Tom Stead was a tremendous donor to many charities, Davis added. [He] gave so much of his life to ou

Tom Staed (photo courtesy of Daytona Beach Shores History Museum), the Chairman of Staed Family Associates, Ltd., died around 9 o clock Tuesday morning, according to Bob Davis, cheap hotels seattle CEO President of the Volusia County Hotel Lodging Association.
cheap hotels seattle Staed was active in many organizations, including serving terms as president of the Volusia County Hotel Lodging Association, the Florida Hotel Motel Association and the American Hotel Lodging Association. Staed also worked as president chairman of Best Western International.
But perhaps one of his biggest contributions, according to Davis, was partnering up with a close friend then-Florida Governor Lawton Chiles to create Visit Florida in 1996, the official tourism marketing corporation for the State of Florida.
He was the grand-daddy of the bed tax, Davis said. We were the only industry to ever go before the [state] legislature and tax ourselves. [Opponents] said we were crazy, we would drive tourism out of the state of Florida. Here we are, many moons later, practically leading the nation in tourism.
Tom Stead was a tremendous donor to many charities, Davis added. [He] gave so much of his life to our Daytona Beach area and never asked for anything in return. [He] never wanted accolades, just did what was needed for our community.
A Tenebrae Cantata at 7:30 PM, on Good Friday, March 29, 2013. "The Shadow of the Cross" at Shepherd of the Coast Lutheran Church 101 Pine Lakes Parkway, S. Palm Coast, Fl 32137. Tel.# (386) 446-2481 or sotcms@bellsouth.net' All are invited.