DEPARTMENT: Convention and Visitors Bureau
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Casandra Matej
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City-Wide
SUBJECT:
National League of Cities 2019 City Summit
SUMMARY:
This Resolution requests the National League of Cities (NLC) hold its 2019 City Summit in San Antonio, Texas.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) is charged with promoting and marketing San Antonio as a premier convention and meetings destination and as a domestic and international visitor destination, for the purpose of positively affecting the City’s economy. The CVB works with local officials and industry partners to increase San Antonio’s share of the group meetings market.
The NLC is a national association representing the interests of municipalities in Washington, D.C. Its members include cities, towns, and villages of all sizes. The City Summit (formerly the Congress of Cities and Exposition) is the annual convention of the NLC. It is the largest national event for municipal officials and includes educational sessions and meetings to conduct institutional business. Conference members include mayors, councilmembers, and public servants from cities and towns across the country. The four-day convention offers an exciting opportunity to host municipal officials and local government experts from across the country and to showcase the city of San Antonio.
The San Antonio CVB has submitted a full bid proposal for the National League of Cities 2019 City Summit for the dates of November 18-25, 2019. Included in this bid are letters of support from Mayor Ivy R. Taylor and Councilman Alan E. Warrick. Also included is a proposal for accommodation of more than 3,000 sleeping rooms on peak at downtown area hotels and meeting and exhibition space at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.
ISSUE:
The City is competing to bring the National League of Cities 2019 City Summit to San Antonio. Having hosted City Summit in 2009, which brought in 3,500 NLC members, the City understands the support needed to make the event a success. NLC attendees will experience the newly transformed Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, a world-class facility, boasting more than 514,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space. Additionally, the new expansion features the largest ballroom in Texas at more than 54,000 square feet combined with one-of-a-kind venue spaces, such as a riverside grotto and 72 meeting rooms, means the convention center has ample space to comfortably host the needs of NLC members.
For future consideration, the City is willing to offer NLC the following concessions:
1. Providing Convention and Exhibition Facilities located under one room at no charge to the National League of Cities, including space as outlined in the host city specifications.
2. Developing and presenting a series of mobile workshops to showcase local, innovative, and unique projects that have been developed and implemented. Mobile workshops will be finalized by CVB and approved by NLC at least 6 months in advance.
3. Developing a comprehensive Spouse/Guest Program and providing a designated lounge, with soft furniture and light refreshments, during conference hours.
4. Assisting in development and establishment of a Local Funding Committee
ALTERNATIVES:
City Council may choose to amend any elements of this resolution or not to extend the invitation to the National League of Cities to San Antonio for the 2019 City Summit.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Concessions will be established in writing prior to the event. Current estimated value of hosting obligations is $550,000. Concessions will be a mixture of hotel rebates, City of San Antonio hotel occupancy tax, sponsorships, partnerships, fundraising, in-kind contributions, and the Texas Events Trust Fund.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this resolution in requesting the NLC hold its 2019 City Summit in San Antonio, Texas.