1. REGULAR MEETING of the TOURISM COMMISSION BOARD February 14, 2024, at 2:30 pm City Hall Chambers Room 1001 301 W. Second St Austin, Texas 78701 Some members of the Tourism Commission Board 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 via 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 by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Felicia Ojeda, 512.404.4022 or felicia.ojeda@austintexas.gov CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Daniel Ronan, Chair Aileen Bazan Mike Cannatti Stefani Mathis John Riedie Bishop Chappell Ed Bailey, Vice Chair Greg Chanon Rachel Magee Anna Panossian Christian Tschoepe AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 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. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approve the minutes of the Tourism Commission Board Regular Meeting on January 10, 2024. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. DISCUSSION ITEMS Presentation by Nicole Klepaldo, Interim Executive Director with the Red River Cultural District to present an overview of their organization. Presentation by Natalia Morgan, Donor and Membership Manager for the Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ) Foundation to reveal their upcoming music exhibition. Economist Report Presentation by Matt Patton with Angelou Economics regarding the Austin Tourism and Implications for the Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT). DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Approve a recommendation from the Short-Term Rental (STR) Working Group regarding short-term rentals in the city of Austin and how to address challenges to unlicensed STRs in Austin, Texas. Discussion and possible action regarding 2024 Tourism Commission calendar for altering or approving the calendar as is. Discussion and possible action regarding upcoming Agenda topics for the 2024 calendar year for editing or approving of agenda topics. WORKING GROUPS Update from the Short-Term Rental Working Group. Update from the Parks and Environment Working Group. call FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT 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 …
OUR MISSION The Red River Cultural District is a creative community providing authentic Austin experiences through diverse local music, art and food for every fan and guest. In an ever-changing ATX, our nonprofit seeks to preserve and grow Red River's creative, business, and music scene. As a community rooted in artists, musicians, performers, music venues, cultural institutions and small businesses, the District embodies the soul and heart of Austin. WHO is the RED RIVER Cultural District The District is managed by the Red River Merchant’s Association, a coalition of 50+ businesses including live music venues, food, hospitality, entertainment businesses and also the Austin Symphony Orchestra, First Baptist Church, German-Texan Heritage Society and Waterloo Greenway. The District was designated a State Cultural District in 2020 by the Texas Commision on the Arts and a local Cultural District by the City of Austin in 2013. RED RIVER Cultural District IMPACT • Conserve Austin's only walkable live music hub of over dozen independent music venues • Support thousands of local musicians and performers annually through direct financial support • Foster 1000+ music and service industry jobs in the district • Backbone to major tourism and economic generators including SXSW, ACL, Levitation, Oblivion Access, GTHS Oktoberfest and more RED RIVER Cultural District IMPACT • Local, State, and Federal Policy advocacy for live music ecosystem and small and local business assistance • Creative economy hub including opportunities for photographers, video production, designers, fashion, artists, and more • Destination for local and Texas music heritage • Industry Development Incubator RED RIVER Cultural District IMPACT • $200K in direct pandemic relief to music and service industry to 3,000 individuals served • Curb appeal, district identify and safety enhancements $1.5M+ improvements • Local, State, Federal Policy and Program Advocacy and Education FREE Signature Music Festivals Our premier all-ages district-wide festivals Free Week and Hot Summer Nights fuel community growth in the traditionally dog-days of summer and dead of winter. • Support with direct payment 300+ musicians, artists, and performers per festival over 3 days • Average 15,000+ attendees of locals and visitors • Leverage industry support and causes through partnerships • Average 15-25% first time performers during either fest Hot Summer Nights 2023 Highlights 30+ Million media impressions in July alone including the front page of the Austin Chronicle Total Participating Venues: 14 total (largest participation yet) Total Music Acts: 130 Our largest Hot Summer Nights Estimated total …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Austin Tourism Commission Recommendation Number: 20240214-005: The STR Working group outlines a multi-pronged approach to address the challenges posed by unlicensed short-term rentals (STRs) in Austin, Texas. The goal is to foster a responsible and sustainable STR ecosystem that benefits both the tourism industry and residents. WHEREAS, STRs operate in Austin, leading to lost revenue from hotel occupancy taxes, permit fees, and indirect costs such as increased enforcement and strain on City infrastructure; WHEREAS, Unreliable data hinders accurate estimates of lost tax revenue and poses risks related to inaccurate property information, host background checks, and health hazards; and WHEREAS, Legal limitations, such as the Zaatari vs. City of Austin case, restrict the City's ability to directly eliminate Type 2 STR licenses. