DOWNTOWN COMMISSION FEBRUARY 16, 2022, TIME: 5:30 p.m. Austin City Hall, Boards and Commission, Room 1101 301 W 2nd Street, Austin, Texas 78701 Some members of the Downtown Commission may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely by telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation. To register please email mona.sanchez@austintexas.gov or call (512) 974-7864. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: August Harris, Chair Christopher Lehman, Vice Chair Megan Meisenbach, Commissioner Chris Kanipe, Commissioner Jen Weaver, Commissioner Josh Lickteig, Commissioner Joel Sher, Commissioner Ben Heimsath, Commissioner kYmberly Keeton, Commissioner CALL TO ORDER David Gomez, Commissioner Nelly Paulina Ramirez, Commissioner Cynthia Weatherby, Commissioner Kimberly Taylor, Commissioner Mike Lavigne, Commissioner Preston Reine Commissioner Laura Templeton, Commissioner Christopher Limon, Commissioner Kelan Robinson, Commissioner AGENDA CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first ten speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. 1. Approval of Minutes of the January 19, 2022 Meeting Minutes Discussion and Possible Action (5 minutes) a. Convention Center Expansion: Downtown Commission Working Group 2. New Business – Discussion Recommendation 3. Old Business – a. Staff Updates b. Items from representatives of collaborating commissions including non-voting members: i. Update from Commissioner Jen Weaver on recent activities and actions taken by the Design Commission ii. Update from Commissioner Ben Heimsath on recent activities and actions taken by the Historic Landmark Commission iii. Update from Commissioner Cynthia Weatherby on recent activities and actions taken by the Urban Transportation Commission iv. Update from Commissioner kYmberly Keeton on recent activities and actions taken by the Arts Commission v. Update from Commissioner Christopher Limon on recent activities and actions taken by the Music Commission vi. Update from Commissioner Kimberly Taylor on recent activities and actions taken by the Parks & Recreation Board vii. Update from Commissioner Nelly Paulina Ramirez on recent activities and actions taken by the Public Safety Commission 4. Potential Future Agenda Items Adjournment The Commission may discuss and identify future agenda items, topics, or presentations The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable …
AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION: PROMISES AND PERFORMANCE HEYWOOD SANDERS UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO C.H. JOHNSON CONSULTING, INC. Experts In Convention , Sport and Real Estate Consulting the obstacles to future growth in Austin's Convention Center business have continued to mount. Table 2-1 summarizes the major reasons for lost business. The reasons are distributed by the number of room nights lost. Table 2-1 Reasons for Lost Business Primary Reason Facility dates unavailable Inadequate meeting space Lack of large hotel Room rates Political Large room block not available Location No response from hotels Meeting canceled Other reasons Room Nights Lost % of Total 69,820 31,045 28,155 25,133 11,874 11, 130 11,002 9,625 9,175 33,488 29% 13% 12% 10% 5% 5% 5% 4% 4% 14% Source :Austin Convention and Visitor's Bureau Meeting planners reported the lack of available facility dates more than any other reason for not using the Convention Center. The lack of available dates stems from the size of the facility, which prevents the occurrence of simultaneous events. Lack of adequate meeting space was the second most frequently cited problem. The availability of hotel rooms at reasonable rates is also important. Hotel-related factors (four categories in total) account for over 31 percent of the lost business . Additional hotel supply and greater cooperation from tl1e existing hotel community are essential if the city is to realize its meeting market potential. The current convention center is too small to accommodate Austin's pot ential demand . Center management is now facing severe problems in its attempts to retain a number of annual repeating events . Many national rotating events that previously came to Austin and liked the community cannot return because they are now too large for the facility . Many state events have also outgrown the facility. The chart below shows potential scenarios for exhibit-hall occupancy under three potential growth rates (2, 4, and 6 percent) . Exhibit-hall occupancy is the number of days an exhibition hall is rented (including move-in and move- OUt days) divided by the number of days in the year. The following chart h 'b ' t hall occupancy and potential future occupancy under a displays recent ex 1 1 - range of growth rates. I nnn R;innP. StriltP.nV• Austin r.nnv11ntinn r.,mtDr C.ortil\t'l ? _ 0!'!1"o ,:; C.H. JOHNSON CONSULTING, INC. Experts In Convention , Sport and Real Estate Consulting the obstacles to future growth in …
