. The site includes a listing of local events and downloadable trip itineraries with events in and around Cedar Park. The site is intended for travelers, but has proven to be a good resource for locals looking for activities as well.Branding, or making the Cedar Park name recognizable, is also an important part of what Marketing Edge Ventures does.
"I want to be really careful that we don't become 'that place northwest of Austin,'" Stevens said. "I want people to know it's called Cedar Park."
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Stevens used the city of Grapevine as an example of successful branding. Grapevine is nestled in the shadow of Ft. Worth and is lower in population than Cedar Park, yet the city is well known across the state for its water parks and hotels.
As part of the branding effort, the event center will bear Cedar Park's name. Hicks Cedar Park, the firm behind the event center, can sell the naming rights to the building, but the final name must include the words: Cedar Park.
"Tourism and marketing have been an area that hasn't had much attention in the past due to the lack of attractions, but both our Council and Tourism Advisory Board realize that this area will soon be of utmost importance," said Carr. "It's critical that we have a marketing strategy in place in order to handle the tourists we expect to start flooding our way when new attractions open."
Tourism in Leander
Leander has gotten its first taste of tourism in recent years by hosting the kite festival in March, car show in July and bluegrass festival in September. In only its third year, the bluegrass festival has garnered interest from out-of-state bands looking to participate. The kite festival, in its second year, had more than 600 citizens partake in the festivities.
"We're starting small and it's growing," Leander Parks and Recreation Director Steve Bosak said. "We try an event and if it is well received and we get good feedback, then we will continue it."
"When we first started <talking about> tourism, people laughed," Leander Chamber of Commerce President Mary Bradshaw said. "But we need to start thinking about this now because it's coming, and when it comes it will hit fast. We really need to start thinking about tourism and be prepared for it."
"There have been some hotel people nudging around for a while," Clennan said. "Lately <the developers> have been a little more serious. You can tell they are starting to have a lot more interest in the area."
Hotels are typically built in a city when it reaches a population of 30,000 to 32,000. Leander's current population is estimated to be a little more than 24,000.
"It would be nice to have something come in with a conference space," Clennan said. "It doesn't have to be huge, just enough room to host some events and get some people to stay the night."
Bradshaw is hoping Leander gets a place for tourists to stay. Money collected from the hotel occupancy tax would give the city it's first ever tourism budget.
"If we got a hotel, even if it was a 35-room Days Inn, we would start collecting some hotel tax money," Bradshaw said. "We could put together a brochure, have it distributed locally and eventually start shipping them in small quantities to all of the 12 welcome centers all over the state and that becomes huge."
Hotel Occupancy Tax
Tourism is funded primarily through the hotel occupancy tax, a tax levied on any traveler who pays for a room or space with a cost of $2 or more per day. The hotel tax rate is decided on by the city council and must pass before it can be charged.
In Cedar Park, the current hotel occupancy tax is seven percent.
Funds collected from the hotel occupancy tax are required by law to pass a two-part test before they are spent.
Marketing Edge Ventures is funded entirely by money from the hotel occupancy tax. Cedar Park also uses the money to fund advertisements, posters and banners to promote city events, and gives money to local organizations
How tourism is funded
Step 1: City council votes on a hotel occupancy tax rate. In Cedar Park that rate is seven percent. Leander does not have any hotels so it does not have a rate.
Step 2: Travelers who stay in a space costing $2 or more per night must pay the hotel occupancy tax.
Step 3: Hotels submit the hotel occupancy tax directly to the city once a month. The money goes into a seperate tourism account.
Step 4: The city spends money on flyers, promotions etc. to generate more tourism. Expenditures must, by law, pass a two-part test to be valid.
Two-part test for tourism spending
1: Every expenditure must directly enhance and promote tourism and the convention and hotel industry.
2: Every expenditure must clearly fit into one of six statutorily provided categories for expenditure of local hotel occupancy tax revenues.
Fund the establishment, improvement or maintenance of a convention center or visitor information center.
Paying the administrative costs for facilitating convention registration.
Paying for advertising, solicitations and promotions that attract tourists and convention delegates to the city or its vicinity.
Expenditures that promote the arts.
Funding historical restoration or preservation programs.
Funding costs in certain counties to hold sporting events that substantially increase hotel activity.
Contact Ellmaker Realty for more info at info@austin-cashflow or at 512-258-9899