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Tourism subcommittee recommends changes to HOT funds awards: higher event share, 25-room-night minimum, $15,000 cap
Summary
Tourism staff told council the tourism advisory subcommittee recommends moving more HOT funds to event applicants (70%), imposing a 25-room-night minimum to qualify, reducing arts group share to 30%, and capping maximum awards at $15,000 to balance allocations across events and arts organizations.
Tourism staff presented recommended adjustments to the city’s HOT (hotel-occupancy-tax) awards program that the tourism advisory subcommittee discussed at a public workshop.
Joel Knowles explained the core recommendations: increase the events group share of available HOT funding from 65% to 70% (roughly $94,500 on an assumed $135,000 pot), require applicants in that group to demonstrate at least 25 hotel room nights to qualify, reduce the arts/historic group to 30% of the pot (about $40,500) and distribute 90% of that group’s allocation evenly with 10% based on room‑night share, and set a maximum award amount of $15,000.
Knowles said the changes aim to balance awards so that recurring arts organizations that generate steady cultural programming are not drowned out by one large room‑night generator in the same category. He told council the recommendations originated with a tourism advisory subcommittee meeting that included community advisors James Wierden, Brian Keith, Rosanna Frisch and Jennifer Jordan.
Council members welcomed the proposal and no objections were raised during the brief discussion; staff will incorporate the recommended rule changes into the upcoming HOT funds application period (July 1–31). Ending: Staff said the changes should provide clearer expectations for applicants, streamline awards and help distribute HOT funds across events and ongoing arts/historic organizations.
