SPECIAL CALLED MEETING of the TOURISM COMMISSION BOARD MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2025 AT 2:30 P.M. CITY HALL, COUNCIL CHAMBERS ROOM 1001 300 W. 2ND STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Tourism Commission 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, contact Felicia Burleson, (512) 978-1325 or felicia.burleson@austintexas.gov CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Daniel Ronan, Chair, D9 Greg Chanon, D2 Francisco “Cisco” Gamez, D1 Stefani Mathis, D8 Dani Pruitt, D3 District 4 (vacant) CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Ed Bailey, Vice Chair, D5 Bishop Chappell, D6 Cristina Masters, D10 Anna Panossian, Mayoral Dan Webb, D7 AGENDA 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 October 8, 2025 STAFF BRIEFINGS 1. Staff briefing from Staff Liaison, Felicia Burleson, regarding commission board recent vacancy filled and status, deadlines, resources, and updates. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. 3. 4. Presentation by Visit Austin regarding an update on Austin Tourism Industry, including the Austin Convention Center and the Tourism Public Improvement District. Presentation by Tom Noonan, President & CEO. Presentation by Rally Austin regarding the work of the city-sponsored non-profit organization to maintain cultural spaces across Austin to the benefit of Austin tourism. Presentation by David Colligan, Chief Operating Officer. Discussion regarding the Tourism Commission Board vacancies. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. 6. 7. Discussion and possible action to modify the road map for 2026 Tourism Commission Meetings. Approve a recommendation to Council for the Council to continue Austin Convention Center construction project. Approve a recommendation to Council to approve the Rally Austin bond proposals for the 2026 bond election. WORKING GROUP UPDATE 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 Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access …
Tourism Commission Road Map Worksheet January 2026 – December 2026 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. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. January 14, 2026 - ___________________________________ February 11, 2026 -__________________________________ March 11, 2026 -___________________________________ April 8, 2026 -_____________________________________ May 13, 2026 -_____________________________________ June 10, 2026 -____________________________________ July 8, 2026 -_____________________________________ August 12, 2026 -___________________________________ September 9, 2026 -_________________________________ October 14, 2026 -__________________________________ November 11, 2026 -_________________________________ December 9, 2026 -_________________________________
KEEP AUSTIN OURS! 2026 City of Austin Bond Proposal THINK BIG & COLLABORATIVE Rally Austin is the first multi-purpose local government corporation, requested by the community and created by the Austin City Council in October 2020 Community driven, Equity focused Designed to be agile, mission-driven, collaborative and flexible Bring new financial tools and resources to the table and generate consistent revenues Professional approach to community investment and project delivery 2 MISSION Facilitating equitable development for economic growth while preserving Austin's unique culture. VISION A culturally resilient and economically integrated Austin where diverse communities thrive without risk of displacement. Leading investments in our community, as a community Rally will focus its efforts to unite and drive progress across three critical areas of development in Central Texas: ARTS, MUSIC & CULTURE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES CATALYTIC DEVELOPMENT 3 OUR COMMUNITY AT WORK Board of Directors Collaboration of community leaders and nominating bodies who represent local organizations and asset holders. WHO WE ARE 4 ACTIVE COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS Real estate projects valued at approximately $160M, securing an estimated 293,000 square feet of affordable space: 180,000 SF Affordable housing 86,000 SF Cultural spaces 14,000 SF Commercial spaces 13,000 SF Outdoor and shared spaces Collective economic impact projected between $320 to $400M, also providing community benefits: Job creation and tax revenues Property value increases Tourism and cultural preservation Soul and vitality OUR RALLY FOR COMPLETE COMMUNITIES OUR RALLY FOR ARTS, MUSIC & CULTURE OUR RALLY FOR CATALYTIC DEVELOPMENT Mixed-use development Seven real estate Rally moves large-scale, for Blocks 16 & 18 on development projects multi-million-dollar East 11th Street in the valued at $37.5M with an development and African American estimated $75M-$94M infrastructure projects Cultural Heritage District, return on investment. and serves as a flexible building thriving small This area of focus has bridge between public, businesses, cultural led to the successful private, and community anchors and affordable negotiation of a new 20- interests to unlock housing. With a current year lease for historic diverse funding sources project value estimated music venue The Hole in and deliver value and at $128M, and an the Wall and several benefits for all partners. estimated impact of other arts and culture $256-320M. venues. 5 RALLY AUSTIN PROPOSED 2026 COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BOND Overview of Process Problem Statement Proposed Solutions Rally’s Approach Invest in Our Identity: Keep …
