, a former county commissioner.

The findings paint an agency under Grossman that played fast-and-loose with public money, roughly $30 million-a-year in hotel room taxes paid annually by visitors.

The audit also appears to explain one reason why higher-ups in the tourism bureau opposed Ritter’s appointment, preferring a new boss from their own ranks: They benefited from the easy way Grossman spent money.