The Uvalde City Council voted during its May 10th meeting to contract with the Uvalde Chamber of Commerce to administer the city’s Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT Tax) effectively ending the contract for the Uvalde Convention and Visitors Bureau. (Uvalde CVB). Main Street Uvalde Manager Susan Rios and Uvalde CVB committee member Al Ortiz spoke on behalf of the Uvalde CVB at that City Council meeting prior to the vote.
Following the decision by the City Council, Rios has continued her work as Uvalde Main Street manager, recently hosting the Main Street Uvalde Honors & Hors d’ oeuvres event at Broadway 830. Also she has been working with the CVB council on the logistics of the changeover including the shutting down of the Convention and Visitors Bureau’s office located at 300 East Main Street. Other issues that need to be addressed include what happens to the tourism materials owned by the Uvalde CVB and what happens to the digital marquis on the corner of Main Street and Wood.
According to Rios, The Convention and Visitors Bureau currently programs the announcements displayed on the marquis. “The board (Uvalde CVB board) has pledged its support for me as long as it’s needed,“ she said. She went on to say the changeover process will be complete by September.
As the busy summer tourism season is on the cusp of beginning, the Uvalde Chamber of Commerce appears to have much work to do.,
In a phone interview with Uvalde Area Chamber of Commerce Director, John Yeackle, he said the Chamber’s tourism plans will start with the Firecracker Fest on July 4th to be held at the Uvalde County Fairplex.
According to the event flier, this free event will start at 10 am. Activities at the event will include: the Little Miss and Mr. Firecracker Pageant, Car Show by Defiant Racing, Battle of the DJ’s, Uvalde Cornhole Tournament, and Next Level Wrestling Show There will also be food trucks and vendors. The event will conclude with a Concert featuring Del Rio Native William Beckmann followed by a fireworks display.
Additionally, during the months of July and August, the Chamber plans on organizing a shuttle service between Concan and Uvalde utilizing shuttles provided by Southwest Area Regional Transit (SWART).
According to Yeackle, once the changeover is complete the Chamber plans on moving its location to the offices to the Uvalde Convention and Visitors Bureau Building located at 300 East Main Street. He went on to say the Chamber is offering its offices at 340 North Getty to the Uvalde Mainstreet Program at no charge