RECOMMENDATION FOR CONTINUATION OF AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER CONSTRUCTION City of Austin Tourism Commission Recommendation Number: 20251112-007 This recommendation from the Tourism Commission identifies the need to continue the construction of the Austin Convention Center which will help support Austin’s thriving tourism economy and long-standing cultural and tourism destinations in Austin. WHEREAS, City of Austin is recognized for its vibrant tourism and cultural arts scene and a diverse and creative community, with a decades-long history as the cultural and counter-cultural capital of Texas which enjoys the competing mantras of “'Keep Austin Weird” and the “Live Music Capital of the World”; WHEREAS, on June 25, 2018, Austin City Council adopted ORDINANCE NO. 20180614-067, establishing the Tourism Commission “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” and to “advise the city council on … matters relating to the allocation, investment, and budgets for the hotel occupancy tax revenue”; WHEREAS Texas Tax Code Chapter 351, Section 351.101 (a) states that “Revenue from the municipal hotel occupancy tax may be used only to promote tourism and the convention and hotel industry”; WHEREAS, the redevelopment of the Austin Convention Center is a critical investment with longstanding public review designed to modernize Austin's infrastructure and secure its competitive position in the global meetings marketplace; 2 WHEREAS, the successful completion of this project is paramount to growing and supporting the 140,000 jobs sustained by our local tourism and hospitality sector, ensuring job security and economic stability for countless Austin residents; WHEREAS, the new, expanded facility will allow Austin to attract larger-scale conventions and multiple concurrent events that we are currently unable to accommodate, driving an estimated $15 billion economic impact on our community over the next 20 years; WHEREAS, this project is funded exclusively by visitor-paid Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) and Convention Center revenues, ensuring Austin residents' property taxes are not utilized; and the growth of the Convention Center business remains a critically viable path to significantly increasing the total HOT collections; WHEREAS, these collections, in turn, provide the vital and maximum legal allocation of funding for Austin’s Cultural Arts, Historic Preservation, and Live Music Funds; and THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Austin Tourism Commission strongly supports and urges the City Council to affirm its commitment to the project's timely continuation, recognizing that pausing or delaying construction would immediately …
RECOMMENDATION FOR ENDORSEMENT OF RALLY AUSTIN BOND PROJECTS City of Austin Tourism Commission Recommendation Number: 20251112-008 These recommendations from the Tourism Commission identify the need to support Rally Austin’s forthcoming bond proposal to support Austin’s thriving tourism economy and long-standing cultural and tourism destinations in Austin facing increased real estate and economic pressure to continue operations as drivers for HOT tax generation. WHEREAS, City of Austin is recognized for its vibrant cultural arts scene and a diverse and creative community, with a decades-long history as the cultural and counter-cultural capital of Texas which enjoys the competing mantras of “'Keep Austin Weird” and the “Live Music Capital of the World”; WHEREAS, on June 25, 2018, Austin City Council adopted ORDINANCE NO. 20180614-067, establishing the Tourism Commission “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” and to “advise the city council on … matters relating to the allocation, investment, and budgets for the hotel occupancy tax revenue”; WHEREAS, Texas Tax Code Chapter 351, Section 351.101 (a) states that “Revenue from the municipal hotel occupancy tax may be used only to promote tourism and the convention and hotel industry”; WHEREAS, Austin’s cultural, creative, and music sectors are foundational to the city’s identity and economy, contributing over $1.8 billion in annual economic -- including tourism -- activity and supporting thousands of local tourism jobs; WHEREAS, the loss of affordable creative, cultural, and commercial spaces poses a critical threat to Austin’s local music venues, legacy businesses, and community-centered organizations emblematic of Austin’s tourism appeal; WHEREAS, Rally Austin, the City’s first multi-purpose local government corporation, was created by Austin City Council in 2020 to facilitate equitable, community-driven development and deliver projects that generate public benefit – including attracting tourism – while leveraging public, private, and philanthropic resources; WHEREAS, the Keep Austin Ours 2026 Bond Proposal presented by Rally Austin outlines comprehensive strategies for securing cultural, residential and commercial affordability supporting the broader tourism ecosystem, including property acquisition, long-term lease stabilization, capital improvement programs, and expansion of the Austin Cultural Trust; WHEREAS, Rally Austin’s model reduces long-term fiscal risk and administrative burden to the City by independently managing complex real estate and development projects while advancing Council priorities for equity, sustainability, cultural preservation, and increased tourism; and WHEREAS, supporting community-based economic development through the 2026 Bond Program aligns with …
