This Just In: Austin Press Releases

Austin is known for its music scene, capital-city attractions, and one annual event in particular: the SXSW Music, Film and Interactive Conferences and Festivals. SXSW 2011 saw a significant increase in attendance – particularly for the Interactive Conference & Festival, which welcomed more than 20,000 people in 2011.  (more)

Austin City Council today took final votes to move forward with construction of a convention-style Marriott Marquis hotel in downtown Austin, just three blocks from the Austin Convention Center. The hotel will be the city’s largest, with 1,003 guestrooms and 103,000 square feet of meeting and event space. Construction is slated to begin in early 2012 and will take around 32 months according to the developers, White Lodging Services Corp.  (more)

Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) named Arron Brooks, Account Director for the Corporate and Central Region Association Markets at the Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau (Austin CVB), as one of thirty future leaders of the destination marketing industry.  (more)

The familiar sounds of Austin’s guitars and soulful singers give way to the revving of motorcycle engines, June 9-12. Over the four days, some 50,000 motorcycle enthusiasts will attend the 17th annual Republic of Texas Biker Rally in downtown Austin and at the Travis County Expo Center. Visitor spending associated with the event is approximately $36 million.  (more)

The Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau (Austin CVB) has launched a new mobile application and iPhone application that serve as instant, interactive guides to the city for leisure travelers.  (more)

America’s best ruggers take the field during the USA Rugby Division I, II and III Men’s Club Playoffs in Austin, May 22-23. More than 600 athletes representing 24 teams come from across the U.S. to deliver the nation’s highest level of men’s club rugby to Texas’ capital city.  (more)

Further diversifying Austin's music landscape, the 2010 Guitar Foundation of America International Convention & Competition makes its way to the Long Center for the Performing Arts on June 22-27. The event includes what is widely recognized as the world's most prestigious international classical guitar competition. Hosted this year by the Austin Classical Guitar Society, this unique festival vision draws together 12 collaborating artistic partners ranging from the Austin Symphony and Austin Lyric Opera, to Zach Scott Theater, the Alamo Drafthouse, Austin Children's Museum and many more.  (more)

The Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau (Austin CVB) today launched a new interactive tool to solicit convention groups: the Five-Minute Meeting Planner. This user-friendly, time-saving web application offers meeting planners the opportunity to quickly enter basic event details and compare the area hotels, service providers and vendors that can best accommodate their group or convention. This online tool will be available exclusively through www.austintexas.org. The Austin CVB is the first tourism bureau in the U.S. to launch such a tool.  (more)

The Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau (Austin CVB) is working closely with major March conventions to boost attendance and increase registration. Overall, Austin stands to benefit from an economic injection of some $166 million in March 2010.  (more)