THE STATE OF THE CONVENTION INDUSTRY PRE-COVID Heywood Sanders University of Texas at San Antonio February 16, 2022 IN THE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE CONVENTION MARKET PRE- PANDEMIC, DISCOUNTS, INCENTIVES, AND FREE RENT DEALS HAD BECOME THE NORM 4 CONVENTION SALES Visit Phoenix’s Convention Sales Department represents the two distinct meeting products in Greater Phoenix: (1) the downtown Phoenix market, anchored by the Phoenix Convention Center, and (2) the hotel and resort market. The department comprises two sales teams: The Citywide Sales Team books groups at the convention center, while the Hotel/Resort Sales Team books groups at area hotels and resorts. 14 bookings representing 64,000 delegates and 106,000 room nights. PROGRAM OF WORK RECAP Client Events The Visit Phoenix sales teams hosted, co-hosted or sponsored seven client events in fiscal year 2013-14, exposing more than 1,200 meeting professionals to the city’s meetings- and-convention product. PERFORMANCE SUMMARY Sales Promotions Citywide Sales In fiscal year 2013-14, the Citywide Sales Team booked 232,163 delegates, a 2.3 percent increase over last year’s performance. The sales team also produced 326 leads, which is 11 percent more than a year ago. These 326 prospective groups represent more than 1 million future delegates. Hotel/Resort Sales The Hotel/Resort Sales Team booked 330,797 definite room nights in fiscal year 2013-14, an 11 percent increase over the previous year. The sales team also produced 1,495 leads, representing 1.1 million future delegates. This lead production is a 4 percent increase over last year. Combined, Visit Phoenix’s sales teams booked 436,000 meeting and convention attendees who will consume 621,000 hotel room nights and spend an estimated $540 million. “See It to Believe It” This continuation of the Citywide Sales Team’s fly-in promotion gave potential clients the chance to tour the Phoenix Convention Center, area hotels and off-site venues. To date, this promotion netted 76 in-house meetings and 25 citywide conventions. “Freenix” This citywide booking promotion— created in conjunction with the Phoenix Convention Center and downtown hotel partners—offered complimentary convention center rental and free WiFi (at both hotels and the convention center) for clients with citywide conventions slated from 2015 to 2019. This promotion netted Event Experient E4 American Express INTERaction Infusion Nurses Society CEO Forum CESSE (Council of Engineering Scientific Societies Executives) Phoenix Convention Center/Citywide Buyers Education Trip AMC Institute Resort Buyers Education Trip Total Clients Hosted 173 800 120 24 80 17 12 1,226 Kayla Stidger MEETING SPACE Organization for Human Brain Mapping …
DOWNTOWN COMMISSION DRAFT MEETING MINUTES REGULAR MEETING WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2022 The Downtown Commission convened in a meeting on Wednesday, February 16, 2022, at 301 W. 2nd Street in hybrid meeting format. David Gomez, Commissioner Nelly Paulina Ramirez, Commissioner Cynthia Weatherby, Commissioner Mike Lavigne, Commissioner Laura Templeton, Commissioner Kelan Robinson, Commissioner Downtown Commissioners in Attendance: August Harris, Chair Christopher Lehman, Vice Chair Megan Meisenbach, Commissioner Jennifer Weaver, Commissioner Josh Lickteig, Commissioner Joel Sher, Commissioner Ben Heimsath, Commissioner Downtown Commissioners Not in Attendance: Chris Kanipe, Commissioner; Amy Mock, Commissioner; Kimberly Taylor, Commissioner; Preston Reine, Commissioner; Christopher Limon, Commissioner City Staff in Attendance: Susana Carbajal, Christine Maguire, and Matthew Schmidt, Economic Development Department CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called the meeting to order at 5:37 p.m. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL No citizens were signed up to speak. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 19, 2022, MEETING MINUTES The January 19, 2022, Downtown Commission meeting minutes were adopted. 2. NEW BUSINESS - Discussion and Possible Action a. Convention Center Expansion: Downtown Commission Working Group Recommendation: Presentation by Heywood Sanders, University of Texas San Antonio The Commission received presentations by Heywood Sanders, University of Texas San Antonio. No action was taken. 3. OLD BUSINESS a. Staff Updates – Christine Maguire provided updates to the Commission regarding Texas Open Meetings Act requirements, Board Communications, and upcoming budget recommendation deadlines. b. Items from representatives of collaborating commissions including non-voting members: i. Update from Commissioner Jen Weaver on recent activities and actions taken by the Design Commission - 1 - Commissioner reported that the Design Commission discussed the Mexican American Cultural Center Phase 2, Waterloo Greenway Creek Delta, Rainey Street Trailhead, Urban Design Guidelines, and work on Great Streets. c. Update from Commissioner Ben Heimsath on recent activities and actions taken by the Historic Preservation Commission. Commissioner Heimsath reported that the Commission continues to discuss preservation standards, and approval of public art located at the Scarborough Building. d. Update from Commissioner Cynthia Weatherby on recent activities and actions taken by the Urban Transportation Commission (UTC) Commissioner Weatherby updated the Commission on the UTC work on the Strategic Mobility Plan. e. Update from Commissioner Amy Mock on recent activities and actions taken by the Arts f. Update from Commission Christopher Limon on recent activities and actions taken by the g. Update from Commissioner Kimberly Taylor on recent activities and actions taken by the Commission. Commissioner Mock absent; …
