[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6751198,"mediaKeyId","5131383-f664c8ff329503ff44345131a63765e3","parentId",5131383,"title","Visit Laredo highlights Taco Trail, Coffee Trail, sister-cities festival and media partnerships","audioSeconds",923,"startMs",792000,"endMs",1715000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5131383-f664c8ff329503ff44345131a63765e3&start=792&end=1715","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5131383-f664c8ff329503ff44345131a63765e3/thumbnail_792000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6751198/Laredo/Webb-County/Texas/Visit-Laredo-highlights-Taco-Trail-Coffee-Trail-sister-cities-festival-and-media-partnerships","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6751198-42428fe2f077337e69e880bf370094f3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160751&Signature=EHnN40sK3e9fBUcinTLHgegP5igdWVKFhzu~5FG6JpKjqDxTtIn4IjqUsTl-~1C-KArTRA3OQuXzn6KVtLaAyX-JDQFn96DCycfyxUb47nTyc9DfRF26VQfSuJroYI-m5Np6dRqoz0OyD-0ZpCDejnKqNac3whsvT1B6ym98WrWHylH~aB7Gd7eAYNlRVpQnwnAowlP7y03XPOYAR1JZ6X2YHA7TfmlEULm~3zoKKflbNQHiU3n483fA6ZpoeyTChImXiDObmvKIcjQvrGiHRhPRdaIL5iqAKFDrVgpHxcavYun94w5jvi2zq-O1A4gMAywGs191jgWvU-hbaIa0Kg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Laredo, Texas","date","2025-07-03T20:53:55.303Z","article","Visit Laredo staff told the advisory committee that local branding efforts such as the Taco Trail and Coffee Trail are generating interest among hoteliers, media outlets and tour operators.

\"They still appreciate that,\" a hotelier said of the trails, describing positive guest and media feedback. Staff said media coverage this month included a Road Tripping feature from We Are Austin and a national morning-style show from Monterrey, Viva La Vie, which ran segments focused on sports and the city's assets.

Staff outlined festival planning for the upcoming sister-cities event: opening ceremonies at the arena, more than 200 vendors from Mexico, an artisan lele-doll workshop hosted by Queretaro partners (age and fee restrictions noted: likely 14 and older; $30 suggested in the discussion), and the addition of a 5K and one-mile walk. Staff said exhibitor documentation and visa coordination are being handled with partner organization Hispanic International.

For event activations, staff described a sponsored selfie/photo booth (sponsor logo to appear on take-home prints and digital shares) and a large inflatable lele that will be placed outside the arena during the festival. Staff also noted planning for a hard-hat tour and an October opening for the new DoubleTree hotel; the hotel will have meeting space but a reduced footprint compared with the previous facility.

On sports tourism and the Border Olympics, staff explained the challenge of tracking room nights when participants use third-party short-term rentals or self-book. To estimate economic impact and room needs, staff uses team rosters and schedules to project rooms per team (players, coaches) and conducts post-event surveys for tournaments where feasible. Staff said they coordinate with tournament organizers to obtain estimates and will explore electronic surveys to improve tracking.

Staff asked the committee to help promote the festival, consider sponsorships and support partnerships that extend marketing reach into Mexico and U.S. media markets.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Covention & Visitors Bureau Advisory Committee Meeting 070325","oneSentenceSummary","Visit Laredo staff said local marketing programs including the Taco Trail and Coffee Trail are attracting hotel and media interest and outlined programming for the sister-cities festival, new activations and partnerships with Mexican media.","taxTitle","Laredo, Webb County, Texas","taxId",2820,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6751203,"Visit Laredo reviews year-end finances; staff outlines hotel-occupancy-tax funding and short-term-rental collection work",555,450000,1005000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5131383-f664c8ff329503ff44345131a63765e3&start=450&end=1005","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5131383-f664c8ff329503ff44345131a63765e3/thumbnail_450000.jpg","/articles/6751203/Laredo/Webb-County/Texas/Visit-Laredo-reviews-year-end-finances-staff-outlines-hotel-occupancy-tax-funding-and-short-term-rental-collection-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6751203-42e6727ca4dd06ef65e89487e4d6d18a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160751&Signature=d524YeMACC5AIKxj7slTvvDoaTrKIXs0z8O8dZWVkGbQSmybbASisd6XKceR2LRQ5Aqbh9EtCH0udJoiJdt1JE4N21xJT5QZqeprGCeXyGngeKI~2m546nP2aaarc3Mytxqq6TFBPwGTllBGA3tp-K7IFEeXGWqeCO6eWs8c-hQH-GwrCOAnTwbq8Vi-i6tM5VOTZ65-VhiSd7AN6c1aLFni1mtzg6e3ZB45fXFRI8c9LaerqV8gsZHMQDn90cvi8eAcWXgtXCaFkwO0sh4gg5paMS2PEHJ6axsAol~imOgXxYfIe~xDqkMzxRyMUbCHuYhIHTF5H9LGzp9cj9YWQg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Visit Laredo staff reviewed monthly financials and reminded the advisory committee that nearly all the bureau’s operations are funded by the hotel-occupancy tax.

\"We are the only department in the city that's fully funded by the tax that the visitors paid to the hotels,\" a staff member said, explaining that salaries, office operations and many programs rely on those collections.

Staff reported they are monitoring collections closely because the city is operating under a recent budget moratorium and because timing differences in hotel reporting can produce monthly variances. Committee members raised a $200,000 dip in May collections; staff said that figure may be a reporting timing issue and that they will monitor the next months before concluding it is an actual decline.

The committee also discussed short-term rentals (Airbnb and similar platforms). A member asked whether a legislative change was required to collect occupancy tax from short-term rentals. The staff member said Visit Laredo is coordinating with the city tax department and does not expect a legislative fix is necessary, and that a meeting with tax staff is scheduled to gather information to begin collection efforts.

