Special Meeting of the Tourism Commission August 10, 2020 Tourism Commission to be held August 10, 2020 with Social Distancing Modifications Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance (August 9, 2020 by Noon). All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the August 10, 2020 Tourism Commission Meeting, residents must: •Call or email the board liaison at 512.404.4022/ felicia.ojeda@austintexas.gov no later than noon, (the day before the meeting). The information required is the speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, and a telephone number or email address. •Once a request to speak has been called in or emailed to the board liaison, residents will receive either an email or phone call providing the telephone number to call on the day of the scheduled meeting. •Speakers must call in at least 15 minutes prior to meeting start in order to speak, late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak. •Speakers will be placed in a queue until their time to speak. •Handouts or other information may be emailed to felicia.ojeda@austintexas.gov by Noon the day before the scheduled meeting. This information will be provided to Board and Commission members in advance of the meeting. •If this meeting is broadcast live, residents may watch the meeting here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Tourism Commission August 10, 2020 at 1pm VIA VIDEOCONFERENCING Vanessa Fuentes (D-2) Rachel Magee (D-4) Scott Joslove (D-6) Lois Rodriguez (D-8) Mike Cannatti (D-10) AGENDA CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Alta Alexander (D-1) Edward Bailey (D-3) Bill Bunch (D-5) John Riedie (D-7) Brian Rodgers (D-9) Catlin Whitington (Mayoral) CALL TO ORDER 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. June 8, 2020 2. OLD BUSINESS a. Discussion on formation of working groups b. Update on Historic Preservation Fund and Historic Preservation Grants presented by Economic Development Department, Interim Director, Sylnovia Holt Rabb c. Update on Convention Center Expansion presented by Austin Convention Center Department, Acting Chief Administrative Officer, Katy Zamesnik 3. NEW BUSINESS a. Visit Austin Marketing Plan and Budget, presented by Visit Austin, President & CEO, Tom Noonan FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS The Commission may discuss and take possible action to request information and identify future agenda items, topics, or presentation: ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal …
Austin Convention Center Expansion August 10, 2020 Attorney/client deliberative privilege Austin Convention Center Expansion Current Space Exhibition Space 247,000 sf Meeting Space 65,000 sf Ballroom Space 64,000 sf Recommended Space Exhibition Space 450,000 sf Meeting Space 120,000-140,000 sf Ballroom Space 100,000-120,000 sf Note: multiple options for expansion have been considered Attorney/client deliberative privilege 2 1 Convention Center Expansion Timeline 2 Convention Center Expansion Timeline- Update Master Plan Update Economic Impact Study COVID-19 2 NEXT STEPS 5
Austin Cultural Recovery Fund A robust investment now can save many of the businesses that are the bedrock of our local culture and make Austin such an appealing place to live and visit. Such investment could come from CAREs Act funding, convention center reserves or other sources yet to be identified. A successful comeback for Austin’s creative community will require a comprehensive plan that supports music, arts, and cultural assets like iconic restaurants. Austin has the opportunity to be a success story that inspires other communities to rally around their creative community and establishes Austin as a destination for post- pandemic travelers. Iconic establishments like Threadgill's, Blue Dahlia and Shady Grove have already closed their doors. Cultural assets like music venues, arts spaces and restaurants are on the front lines of this crisis. They were the first to close for public safety and continue to bear the brunt as they work to find a safe path forward. Even with the hard work of organizations like Good Work Austin to create safety protocols for reopening, a huge number of our culturally significant restaurants will be operating at a loss if at all. The cost of operating under new safety protocols means much tighter margins in a business that already has tiny margins. If no assistance is given to these businesses many will open too soon and/or without the proper safety protocols thus further endangering the public and slowing down any recovery. As COVID-19 diagnoses continue to jump by 1,000 per day in Texas in the shadow of governor’s attempts to restart the economy, the risk of sustained closures and another round of stay-at-home orders looms large. The time to tap available resources is now if we want to have independent businesses as part of a restarted economy. Hyperlocal businesses and nonprofits need operational funding just to survive. Besides CARE funds and other emergency reserves, two paths to accessing convention center reserves deserve serious consideration: 1. Council could determine that the sustainable existence of local music, arts, restaurants, retail businesses, and the creative Texans they employ, de facto promote tourism and the hotel and convention industry. While the governing body’s determination is subject to judicial review, broad deference is given to their determination according to multiple Attorney General opinions. 