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Denison Arts Council reports lower hotel‑occupancy tax revenue, announces new hire and office plans
Summary
The Denison Arts Council told the City Council HOT revenue dipped and is down about $20,000 year‑to‑date; the council heard festival attendance and vendor metrics, and the Arts Council announced the unanimous selection of Nancy Decker as a new staff hire and a pending purchase of 500 West Woodard for office space.
The Denison Arts Council reported to the City Council on June 1 that hotel‑occupancy tax (HOT) revenues have dipped since December and, though recovering, remain below prior levels. Cindy Salem, president of the Denison Arts Council, told the council the council allocates 14% of HOT to the Arts Council and said the organization is “down about $20,000” but operating from carried‑over funds.
Salem reviewed recent activity tied to the North Texas Art Festival at KD Depot. She said about 30 vendors participated, with 20 survey responses indicating nine vendors stayed in hotels. Salem reported attendance figures of roughly 850 on Friday and 450 on Sunday and said many vendors traveled from outside the immediate area; she recommended moving earlier in the festival calendar next year to attract more professional travelers.
On staffing and facilities, Salem said the Arts Council is in the final 30 days of discovery to purchase 500 West Woodard to serve as office space. She announced the unanimous selection of Nancy Decker, from Spring, Texas, as a new staff hire: “Her first day of work will be June 15,” Salem said, and the goal is to have Decker locally by Aug. 15, contingent in part on her husband securing employment in the ISD system.
Council members commended the festival and thanked the Arts Council. Salem said the organization will report more detailed tourism metrics to the tourism board at a later meeting and that adjustments to registration and marketing timing should improve vendor hotel usage next year.
