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Tag Archives: Hotel Occupancy Tax

Council sets the stage for more short-term rental regulations, with tax collection to begin in April

​​The city will soon begin requiring platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo to collect and remit Hotel Occupancy Tax revenues on behalf of short-term rental properties, marking the first in a number of expected changes in the industry. The change,…

City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 28, 2025

City releases short list for 2025 Heritage Preservation Grant

Bids for the city’s Heritage Preservation Grant are in, and staffers are circling in on the lucky landmarks deemed worthy to snag a slice of the pie. Heritage Tourism Division Manager Melissa Alvarado stopped by last week’s meeting of the…

Preservation • By Kali Bramble • Feb 11, 2025

Study of arts, music grant programs finds gaps among award recipients

A new study examining how Austin distributes Hotel Occupancy Tax funds for arts and culture programs found that some groups and areas of the city are missing out on the progress being made in helping some historically underserved communities. The…

City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 4, 2025

On second try, Tourism Commission votes in favor of equity-based preservation plan

The Tourism Commission has changed its stance from last month and approved a recommendation that City Council adopt the Planning Department’s Equity-Based Preservation Plan, which intended to guide the city’s use of hotel taxes dedicated toward historic preservation. Last month,…

Preservation • By Chad Swiatecki • Nov 15, 2024

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Hotels nearing agreement on tax plan to provide homelessness services funding

City leaders expect a long-in-coming new hotel tax that could provide money for homelessness services to be ready for final City Council approval within the month. On Monday, the Austin Business Journal reported that the proposed Tourism Public Improvement District…

Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 10, 2024

Music Commission wants STR taxes to increase Live Music Fund awards

The Music Commission wants to increase funding for the Live Music Fund from its current $4.5 million total, and could push for hotel taxes from short-term rental sites as a funding source. At last week’s meeting, the commission received an…

Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 15, 2024

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Arts group blasts memo blocking city from purchasing historic church space

The nonprofit Austin Creative Alliance has pushed back against a memo from city staff that appears to have derailed an effort by City Council members to preserve a pair of East Austin properties that serve as the group’s headquarters and…

Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Jul 18, 2024

Music Commission recommends fine-tuning city incentives for music venues, creative spaces

Members of the Music Commission want the city to explore more ways for a proposed incentive program for small businesses to address some of the specific real estate realities live music venues face throughout the city. Last week’s meeting included…

Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Jun 12, 2024

City offers $4.5M for musicians, venues in latest Live Music Fund

Local musicians and qualifying independent music venues will be able to apply for $4.5 million in grants available in the second cohort of the Live Music Fund. The program, which was approved by City Council in 2019 using Hotel Occupancy…

Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • May 16, 2024

Arts commissioners signal support for city funds for The Contemporary art museum

Members of the Arts Commission appear ready to advocate for The Contemporary Austin fine art museum and sculpture park to receive consistent city funding beyond Hotel Occupancy Tax dollars. This week’s commission meeting featured a presentation from Sharon Maidenberg, executive…

Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 19, 2024

Tourism Commission considers how to grow hotel taxes beyond convention business

The Tourism Commission has turned its attention to how tourist attractions throughout the city could work collectively to increase the average hotel stay, which would gradually lead to substantial increases in Hotel Occupancy Tax revenues. At last week’s meeting, the…

Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 21, 2024

Music Commission wants tight guidelines on venues receiving Live Music Fund awards

The Music Commission has formed a working group that could reshape how the city will award grants to live music venues as part of an expansion of the Live Music Fund. The group, which will likely include five commission members…

Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 8, 2024

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