GOVERNMENT
Tourismboard regroups after pandemic losses
RECOVERY BEGINS
After hotel occupancy revenue dropped by more than $5 million in fiscal year 2019-20, it saw an increase in 2020-21 as bookings resumed.
BY VANESSA HOLT
due to the hybrid nature, it means we can now accommodate events that used to be too large for our venues to counteract any groups that have shrunk for 2022,” Eddins said. The emergence of the omicron variant does not appear poised to change these strategies, Sales Director Josie Lewis said. “People are ready to meet in per- son again, so event organizers have honed in on how to do so responsi- bly,” Lewis said. Visit The Woodlands is also build- ing its international marketing. Wolda said Mexico is a strong market for leisure and medical travelers to The Woodlands, and previous marketing efforts have been successful. At the same time, local hotels have seen some changes: The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Conven- tion Center completed a renovation in 2020; The Woodlands Resort is converting to the first Curio Resort by Hilton in Texas with planned renova- tions; and the Hyatt Centric in Market Street is also undergoing renovations, Wolda said. Although neighboring Shenandoah also has a robust hotel base with 13 hotels, including three that opened in 2021, Wolda said there is “more than enough business to go around.” Shenandoah also saw its hotel occu- pancy tax revenue decline by 42% to $889,000 in fiscal year 2019-20, but climbed to about $973,000 in FY 2020-21, according to city documents. “Hotel collections for The Wood- lands are on a major growth trend. ... Visit The Woodlands remains positive about the outlook,” Wolda said.
chamber in 2015. “The chamber has historically been on the board, I believe since its inception, and I think it is important that the chamber be on [the] Visit The Woodlands board because it is an economic driver for our business community, and the insights that we add are valuable,” he said. Wolda said the changes were made to center the board’s focus on hotel representation. “This year’s three members appointed by The Woodlands Town- ship board of directors opted to go with seven [VTW] directors this year and with entities/individuals who have the great[est] interest in the collection of hotel tax,” Wolda said. The number of board members has varied from seven to 10 over the years, Wolda said. The positions are not paid. Prospects for 2022 Since the pandemic began, con- ventions and events have seen some changes in how they are conducted. VTW Executive Director Elizabeth Eddins said many events now offer a hybrid experience with both in-per- son and virtual options. “For the events that are smaller
Following losses in hotel occu- pancy tax revenue throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, a return to business as usual has begun to take shape, according to local hospitality industry officials. The Woodlands Township’s 14 hotel properties were projected to generate $6.2 million in hotel occu- pancy tax revenue in 2021, a 43.7% increase from 2020, according to Nick Wolda, president of convention and visitors bureau Visit The Woodlands. Hotel occupancy tax is used to help promote tourism. “We’re at a very important point in time when competition is developing throughout the region and finding new ways ... to keep visitor spending strong in The Woodlands,” Wolda said. Board changes The Visit The Woodlands board began the year by reorganizing from nine to seven members. The changes left J.J. Hollie, president of The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce, and Ted Harris, general manager of The Woodlands Mall, off the board. Hollie said he had served on the board since he started with the
Fiscal year
NEW IN 2022
The Visit The Woodlands board was trimmed from nine to seven members in January.
Visit The Woodlands board members:
John Anthony Brown township director
Bruce Rieser township director
Shelley Sekula-Gibbs township director
Jenny Taylor general manager of Market Street Cameron Klepac director of marketing and education for The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Fred Domenick general manager of The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center Monique Sharp the township’s interim general manager and president
EVENTS PLANNED Conferences and events are planned at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center in 2022.
Lunar Planetary Science Conference 2022
Texas Association of Sports Officials- Volleyball annual meeting Copa Rayados Soccer Tournament 2022
Ironman Texas 2022
SOURCE: VISIT THE WOODLANDS/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
SOURCE: VISIT THE WOODLANDS/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
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THE WOODLANDS EDITION • FEBRUARY 2022
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