Uvalde Area Chamber of Commerce (UACC) Executive Director John Yeackle pitched an offer to the Uvalde City Council to consider contracting with the Chamber to administer the tourism promotion program funded by the hotel -motel occupancy tax (HOT Tax) Yeackle was accompanied by the UACC Director of Marketing Mario MJ Miller at the Tuesday, April 26th council meeting.
The Uvalde Convention and Visitors Bureau, a non-profit organization whose offices are located at 300 East Main Street was established by the City of Uvalde to administer the HOT Tax monies collected from tourists staying at hotel and motels and other commercial lodging entities within the city limits.
A few months ago, the city did not renew its three-year contract with the Uvalde Convention and Visitors Bureau earlier this year in March. Uvalde CVB Executive Director Debra Stifflemire resigned mid-March amid an uncertain future of the organization. Stifflemire issued a one-page press release to the media following her notice of resignation to the City.
Yeackle proposed a one and a half year contract between the City and the Uvalde Chamber of Commerce to administer the HOT Tax. The Uvalde Chamber of Commerce operates as a 501c3 non-profit organization outside of the umbrella of the City. Currently the City of Uvalde is allowed a non-voting board member of the Uvalde Chamber of Commerce.
Under Yeackle’s new proposal, that non-voting member would become a voting member or the Chamber would allow the city to add an additional voting member with the non-voting member remaining on the board.
The followjng are some of the key points of the new proposed plan:
- The Chamber would operate as more of a general contractor relationship with the City.
- The Uvalde Chamber would move to the existing Uvalde CVB offices and then offer its offices located at 340 North Getty Street to the Main Street Uvalde.
- The Chamber proposes a pilot program with Southwest Area Regional Transit (SWART) to offer bus services between Concan and Uvalde during the summer tourism season and during Spring Break week. Working closely with the Texas Hill Country River Region (THCRR), the buses would bring Concan tourists to Uvalde and back. Also Uvalde area residents would have a means of traveling to Concan without using personal vehicles.
- Uvalde Chamber of Commerce would open on weekends when tourists are in Uvalde.
- Running the Chamber like a business and creating more revenue streams
The Chamber would take 50% of the total HOT Tax monies collected with the remaining monies being retained by the City for use in promoting the Uvalde Opera House and authorized uses.
“We prefer to have our own team; we’re building a culture.” Yeackle said.
“Our sincere belief is we are at a time and the best year to promote this community we call home” Yeakle said.
Following the presentation, the council did not take action at this meeting on the proposal.
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