Laredo tourism staff report strong hotel tax collections, outline marketing push and outreach plans

Laredo Convention & Visitors Bureau staff reported to the board that year-to-date hotel and motel occupancy tax collections are on track, with January collections described as “outstanding” compared with previous years, and outlined several marketing initiatives and advocacy trips planned for the coming months.

The update focused on the bureau’s budget outlook and on-the-ground marketing work. “January collections were outstanding. Yes. They exceeded even all the previous years collections,” the staff member reported, adding that staff are monitoring trends as the bureau prepares the next fiscal-year budget. The presentation noted concern that deployments of National Guard and state troopers to local hotels could reduce average daily rate (ADR) and occupancy in some properties, and that the bureau will account for that in forecasts.

The bureau summarized current and planned marketing work: ongoing partnership outreach with local organizations including Border Olympics; the Taco Trail promotion; expanded sales activity and convention-sales outreach; and targeted work to attract birding visitors and meeting planners. Staff said they contracted a Mexican photographer and videographer who previously contributed features to Food & Travel Mexico to produce new…