CBC staff updated the commission on international flight performance, advertising and public-relations activity, and sales pipeline metrics aimed at sustaining convention and leisure demand.

A CBC staff member said two nonstop international routes — Icelandair’s seasonal service and Aer Lingus — were performing well, with Icelandair extending the season through January and Aer Lingus showing high load factors. Staff said those routes and related marketing support were a positive sign for international inbound travel.

Heather (marketing staff) described consumer and trade publicity placements, including a ticketed, consumer-facing Today Show appearance with Jenna Bush Hager May 30–31 at the W Hotel, and digital advertising and content placements in the U.K., Ireland, the Nordics, France, the Netherlands and Germany to support international flights. Heather said CBC has increased funding for online travel agencies and drive-market campaigns to offset softer leisure weekends and that a new co-op marketing program for hotel partners will begin in July with the new fiscal year.

On sales, staff reported an ambitious pipeline. CBC staff said combined tourism sales and convention sales aim to reach 2,000,000 room nights for the year and that bids are out as far as 2041. One staff member said citywide convention recovery is expected to reach pre-pandemic convention levels when compared to 2019 numbers. Staff also said they have tracked about 8,000 room nights that have fallen off the books and that the government market has shown some pullback pending federal funding decisions.

Staff emphasized continued PR efforts: since January the CBC hosted more than 100 journalists in market, and staff described media visits on inaugural flights to support new routes. Commissioners asked about lead volume and cancellations; staff said short-term lead metrics had shown a recent spike and that they were monitoring cancellations but had not yet seen a widespread citywide drop-off.