Tri-County Lodging Association

The Lake of the Ozarks Tri-County Lodging Association (TCLA) is the state certified Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) for the Lake of the Ozarks.  TCLA fulfils the marketing and operational duties for the Lake of the Ozarks Area Business Districts of Camden, Miller, and Morgan County. TCLA’s purpose is to assist the accommodation facilities and businesses of all three counties by encouraging, through publicity and advertising, travel into the area, as well as to support those activities that bring more overnight visitors to the area.

TCLA’s Mission Statement: “To promote Central Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks as Mid-America’s premier vacation, group, golf and outdoor destination.”

History: TCLA was formed when a large group of accommodation facility owners were concerned that they didn’t have enough funding to adequately advertise and promote the Lake of the Ozarks. After receiving legislative authority and establishing the Business Districts in each of the Counties of Camden, Miller and Morgan, the accommodation facility owners presented an initiative to the voters on June 8, 1993, asking them to approve a three percent lodging tax, for overnight visitors that stayed less than 31 nights in any calendar quarter in one of three Business Districts, surrounding the Lake of the Ozarks, throughout Camden, Miller and Morgan Counties. Before the lodging tax was passed, the Lake Association, now known as the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau, had approximately $150,000 per year to promote and advertise the Lake of the Ozarks area. Over the past several years, the Lake of the Ozarks Area Business Districts of Camden, Miller and Morgan has appropriated between $1.1 and $1.7 million annually to promote and advertise the Lake area.

TCLA partners with the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB). The CVB is the primary fulfillment arm of TCLA, providing hundreds of thousands of Vacation Guides to potential visitors requesting information as a result of TCLA’s advertising. The CVB also markets and maintains the website www.funlake.com, produces the artwork for the many advertisements placed each year and manages the social media aspects of TCLA promotional efforts. With more than 90% of all travel being planned online, the website and social media components are an integral part of TCLA’s comprehensive marketing plan. The CVB also attends between 6-10 Sport and Travel Shows throughout mid-America answering questions about our destination and distributing Vacation Guides to potential visitors.

Lodging properties in good standing with the lodging tax collection and submission are welcome to serve on a TCLA committee. TCLA Committee opportunities include Budget, Marketing, Website, Group Sales, Legislative Affairs, and Fishing Committee. Please contact the TCLA office for more information on committee involvement at 573-348-0111.