REGULAR MEETING of the TOURISM COMMISSION BOARD May 14, 2025, 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 Burleson, (512) 978-1325 or felicia.burleson@austintexas.gov CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Daniel Ronan, Chair, D9 Aileen Bazan, D1 Christian Tschoepe, D3 Bishop Chappell, D6 Stefani Mathis, D8 Anna Panossian, Mayoral Ed Bailey, Vice Chair, D5 Greg Chanon, D2 District 4 (vacant) Daniel Webb, D7 Cristina Masters, D10 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 1. Approve the minutes of the Tourism Commission Board Regular Meeting on April 9, 2025. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing from Staff Liaison, Felicia Burleson, regarding commission board resources and updates for commission board. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. 4. Presentation by Deron Lozano, Senior Vice President for Environment & Project Development, and Sean Barry, Vice President of Design & Construction with the Austin Transit Partnership, regarding the Austin Light Rail project. Presentation by Bryce Bencivengo, Community Affairs, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), regarding the Journey with AUS airport expansion program and its impact on economic growth and tourism. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. 6. Discussion and possible action to set road map for 2025 Tourism Commission Meetings. Discussion and possible action on creating a potential AISD Work Group & Clean Air Work Group. WORKING GROUP/COMMITTEE UPDATES 7. Update from the Short-Term Rental Working Group on any new reports regarding the STR’s new focus and efforts for recommendations. 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 on alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days …
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Journey With AUS Update Austin Tourism Commission – May 14, 2025 Bryce Bencivengo Community Affairs Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) History & Growth Austin-Bergstrom History The original AUS was Robert Mueller Municipal Airport ● October 14, 1930 – May 22, 1999 Austin-Bergstrom International Airport ● Formerly Bergstrom USAF Base - Named after first Austin native killed in action during World War II ● Existed as the Del Valle Army Air Field prior to USAF AUS is owned & operated by the City of Austin ● AUS campus is 4,242 total acres ● Converted to commercial use and opened in 1999 with a $585 million budget ● Opening – 25 gates designed for 11M annual passengers ● 2019 expansion – 9 gates added to serve 15M annual passengers 2022-Beyond: Journey with AUS ● A new direction for our Airport Expansion and Development Program (AEDP) AUS Has Achieved New Record High Passenger Levels Annual Passenger Traffic (Millions) 22.1 21.8 21.1 17.3 15.8 13.9 13.6 12.4 11.9 7.1 7.5 6.6 8.1 8.7 8.8 8.2 8.7 10.7 10.0 9.1 9.4 6.5 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 25.0 20.0 15.0 10.0 5.0 0.0 AUS is the 6th Fastest Growing Airport Among U.S. Large & Medium Hub Airports % Change in Seats: Q1 ‘25 v. Q1 ‘19 70% 59% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% -10% -20% -30% 50% 45%45% 40% 36% 33% 31% 27% 26%26%25%25%24% 22%22% 20%20%19%18% 17% 14%13%13% 12%11%11%10%10% 9% 9% 9% 9% 8% 7% 7% 6% 5% 5% 5% 4% 4% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 1% 1% 1% 0% 0% 0% -1% -1% -3% -3% -4% -6% -7% -10% -11% U J S A N B T N O I A M S H C S U A I B P N E D L N H R U B F R O W F D S A L I O B T L C O C M W S R U D R X H P O N R A P T X A J D N I F M S T A S H A I C L S M E M L A D . g v A H M C E L C G G O A G L A C D T I P …
WORKING DOCUMENT: Tourism Commission Road Map April 2025 – December 2025 Agenda Topics, Potential Speakers & Community Presenters Note: All meetings take place on Wednesdays from 2:30pm-4:30pm in City Council Chambers (unless modified by venue availability) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. June 11, 2025 – Athletics & Tourism July 9, 2025 – Festivals, Food & Fun August 2025 – Proposed: No Meeting September 10, 2025 – Museums & Tourism October 8, 2025 – Historic Preservation & Tourism November 12, 2025 – Tourism Snapshot – Where we are and where we’re going December 10, 2025 – Tourism Commission Work Session
TOURISM COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES 14, MAY 2025 The TOURISM COMMISSION convened in a REGULAR meeting on 14, MAY 2025, at 301 w. Second St. in Austin, Texas. Chair, Daniel Ronan called the TOURISM COMMISSION Meeting to order at 2:32 p.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Commissioners Ed Bailey, Greg Chanon, Bishop Chappell, Stefani Mathis, Cristina Masters, Anna Panossian, Daniel Ronan, Christian Tschoepe, Board Members/Commissioners Absence: Commissioners Dan Webb APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the TOURISM COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING on April 9, 2025. The minutes were approved at the May 14, 2025, meeting on Commissioner Panossian motion, Commissioner Tschoepe second on a (6-0) vote. Vote was unanimous. Chair Daniel Ronan, Vice Chair Ed Bailey, Commissioners Bishop Chappell, Anna Panossian, Christian Tschoepe, and Cristina Masters. Commissioner Greg Chanon was off the dais. Commissioner Dan Webb and Stefani Mathis were absent. Commissioner Aileen Bazan has resigned. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff Liaison, Felicia Burleson briefed on updates regarding commission board resources and updates for commission’s vacancy, city policy and guidelines, including the Internal Review Report deadline. DISCUSSION ITEMS variety of items 3. Deron Lozano, Senior Vice President for Environment & Project Development, and Sean Barry, Vice President of Design & Construction with the Austin Transit Partnership, presented on the Austin Light Rail project. 4. Bryce Bencivengo, Community Affairs, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), presented on the Journey with AUS airport expansion program and its impact on economic growth and tourism. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. 6. Discussion and possible action to set road map for 2025 Tourism Commission Meeting. Discussion and possible action on creating a potential AISD Work Group. a. The motion to approve a new AISD Working Group, Increasing Tourism Collaboration AISD Sites Working Group was approved on Commissioner Masters’ motion, Commissioner Chappell’s second on a (7- 0) vote. i. Commissioners Bailey, Chanon, Chappell, Masters, Panossian, Ronan, and Tschoepe voted yes. ii. Commissioner Dan Webb and Stefani Mathis were absent. Commissioner Aileen Bazan has resigned. b. The new AISD Working Group will be called, Increasing Tourism Collaboration AISD Sites Working. c. The new AISD Working Group members are Commissioner Chappell, Masters, Panossian, and Chair Ronan WORKING GROUP/COMMITTEE UPDATES 7. Commissioner Chappell had no new update from the Short-Term Rental Working Group, however, will follow-up with City Manager’s office and City Council. a. Commissioner Chanon states that the Hotel Occupancy Taxes (HOT) has started collecting through the platforms as of April …
