1. REGULAR MEETING of the TOURISM COMMISSION BOARD June 12, 2024, at 3:00 pm City Hall Board & Commission Room 1101 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 District 4 (vacant) 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 May 8, 2024. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. DISCUSSION ITEMS Staff briefing from Staff Liaison, Felicia Ojeda, regarding the vacancy on the board and upcoming schedule changes for upcoming meetings. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Presentation by Catherine Whited, Co-Chair of the Austin Museum Partnership, regarding Austin Museum Economy and its impact on Tourism. Presentation by Rowena Dasch, Executive Director of the Neill-Cochran House Museum, regarding the Neill-Cochran House Museum and implications for Museum Tourism in Austin. Presentation by Brittany Petrilli, Executive Director of the Texas Association of Museums, regarding the Texas Museum Economy in Texas and implications for Austin, Texas Tourism Economy. Discussion of the Annual Internal Review for the Tourism Commission Board. 6. WORKING GROUPS Update from the Short-Term Rental Working Group on any new reports regarding the STRs recommendation and efforts with city council. Update from the Parks and Environment Working Group regarding the recommendation on Parks funding to city council. 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 formats, please give notice at least 2 days …
Catherine Whited Co-Chair Who are we? ● 501(c)3 non-profit organization established in 1998 ● Promotes and facilitates collaboration within the museum community for the benefit of our museums and the community at large ● Membership is open to cultural institutions in the Greater Austin area, businesses and organizations that provide museum-related services, and individuals interested in furthering the purpose of AMP Who are we? Governance ● 10 person volunteer board Funding ● Member dues ● Sponsorships ● Grants AMP Board Members (2013) What do we do? Connect with the Public: ● Austin Museum Day ● Educators Night ● Website ● Happy Hour events What do we do? Connect with Members: ● Professional Development ● Grants ● Networking & Knowledge Sharing Austin Museum Day ● Since 1998, the Austin Museum Partnership has coordinated Austin Museum Day ● Participating institutions offer free admission and special programs ● Always held on the penultimate Sunday of the month in September The Contemporary Austin - interactive mural Austin Toy Museum Elisabet Ney Museum - Portraiture in the Park Austin Museum Day - September 22, 2024 Austin Museum Partnership is responsible for… ● Organizing participating museums ● Sponsorships & fundraising ● Promotional materials, advertising, PR ● Updating AMP website & social media sites ● Social media guide for museums ● Documentation and evaluation Promotional materials, advertising, PR Promotional materials, advertising, PR Documenting and Evaluation Professional Development Grants Employees of member institutions have utilized our microgrants to take advantage of professional development opportunities such as… ● Conferences ● Online courses ● International internships Member Institutions ● Art Galleries at Black Studies ● Austin History Center ● Austin Museum of Popular Culture ● Austin Nature & Science Center ● Bastrop County Historical Society ● Blanton Museum of Art ● Brush Square Museums ● Bullock Texas State History Museum ● Chateau Bellevue, Home of the Austin Woman’s Club ● City of Austin Cultural Arts Division ● Dougherty Arts Center ● Elisabet Ney Museum ● Flower Hill Foundation ● Harry Ransom Center ● Hezikiah Haskell House ● Humanities Texas ● ● ● ● Jourdan-Bachman Pioneer Farms Foundation Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Landmarks LBJ Presidential Library ● MathHappens Foundation ● Mexic-Arte Museum ● Millett’s Opera House ● Museo Benini ● Neill-Cochran House Museum ● Save Austin’s Cemeteries ● Science Mill ● ● Texas Capitol Visitors Center Texas Medical Association History of Medicine Gallery Texas Military Forces Museum Texas Music Museum …
The Neill-Cochran House Museum: Step into Austin History T he N CH M: W ho are we? • One of Austin’s 10 oldest residences • H ome to the only in tact slave quarters standing in the city • Owned and operated by the N SCDA-T X • Located in the heart of central Austin, but originally inten ded as a suburban estate • Open ed (first floor) in 1960; whole site open since late 1970s; professional staff since 2005 • 10,000 visitors for the first time last year T he N CH M: W here are we? T he N CH M: W here are we? T he N CH M: How have we used HOT funding? 2019: Wrought and Cast-Iron Fencing T he N CH M: How have we used HOT funding? 2023: Reckoning with the Past: The Untold Story of Race in Austin Project T he N CH M: How did we get from 1,500 to 10,000?? • R otating exhibitions • Performing arts collaborations • More relevant narratives T he N CH M: The Stats • 10,000 total visitors • 6,000 Central T exas • 2,500 from around T exas • 1,000 national • 500 international T he N CH M: W hat are we doing to grow our attendance? • Google advertising (non- profit support) • Event Vesta • POGO Pass • T iqets • FB/Insta • Austin K ids Directory • Prestige Magazine (R enaissance H otel Arboretum) • Listed for free elsewhere T he N CH M: How could the Tourism Commission help? • Encourage heritage tourism advertising • H elp museums connect with representatives from the hospitality industry • Advocate for historic preservation efforts that will protect the historic fabric of the city A sustainable organization is one that, through beneficial circumstances and good professional practices, generates enough financial and community support to guarantee its continued existence on an indefinite basis. A sustainable museum engages with its community and this is evident in broad community financial, in-kind, and volunteer support. Dependable support from a city, county, or state government is a hallmark of sustainable museums. History museums need the support of city or county general revenue funds, hotel occupancy taxes, or property taxes. N ot only does this support provide a continual base level of funding for the museum, it provides confidence in other donors that the museum is permanent. Performing Arts …
