At the League City Convention & Visitors Bureau board’s first meeting of 2025, staff summarized a slate of tourism, marketing and compliance projects intended to boost visitation and manage event impacts.

Staff member Stephanie reported the CVB is redesigning its site to a new WordPress platform with integrated event and place feeds that link to a mobile app; the planned launch window is Q1 2025. The CVB said the platform will streamline navigation, surface reviews and photos from third-party sources and feed content into the agency’s travel app.

Stephanie also outlined ballpark marketing after the city assumed facility management last February. Staff have produced new sales collateral and a sponsorship packet and are coordinating contracts with the city’s legal department. The CVB noted a large international tournament scheduled March 13–16: organizers expect about 60 teams and roughly 23,000 attendees, requiring attention to parking, shuttles and on-site visitor information.

On arts and community programs, staff described a new artists-in-residence program at the restored Gerardi House. The CVB opened applications with a Feb. 14 deadline and plans to award up to three nine-month residencies; residents will offer free classes or workshops to residents in exchange for studio use.

Staff also promoted several ongoing community events and initiatives: a new small-works art gallery opening this Friday; a music-friendly-city certification granted April 26 at the Music in the Historic District concert; a Clear Creek cleanup series that culminates Feb. 15; and a nonprofit expo at the Civic Center that connects volunteers and residents with more than 60 nonprofits.

On regulatory matters, staff reported the city has 47 short-term rental properties on its compliance list. The CVB said it secured compliance agreements with platforms including VRBO/Expedia and Airbnb so taxes are remitted directly to the city, and that the city is using Deckard Technology’s Rentalscape service for outreach. Rentalscape sends three notices to identified listings; properties that do not respond are referred to code enforcement.

Performance metrics presented to the board included website and app usage, social media reach and hotel market statistics from STR through November 2024: average daily rate $110, occupancy 69.1%, RevPAR $77, demand 11,515 room nights and a room supply of 16,670 (hotels only; short-term rentals excluded). Tourism staff said Q1 hotel tax collections were pending and the CVB has $100,000 available for hot-tax grants, with individual awards up to $10,000.

Board members and industry representatives in attendance — including Jose Miranda of South Shore Harbor Resort and business owners from the historic district — discussed volunteer staffing for upcoming events and local partnerships for the ballpark and tourism campaigns.

Staff said they will return with progress updates and requested board members promote the hot-tax grant application and artist-residency opportunity to local partners.