City offering funding for tourism projects
The City of San Benito is initiating a new program to promote tourism and the hotel and convention industry locally.
The City’s newly appointed Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) Advisory Board is accepting applications from groups and businesses whose events have the ability to generate overnight visitors to San Benito hotels. The forms can be found on the City of San Benito’s website and on the San Benito City Hall Facebook site.
Categories that may be considered include promotion of the arts that directly:
- Enhance tourism and the Hotel & Convention industry
- Advertise/promote programs to attract tourists including sporting events
- Restore or preserve historical projects
- Construction/operations of a convention Center or visitor information center
- Registration of convention delegates
- Others that may qualify.
Applicants will be required to complete a Funding Application that details information related to the specific event such as background, proposed uses of fund request, estimated percentage of event, facility and staff costs covered by the HOT.
A post event report will also be required that includes amount of funding spent, how the funds were spent, actual percentages of event, facility and staff costs covered by HOT, number of room blocks established, marketing costs, and metrics indicating impact on the community.
Members of the new HOT Advisory Board include Sam Patel owner of Lone Star Inn; Henry Bhakta, owner of Americas Best Value Inn; Anna de la Cruz, citizen and Manuel De La Rosa, city manager. One seat previously held by former City Commissioner Ricardo Guerra is currently vacant.
For more information, please call Martha McClain or Martin Saenz, city liaisons to the HOT Board, at 956-361-3804; or visit http://cityofsanbenito.com/681/Hotel-Occupancy-Tax-Committee.