Visit The Woodlands reports soft April hotel demand, launches summer campaign and executive shuttle to Love Field

Visit The Woodlands presented its quarterly report to the township June 25, highlighting a modest softening in April hotel demand and a range of tourism promotion efforts aimed at bolstering overnight stays.

The bureau said April hotel demand was down about 3.6 percent year‑over‑year and noted calendar effects — overlapping major events and Easter timing — that affected April comparisons. Director Nick (Visit The Woodlands) said the organization is pursuing a summer multimedia campaign to promote leisure travel through August and to bring more group business back in the fall. "The summer travel right now campaign has been off to a great start," he said.

Visit The Woodlands also reported operational initiatives: a new gift‑card program called YIFTI that provides rebates for local restaurants and shops, elevator clings and other in‑market marketing, and an executive bus service offering four daily trips to Dallas Love Field (arriving at the DoubleTree near Love Field) with box lunches on board. Officials said the shuttle is reasonably priced and could be expanded if demand supports it; directors discussed the possibility of a future Austin route.

The board accepted the quarterly report on a voice vote (moved by Director Frank; seconded by Director Sekula Gibbs; motion carries). Staff noted an RFP has been issued to analyze future convention and hotel needs and that the tourism economic development zone (previously supported by the board) is still under development with hotel partners.