Title
Consider and take action on a resolution authorizing a contract with Bay Area Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau to assist in advertising, marketing and promotion of tourism and conventions for League City (Mayor Hallisey and Council Member Dugie)
Background:
Bay Area Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau (BAHCVB) is a non-profit destination marketing organization providing marketing and promotion of tourism and conventions for the following Bay Area Houston communities: Kemah, Nassau Bay and Seabrook. The City has partnered with them since before 2003, when the organization changed its name, until our last agreement expired in June of 2016.
The last agreement with BAHCVB was for the period of July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2016 at a cost of 15% of the City’s annual Hotel Occupancy Tax revenues (approximately $65,000).
City Council and the HOT board recognized the mutual benefits from partnering with BAHCVB; however, concerns regarding the city’s return on investment such as the following were identified:
· Hotels in other cities were providing bigger HOT revenue contributions which potentially indicated League City was not being marketed properly; thereby, the city needed to take a more proactive approach in tourism marketing efforts.
· League City was not seeing notable results in being marketed through a regional concept and other entities appear to be receiving the bulk of the promotion due to the entertainment and attraction opportunities they present to tourists.
· Lack of performance measures within the contract.
In June 2016, HOT Board’s recommendation was to renew the BAHCVB contract along with the following motion: ‘The HOT Board supports the vision of League City creating its own CVB with a targeted strategic plan. We also support the regional approach with a reformatted and redirectioned BAHCVB with the consideration that any financial support includes a contract that sets out goals with measurable results.’
Staff presented an inte...
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