DEPARTMENT: Convention & Visitors Bureau
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Casandra Matej, Director
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: All
SUBJECT:
Briefing on the San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau transition to a public/private 501(c)(6) non-profit organization.
SUMMARY:
This is a briefing to provide City Council an update on the San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau (SACVB) transition to a public/private 501(c)(6) non-profit organization and the update on the status of the proposed management agreement between the City of San Antonio and Visit San Antonio (newly created non-profit).
Competition between destinations for leisure visitors, meetings, and conventions is growing at both a national and international level. A primary goal for this transition is to cultivate a dynamic and competitive destination marketing organization that affords the best competitive advantage to sustain and grow the San Antonio visitor industry.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The visitor industry is a key economic generator for the City of San Antonio with a $13.4 billion annual economic impact. Additionally, San Antonio hosts more than 32.5 million visitors annually, which provides for more than 122,500 local jobs. The significance of the CVB's efforts working jointly with its partners is directly connected to the success of San Antonio's visitor industry. The SACVB is the only organization of the top 50 U.S. cities in a city governed structure, including all cities in our competitive set.
In May 2015, Mayor Taylor appointed a CVB Structure Task Force chaired by SeaWorld President Dan Decker and comprised of more than a dozen local industry leaders. The task force was charged with determining an ideal CVB structure that would afford a greater competitive advantage for the City and the destination.
In December 2015, that Task Force recomm...
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