The Texas Association of Museums 1. 2. Museums & Cultural Sites as Tourism 3. TAM Annual Conference 4. TAM 2025 Austin Texas Association of Museums 1939 1974 2024 TAM MISSION STATEMENT The Texas Association of Museums strengthens the Texas museum community through collaborations, connections, professional development, and advocacy. Texas Association of Museums ● 2,000 + Museum Professionals in the State ● 400+ Museums ○ Art ○ History ○ Science ○ Children’s ○ Specialized (Railroad, Maritime, Aviation, Etc.) ○ Virtual ● 30 Businesses ● 5 Academic Institutions Texas Association of Museums ● Advocacy ● Promote Excellence in the Field ● Networking Events ● Professional Development ● Annual Conference ● 76% of all US leisure travelers participate in cultural or Museums as Economic Engines heritage activities such as visiting museums. These travelers spend 60% more money on average than other leisure travelers. ● Museums and other nonprofit cultural organizations return more than $5 in tax revenues for every $1 they receive in funding from all levels of government. ● Museums support more than 726,000 American jobs. ● Museums contribute $50 billion to the US economy each year. ● The economic activity of museums generates more than $12 billion in tax revenue, one-third of it going to state and local governments. Each job created by the museum sector results in $16,495 in additional tax. ● Every direct job at a museum supports an additional job in the economy. This is a higher rate than many other TAM Annual Conference TAM Annual Conference ● According to the Destination Marketing Association International Economic Impact Calculator, based on an average daily hotel room rate of $139 in 2019, the TAM conference yields a minimum direct economic impact of $270,000 for any host city. ○ This impact figure does not include indirect or induced impacts or assumptions. ● The conference typically takes place during the week, which is a higher need time for hotels, restaurants, and retail. TAM Annual Conference TAM 2025 | AUSTIN | 50th Anniversary ● Call for Proposals Open until July 15, 2025 ● Hotel Room Block In Process ● Local Host Committee Assembled Thank you for being a part of the community _
Annual Internal Review This report covers the time period of 7/1/2023 to 6/30/2024 Austin Tourism Commission The Austin Tourism Commission mission statement is: "to provide expertise and recommendations to the city council concerning hotel occupancy tax revenue collected by the city and issues related to and that promote tourism" In the past year, the Austin Tourism Commission, has sought to establish stability as a concerted voice for tourism in the city by inviting and elevating various speakers to provide insights into the interworkings of: a. HOT tax funding, including the City of Austin and the State of Texas; b. The Tourism Public Improvement District in addressing the needs of tourism and the unhoused in Austin, including a resolution to City Council recommending HOT tax dollars used via the general fund be used to fund downtown needs for the unhoused, improving the environment for tourism downtown; c. Arts and culture funds as allocated through HOT tax funding, and the efficacy of these funds for said programs, including a unanimous resolution to City Council to fully-fund the Red River Cultural Arts District; d. The efficiency and recommendations for improvement of short-term rental regulation in Austin to aid in increasing HOT tax revenue collection, including a resolution to City Council with a series of recommendations to improve existing enforcement of unregulated short- term rentals in Austin; and e. Strategies to increase funding for parks and open space in Austin, cherished destinations that serve as tourism-drivers. Pursuant to the above, the Austin Tourism Commission has followed the intent of Austin City Council by providing its expertise and recommendations in-line with its mandate concerning hotel occupancy tax revenue and issues related to and promoting tourism. The following are the Tourism Commission's goals and objectives for the new calendar year: a. Continue discussions that aid in increasing HOT tax revenue in the City of Austin for uses pertaining to tourism-related activities, including but not limited to: Economic Development Department Cultural Arts Grants, Heritage Preservation Grants, and parks and open space uses; b. Continue to host topical meetings to engage tourism commissioners, the public, City staff, and members of the City Council, in timely and relevant topics that pertain to the HOT tax and improving tourism outcomes in Austin; c. Continue to advocate for the most efficient and cost-effective spending of HOT tax dollars for tourism aims in Austin; and d. Serve as a sounding board and …