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Austin Tourism Commission recommends the City Council: • Require more information from applicants for STR licenses and maintain a database; Focus on underreported Hotel Occupancy Taxes (HOT) which leads to a loss in revenue. While the revenue generated from permit fees may seem insignificant compared to HOT revenue, permit fees are crucial in driving license adoption. This, in turn, helps drive compliance for licenses and maximizes HOT revenue, leading to a more efficient and effective system; • Enhance transparency and streamline licensing by simplifying the application process, implementing online systems, and addressing open citations by implementing an efficient tax and permit fee system; Prioritize safety and community well-being by upholding safety regulations through proactive inspections, addressing noise complaints, and promoting responsible guest behavior; Foster collaborative partnerships by building strategic partnerships with platforms, neighborhood associations, and the Austin Police Department; • • • 1 DRAFT • Rectify open citations held by non-compliant hosts and ensure accurate property listings via an accountable process to notify short-term rental platforms to remove hosts as appropriate. Once the necessary validations are completed, the property listings may be reposted; • Implement platform fees and hold platforms accountable for aiding non-compliance; • Explore innovative funding models for cultural & arts preservation and offering discounts and incentives for compliant and sustainable STRs; • Create performance benchmarks and an honorary "Best Practices" badge for STRs that consistently meet performance benchmarks; and • Continuously assess and adapt to changes in the Austin STR ecosystem by maintaining open communication channels, leveraging data-driven insights, and embracing consistent program review and adaptation. Date of Approval: _____________________________ Record of the vote: (Unanimous on a …
WORKING DOCUMENT: Tourism Commission Road Map March 2024 – December 2024 Agenda Topics, Potential Speakers & Community Presenters Note: All meetings take place on Wednesdays from 2:30pm-4:30pm in City Council Chambers. 1. March 13, 2024 – The Tourism Outlook: From Green Space to Outer Space • Potential Speakers: Visit Austin Update • Potential Community Presenters: Austin Park Foundation & Chair of Astronomy Department at the University of Texas Austin 2. 3. 4. April 10, 2024 – A Good Time: Food & Beverage • Potential Speakers: Restaurant Associations, Food Journalists • Potential Community Presenters: Independent Restaurants May 8, 2024 – National Tourism Week: Music Makers & Marketers • Potential Speakers: Music Venues • Potential Community Presenters: Event Promoters June 12, 2024 – Cultural Hubs: Museums & Cultural Sites • Potential Speakers: Texas Association of Museums & the Texas Historical Commission • Potential Community Presenters: Museums & Independent Cultural Sites 5. July 10, 2024 – Coming Together: Conventions & Special Events • Potential Speakers: Convention Organizers & the City of Austin Convention Center Department • Potential Community Presenters: Local Event Companies 6. 7. August 14, 2024 – Proposed: No Meeting September 11, 2024 – Funding Austin Tourism: City HOT Tax • Potential Speakers: City of Austin Chief Financial Officer & Economic Development Department • Potential Community Presenters: Doherty Arts Center 8. October 9, 2024 – Across the Town: From Districts to Downtown • Potential Speakers: City of Austin Economist, Downtown Austin Alliance & • Potential Community Presenters: Palm District Cultural Organizations & Preservation Austin Local Tour Guides 9. November 13, 2024 – Open Topic • Potential Speakers: • Potential Community Presenters: December 11, 2024 – Proposed: No Meeting 10. DRAFT
Tourism Commission Board Tourism Tax Impacts February 2024 Courtesy of C3 Presents About AE Over the past 28 years, AngelouEconomics has executed over 1,000 projects working hand-in-hand with major corporations, towns, cities, regions, states, and countries to develop visions, strategies, and implementation plans to advance regional growth and prosperity. MAJOR CORPORATE CLIENTS Austin Tourism 2 Austin’s tourism industry is worth billions. Visit Austin reported travelers spent over $8.2 billion in 2022. • • Many of these visitors come from out of the area and from out of state • Visitors are drawn to Austin for many events with state, national, and international appeal Introduction • • • • Austin City Limits Music Festival F1 SXSW UT Athletics • Each event sees contributions to Sales & Use • Rental Car • Title 5, ABC • • Mixed Beverages • Hotel Courtesy of C3 Presents Austin Tourism 3 Economic Impact Methodology Economic Impact Models & Inputs AngelouEconomics employs the IMPLAN (IMpact Analysis for PLANning) model for the analysis of the various events. The model utilizes multipliers specific to the Austin economy. The analysis of such events is comprised of two models: event operations and attendee expenditures. The sum of these two impacts create the total economic output of the event. Event operations data are provided by clients and are used to generate the event operations model. The attendee expenditures models are created using inputs from survey data and assumptions estimating the amount of money spent by attendants on various categories of expenditures. Event Operations Attendee Expenditures TOTAL ECONOMIC OUTPUT Model Outputs Each of the models generate three different types of effects: direct, indirect and induced effects. The IMPLAN model’s calculated outputs include jobs, labor income, total economic output, and state and local tax revenues. Direct Limited to the effects in the local economy that occur as a direct result of the event. Indirect Includes increases to sales, incomes and jobs in business sectors that support or supply the event. Induced The household spending patterns of employees through all business sectors that gain increased earnings as a result of the event. Austin Tourism 4 TAX IMPACTS Hotel Tax Range $525,000 - $2,500,000 $350,000 - $3,500,000 University of Texas Athletics $550,000 - $4,400,000 SXSW $1,100,000 - $1,900,000 Tax Impact Events Multi Day Music Events Multi Day Race Events Ripples Throughout Economy Top Sectors: 1. 2. 3. Food & Beverage Non-Event …