Staff reiterated that organizations funded with hotel-occupancy tax monies must follow the bureau’s spending rules and submission requirements to receive reimbursements, and that third-party grants tied to occupancy tax also follow those rules.

No formal budget action or reallocation was taken at the meeting; staff said they will return to the committee if substantive policy or spending changes are needed.","Staff told the advisory committee Visit Laredo operations are funded by hotel-occupancy tax, reviewed monthly financials, noted a possible $200,000 May variance pending reporting reconciliation, and said staff is coordinating with the city tax department to begin collecting tax from short-term rentals when feasible.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6751208,"Visit Laredo advisory committee approves prior minutes, excuses two absences",92,29000,121000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5131383-f664c8ff329503ff44345131a63765e3&start=29&end=121","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5131383-f664c8ff329503ff44345131a63765e3/thumbnail_29000.jpg","/articles/6751208/Laredo/Webb-County/Texas/Visit-Laredo-advisory-committee-approves-prior-minutes-excuses-two-absences","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6751208-4d0fb247893924dc6987e120a2845f69/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160751&Signature=oUqtkTzzSvWgkvWLrMi8NCUXbEKNybTDx5rfEDuYqLeucs6NSq5PccoJcnK8qrHEhm54GjBQv-GF2~v6X6n03121EtQXumsrjPfr9N8YA2hwbGE-89LeG9KJRILNrNhKEpbRu0DPjmHS1Pv9TPNaO0PZcRxgVQOnn0kfj~QXIT9aAlEI53KpEHWmG~xPerUnbZykM2o~9PO4vs5~IhnKepsC75Mg51qxOgpctu-6OyJ-abBNBGb3eekZry9HWmQz37bqWMF56cyXtPPxmTLIuesEqSK-wD-EgH9T1ECabYPwxl0nQTs4qnRNLWI~iGAvSpGbaubXsDp5oN3CLUfU1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of the Visit Laredo advisory committee voted to approve the minutes of the previous meeting and to excuse the absences of Remy Carmina and Miss Lucas.

The motions were offered during the meeting's opening business and the chair called for a voice vote; members responded \"Aye\" and no members voiced opposition. The committee then proceeded to staff and program reports.

No recorded roll-call vote was entered in the transcript, and the meeting record does not show individual yea/nay tallies beyond the voice vote. The committee chair and the member who seconded the motions were not identified by full name in the transcript.","Committee members voted to approve the previous meeting minutes and to excuse the absences of Remy Carmina and Miss Lucas. The approvals were recorded by voice vote with no opposition.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6751193,"Visit Laredo previews training, accessibility work, podcast and a pilot to convert business travelers to leisure visitors",2027,1990000,4017000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5131383-f664c8ff329503ff44345131a63765e3&start=1990&end=4017","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5131383-f664c8ff329503ff44345131a63765e3/thumbnail_1990000.jpg","/articles/6751193/Laredo/Webb-County/Texas/Visit-Laredo-previews-training-accessibility-work-podcast-and-a-pilot-to-convert-business-travelers-to-leisure-visitors","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6751193-6d0859075423a25a476843322bf33b48/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160751&Signature=UxO6eLPfMX05O~a70Q14YB10OyD61UvxuIoLIIdc3bLBtia1ycT1LwS0boyZVk6gx-QOY8HkbiAB9VJHXURwHkrR5nSJ5akOmWt18kpDDRI3f00QYdckWv7kMGxwve-pqpWRTO7OKEhIatVE~ekxBtgT8BVyf1iv6EvWCRVbS1KqUCMdacfhMm7SfMoRWONSH6KIMP4GEilhp6-CGB22kg3uENLiDEmtQx0-u6xWcMc54EwRd0J0ip1PaMDPQVM16limeQRnFeIIMwX-VD9EbN~rPnTGqbxst1Dn19uJ9l9AxhBTNnPhSp2vVa0O9x8L7-o7qoWkromYLugpbkBZVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Visit Laredo staff updated the advisory committee on several ongoing programs and operational initiatives.

Staff said multiple employees have participated in Tourism College certification courses; one staff member was reported as a newly certified tourism executive. The director noted she had been invited to present Visit Laredo’s \"Wheel the World\" inclusiveness initiative to peers and alumni, highlighting destination accessibility work.

Content efforts include a biweekly blog and a podcast that focuses on local businesses and visitor niches. The podcast has been distributed through web platforms, Apple and Spotify; staff plans to expand into live recordings and YouTube content as equipment is procured.

Staff also previewed an initiative informally called \"leisure,\" which aims to convert business and government travelers who are already visiting the city into leisure visitors by packaging local experiences and promotions. The bureau said the concept has been presented to city management and that more details will be returned to the advisory committee at a future meeting.

Members raised operational questions about transportation support for large tournaments (van and bus availability), and staff said they maintain contacts for bus rentals and coordinate with transit providers as needed. Staff said a meeting-planner guide listing meeting spaces and capacities is available on the Visit Laredo website for event organizers.

No formal committee action was taken on the pilot program; staff will bring detailed plans to a future meeting.","Staff reported progress on professional development (Tourism College certifications), presented accessibility work under the 'Wheel the World' initiative, updated members on Visit Laredo’s blog and podcast plans, and previewed a new pilot to convert business travelers into leisure visitors.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Visit Laredo highlights Taco Trail, Coffee Trail, sister-cities festival and media partnerships

Visit Laredo reviews year-end finances; staff outlines hotel-occupancy-tax funding and short-term-rental collection work

Visit Laredo advisory committee approves prior minutes, excuses two absences

Visit Laredo previews training, accessibility work, podcast and a pilot to convert business travelers to leisure visitors