Following an investigation by FOX 25 / KOKH-TV, Oklahoma Tourism has said they are reevaluating marketing strategies.

A local news reporter writes, “Through an Open Records Request, FOX 25 uncovered 2,959 invoices from January 2020 to October 2024, but the specifics of how these funds were utilized remain unclear. The previous executive director, Jerry Winchester, signed off on these invoices until his resignation in 2022 amid a scandal involving state park restaurants. His successor, Shelley Zumwalt, continued to oversee the contract until her recent retirement” after a critical report by the sate auditor. The department is currently led by Interim Executive Director Sterling Zearley.

The following statement from Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department was issued this week, announcing they are ending their contract with VI Marketing:

“The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department is committed to meeting its statutory duty of promoting the State of Oklahoma through both new and traditional media. In fulfilling that mission, OTRD awarded a competitively bid contract to VI Marketing and Branding in January 2021. Although the contract is in its final year, after conducting a thorough review of marketing expenditures authorized by OTRD’s previous leadership, the Department determined the best interest of the agency and Oklahoma taxpayers would be served by ending the contract as the agency evaluates its marketing needs moving forward.”