2. Council could determine that the reserves are composed of rental and users fees earned by the convention center over the past decade. …
Dear Council Member, Good Work Austin was originally formed in 2018 by local independent business owners to help other similar businesses implement benefits like paid sick leave and equitable wages that would make their establishment, employees and our community healthier. Since the first wave of Covid-19 hit and restaurants were the first businesses asked to close for the safety of the public and our employees, GWA has focused on helping the independent hospitality industry survive. We have worked with State and Local government to answer questions regarding Sales Tax payments, TABC rules, unemployment benefits and the PPP. We’ve served as advisors to numerous State and Local elected officials on the industry’s immediate needs and subsequent policy proposals. Our membership swelled to over 120 businesses, mostly bars & restaurants, all local and independent, inarguably cornerstones of Austin’s unique cultural fabric and a significant tourism draw. Most recently, GWA has compiled a clear and comprehensive Re-Opening Agreement for restaurants to follow when opening their dining rooms that we are now adopting for other non food & beverage businesses. Our guidelines are considerably more stringent than those offered up by State government. We understand that no protocols will eliminate the chance of an employee testing positive. We also understand that nothing is going to fundamentally change until there is a widely distributed vaccine. Opening and staying open is about a partnership between business and gov’t. We adopt strict guidelines and open in a slow, cautious, consistent manner and gov’t provides incentives and add’l revenue streams, in the form of jobs that increase food access to communities in need like several of our restaurants have been performing for AISD and will soon be for quarantined homeless and homebound seniors. Independent restaurants are a cultural asset to our city. Our employees are, individually, cultural assets as well. They do not currently have jobs to return to and will not if a plan is not put in place to help independent restaurants get through the next 12-18 months of reduced capacity. It is with this in mind that we ask you to support the attached draft cultural funding resolution. Restaurants face a unique challenge as business models in these conditions and they are not being helped by going back and forth through the phases. If the independents go away, they will be replaced by large chains and corporate restaurants with the capital to weather this crisis. …
E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T D E PA R T M E N T Overview FY20 Hotel Occupancy Tax Funded Programs August 10, 2020 Economic Development Department The Economic Development Department’s mission is to develop and lead innovative programs that increase the prosperity of Austinites, businesses, and diverse neighborhoods, creating a cultural and economic environment that enhances the vitality of the community. C I T Y O F A U S T I N E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T 2 Hotel Occupancy Tax – Supported Divisions • Cultural Arts • Heritage Tourism • Music & Entertainment C I T Y O F A U S T I N E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T 3 Historic Preservation Fund & Heritage Grant Overview Melissa Alvarado Manager, Heritage Tourism Division C I T Y O F A U S T I N E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T 4 Historic Preservation Fund C I T Y O F A U S T I N E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T 5 Heritage Grant Timeline/Background March 2020 Heritage Grant Launch May – July 2020 Virtual Outreach & Engagement Aug 2020 Review Panels Sept 2020 Council Review Oct 2020 Awards Announced Outreach & Engagement August 24, 2020 Heritage Grant recommendations will be provided to the Tourism Commission Virtual Information Sessions Virtual Open Office House One-On-One Technical Assistance Newsletters Email Campaigns Social Media Campaigns Radio Promotions C I T Y O F A U S T I N E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T 6 Heritage Grant Program Updates Initial Applicant Stats 24 Total applications submitted • • • $2.6M requested 29% ALANA Peer Review Panels Ongoing 18 Nonprofit applicants 6 Commercial applicants 9 Heritage Capital Projects 15 Site-specific Heritage Tourism Projects C I T Y O F A U S T I N E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T 7 Heritage …
