DEPARTMENT: Convention and Visitors Bureau
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Casandra Matej
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City-Wide
SUBJECT:
Authorization and approval to initiate the process to transition the San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau, a municipal government organization, to a non-profit corporation.
SUMMARY:
The purpose of this Resolution is to initiate the next steps for the establishment of the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) as an independent 501(c)(6) organization. This item authorizes staff to begin the process for the creation of a corporation.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In May 2015, Mayor Taylor appointed the 13-member CVB Structure Task Force that includes leaders from the hospitality industry, business community and the City of San Antonio. The Task Force was chaired by SeaWorld President Dan Decker and was charged with identifying the ideal CVB structure that would afford a greater competitive advantage for the City and as a destination.
The CVB Structure Task Force presented its findings and recommendation to the Mayor and City Council at the December 9, 2015 B-Session. The recommendation is to transition the CVB from a municipal government organization to an independent nonprofit corporation. The proposed new structure will increase the speed to market and presents opportunities to diversify the organization's revenue sources. A preliminary timeline discussed at the B-Session included the creation of the corporation by October 1, 2016, with current CVB staff transitioning to the new organization by January 1, 2017 and achievement of full organization transition by October 1, 2017. Overall, City Council was supportive of the recommendation and asked staff to develop a detailed transition plan.
The first step is to initiate creation of the corporation, which includes filing with the State of Texas and submitting an application to the Internal Revenue Service for the 501(c)(6) designation. The articles and bylaw...
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