REGULAR MEETING of the TOURISM COMMISSION BOARD September 10, 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 District 1 (vacant) Dani Pruitt, D3 Bishop Chappell, D6 Stefani Mathis, D8 Anna Panossian, Mayoral Ed Bailey, Vice Chair, D5 Greg Chanon, D2 District 4 (vacant) Dan 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 July 9, 2025. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing from Staff Liaison, Felicia Burleson, regarding commission board recent vacancy, deadlines, resources, and updates. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. 4. 5. Introduction of Dani Pruitt, newly appointed Tourism Commissioner for District 3. Presentation by Julie Davis, President and CEO of the Kerrville Convention and Visitors Bureau, regarding the organization’s economic impact on tourism in the Texas Hill Country and the City of Austin, and its effect on hotel occupancy tax revenues. Presentation by Karyn Mayo, Vice President of Sales, Services, and Strategic Alliances of the Fredericksburg Convention and Visitor Bureau regarding the organization’s economic impact on tourism in the Texas Hill Country and the City of Austin, and its effect on hotel occupancy tax revenues. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. 7. Discussion and possible action to set road map for 2025 Tourism Commission Meetings. Discussion about Tourism Commission Board vacancies. WORKING GROUP/COMMITTEE UPDATES 8. 9. Update from the AISD Facilities Working Group on new agenda reports regarding the focus of the working group and efforts for recommendations. Update from the Short-Term Rental Working Group on any new reports regarding the STR’s new focus and efforts for recommendations. FUTURE AGENDA …
WORKING DOCUMENT: Tourism Commission Road Map August 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. September 10, 2025 – Museums & Tourism Hill Country Tourism Check-In 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
Austin Tourism Commission September 10, 2025 Regional Context • Austin is an anchor in Texas tourism • Vibrant regional destinations like Kerrville & Fredericksburg enrich the visitor experience • Regional tourism strengthens related local economies • Shared opportunity: offering depth, additional culture, and historic texture to strengthen Central Texas tourism 2 Tourism Product Kerrville has a diverse tourism product ● Craft food & beverage scene ● Museums & galleries ● Performing arts theaters ● Outdoor recreation & related amenities ● Cultural events & live music opportunities ● Unique & landmark businesses - home of HEB & James Avery Artisan Jewelry ● Well known & established annual events 3 Hotels & Unique Stays Lodging options to fit a wide variety of visitors ● 15 traditional hotel properties w/1,155 hotel rooms ● Two conference center hotels with over 32,000sq ft of meeting space ● Unique stays such as Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Resort and restored historic properties ● Over 110 short term rental properties ● Kerr County Hill Country Youth Event Center- 20,000sq ft of meeting space, additional arena, meeting rooms, show barn, & event park 4 Outdoors & Wellness The Texas Hill Country landscape creates the perfect scene for outdoor experiences ● Over 20 public parks including Louise Hays Park - 64 acres in downtown & Kerrville Schreiner Park - 500 acres of hiking, biking, camping & wildlife viewing ● 6+ mile Kerrville River Trail ● Kerrville Sports Complex - 104 acres of baseball, softball & soccer fields Tennis Complex & Olympic Pool Three golf courses - newly renovated Scott Schreiner ● ● ● Abundant birding & wildlife viewing ● Riverside Nature Center 5 Culture & Attractions Art, culture & innovation allow visitors to craft a unique and diverse experience with every visit ● Museum of Western Art ● The Coming King Sculpture Prayer Garden - 24 acres & 11 sculptures Three performing art theaters/venues Symphony of the Hills Orchestra James Avery Artisan Jewelry- headquarters & history center ● ● ● ● Gibson’s - one of only two in Texas ● ● Kerr Arts & Cultural Center Schreiner Mansion & Historic Site ● Growing public art scene - over 40 pieces of public art/murals 6 Heritage Tourism ● Schreiner Mansion, downtown revitalization & historic tours (self guided, expanded digital access & in person led walking tours) ● Museum of Western Art - Preserving & promoting the heritage of the American West. Recently …
Tourism Commission MEETING MINUTES (10, September 2025) TOURISM COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES 10, SEPTEMBER 2025 The TOURISM COMMISSION convened in a REGULAR meeting on 10, SEPTEMBER 2025, at 301 w. Second St. in Austin, Texas. Vice Chair, Ed Bailey called the TOURISM COMMISSION Meeting to order at 2:40 p.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Commissioners Ed Bailey, Bishop Chappell, Greg Chanon, Cristina Masters, Stefani Mathis, Anna Panossian and Dani Pruitt Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Commissioner Daniel Ronan and Dan Webb PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Chris Flores – Resident of District 10 APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the TOURISM COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING on July 9, 2025. The minutes were approved at the SEPTEMBER 10, 2025, meeting on Commissioner Panossian’s motion, Commissioner Masters second on a (6-0-3) vote. Commissioners Bailey, Chappell, Masters, Mathis, Panossian and Webb voted yay. Commissioners Ronan and Chanon was off the dais. Commissioner Pruitt abstained. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff Liaison, Felicia Burleson briefed on updates regarding commission board resources and updates for commission’s vacancy, city policy and guidelines and resources. 1 DISCUSSION ITEMS variety of items 3. 4. 5. Introduced Dani Pruitt, newly appointed Tourism Commissioner for District 3. Julie Davis, President and CEO of the Kerrville Convention and Visitors Bureau, presented on the organization’s economic impact on tourism in the Texas Hill Country and the City of Austin, and its effect on hotel occupancy tax revenues. Karyn Mayo, Vice President of Sales, Services, and Strategic Alliances of the Fredericksburg Convention and Visitor Bureau presented on the organization’s economic impact on tourism in the Texas Hill Country and the City of Austin, and its effect on hotel occupancy tax revenues. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. 7. Discussed the road map for 2025 Tourism Commission Meetings. Discussed the Tourism Commission Board vacancies. WORKING GROUP/COMMITTEE UPDATES 8. 9. Commissioner Masters reported on an update regarding the AISD Facilities Working Group regarding opportunity to join in another joint sub-committee including the City of Austin, Travis County and AISD. Commissioner Chappell added new updates from the Short-Term Rental Working Group regarding active STRs and funds. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Vice Chair, Ed Bailey adjourned the meeting at 4:12 p.m. with the motioned by Commissioner Masters and seconded by Commissioner Mathis. The minutes were approved at the OCTOBER 8, 2025, meeting on Commissioner Panossian’s motion, Commissioner Masters second on a (8-0-1) vote. Ed Bailey, Greg Chanon, Bishop Chappell, Cristina Masters, Stefani Mathis, …