Tourism Commission Via Video Conferencing June 8, 2020 10:00 am MINUTES In Attendance: Rachel Magee Edward Bailey Scott Joslove Bill Bunch John Riedie Lois Rodriguez Mike Cannatti Catlin Whitington Absent: Alta Alexander Vanessa Fuentes Brian Rodgers Staff and Other In Attendance: Felicia Ojeda, Austin Convention Center Department, Staff liaison Katy Zamesnik, Austin, Convention Center Department, Acting Chief Administrative Officer Tom Noonan, Visit Austin, President and CEO Mary Kay Hackley, Visit Austin Christine Cramer, Visit Austin Steve Genovesi, Visit Austin Julie Chase, Visit Austin AGENDA 1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER a. Meeting called to order at 10:00 am by Chair, Catlin Whitington 2. CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS: a. No Citizen Communications 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. February 10, 2020 – postponed to July Meeting 4. NEW BUSINESS The Commission discussed the following agenda item: a. Reviewed Hotel Occupancy Tax Funded Programs update. b. Visit Austin, Tom Noonan, presented the Visit Austin, Travel and Tourism Updates a. Visit Austin, Tom Noonan and Julie Chase, presented the Visit Austin Marketing Recap b. Chair, Catlin Whitington, shared a Historic Hotel Occupancy Taxable Revenue chart (1995- 2017, annual and monthly) 5. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS The Commission may discuss and identify future agenda items, topics, or presentations a. Table to Approve February Minutes with amended comments i. Commissioner Cannatti, addressed the Working Groups, to read – Motioned to Approve members for the Environmental Working Groups ii. Commissioner Riedie, addressed he requested to be added to the Short-Term Rental Working groups iii. Commissioner Riedie, addressed the request to add a TPID Working Group 6. ADJOURNMENT a. Chair, Catlin Whitington motioned to adjourned the meeting at 11:23 am. Commissioner Rodriguez seconded the motion. The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call or email Felicia Ojeda 512.404.4022, felicia.ojeda@austintexas.gov. for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Tourism Commission, please contact Felicia Ojeda at 512.404.4022, felicia.ojeda@austintexas.gov. Department, Convention Austin Center the at at
Visit Austin Marketing Recap M A R K E T I N G , P R , T O U R I S M , M U S I C A N D F I L M | M A R C H - J U L Y 2 0 2 0 While all paid advertising efforts are paused, we’ve ensured that our website and social media accounts remain active engaging our audience with timely, relevant and inspiring content. Meanwhile, efforts are also underway to develop a recovery campaign that will deploy when the market is ready. As part of our ongoing commitment to our local hospitality community, we are bringing additional attention to the products and services Austinites and visitors can take advantage of from home. These efforts are engaging with thousands of locals and non-locals every day. W E B S I T E In March, we launched our new (temporary) homepage “Visit Austin, From Home” which highlights Austin content users can take advantage of from home. www.austintexas.org Later this summer, we are launching a new homepage (and other web & social content) designed to support travelers in trip-planning mode, as well as provide Austin content for those that remain at home. S O C I A L M E D I A P E R F O R M A N C E The current goal of Visit Austin’s social media platforms, including leisure, meetings, film, sports and music, is to be a source of entertainment for its followers during the COVID-19 crisis, while continuing to promote local businesses and attractions. Despite paid efforts on pause, between May 1- July 31, Visit Austin’s leisure channels still earned: ● ● ● 971 new followers 126,913 engagements 3,745,758 impressions @visitaustintx @musicaustin @meetaustin @filmatx @sportsaustin All of this signals that while fans can’t travel now, people are still dreaming of visiting Austin. Follow us today at: @visitaustintx @musicaustin Music Austin Visit Austin, Texas VisitAustinTX R E C E N T M A R K E T I N G A C T I V I T I E S Hire an Austin Musician We deployed an eblast to more than 22,000 customers promoting Austin musicians for virtual and hybrid events. Since the email deployed on July 28th, we’ve already received more than 900 page visits and booking inquiries. This is a very promising tactic to help keep musicians working …
