The 2011 revenue from tax collected on lodging and food and beverages for the Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau was up 9.2 percent from 2010, members of the VCVB’s Board of Directors learned Thursday.

“This was our best year collection-wise,” said VCVB executive director Bill Seratt, adding that the revenue totaled $1.04 million for fiscal 2011, which ended Dec. 31. Tax collections for 2010 totaled $948,898.

The VCVB is funded by a 1 percent tax levied on area hotel, motel and bed and breakfast stays, as well as purchases at bars and restaurants in Vicksburg. Tax revenues reached $1.16 million in 2008, and produced $964,500 in 2009.

Seratt said the collections include overnight stays from both tourism and business travelers, including workers employed on projects at the Grand Gulf Nuclear Station in Claiborne County, who book rooms and stays at local hotels for the duration of the projects.

Grand Gulf is expected to begin an upgrade project in February, he said.

He said the tax also benefited from the 2011 spring flood, when visitors to Vicksburg came to see the rising water as the Mississippi River rose to record heights, cresting at 57.1 feet at Vicksburg, or 14.1 feet above flood stage and nine-tenths of a foot above the Great Flood of 1927.

“They came to see history being made,” he said, adding that while most visitors didn’t stay, “they bought gas and ate.”

In another matter, VCVB board chairman Annette Kirklin said after the meeting that the VCVB expects to move into its new offices at the old Levee Street Depot by Feb. 1. The board discussed the visitors bureau’s lease with the city, which is in negotiations, in executive session. Kirklin would not discuss the lease except to say that it was reviewed by the board and was being sent to the city. The VCVB is leasing office space on the depot’s second floor.

Under a letter of understanding with the city in 2009, the VCVB agreed to pay the city $500 a month rent and contribute $150,000 toward the city’s match of a $1.65 million Mississippi Department of Transportation grant to renovate the building.

The board in August discussed possibly backing off from leasing the space, but changed its mind after touring the depot in early September.

In other action, the board:

• Approved a $5,000 grant for advertising for the Alcorn State University National Alumni Association for its national midwinter conference in Vicksburg, Feb. 23 to 26.

• Approved the October board minutes.

• Approved the financial reports for October and November.

• Approved the executive director’s report.

• Learned that 4,592 people visited the visitor information centers in October, 331 more than during October 2010. The centers saw 3,240 visitors in November, 592 more than in November 2010.