This Just In: Austin Press Releases

They call Austin “the little blue dot in the big red state.” This weekend, Texas’ Capital City will be bluer than ever as the Texas Democratic Party returns to the Austin Convention Center for the Democratic State Convention. The convention, June 7-8, is poised to welcome a record 15,000 attendees – 50 percent more than previous years, which involved around 10,000 participants – and generate an estimated $15.3 million in economic impact for the city.  (more)

More than 300,000 visitors head to Austin in March to participate in conventions, compete in athletic events, discover the next big thing in music, meander among the wildflowers and more. Their presence represents an estimated economic impact of more than $150 million.  (more)

Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) recently hosted the second meeting of the Bureau’s Customer Advisory Board (CAB), a group of industry leaders representing associations and meeting management firms from across the country. The 25-member board met at the Hyatt Regency Austin to provide critical feedback and insight relating to the city's development as a premier meetings and convention destination.  (more)

NAMM, the trade association of the international music products industry, returns to the Austin Convention Center for Summer NAMM, July 27-29. The annual conference and trade show brings some 12,000 attendees to Austin and could generate an estimated $14 million in economic impact.  (more)

Some 40,000 bikers are revving their engines for the 12th annual Republic of Texas (ROT) Biker Rally, which roars back to Austin May 31-June 3. Four days of rides, parades, exhibits and big-name concerts take place at the Travis County Exposition Center and throughout downtown. Over the past 12 years, the ROT Rally has grown into the most popular motorcycle event in Texas and one of the largest in the country. Attendees are expected to leave behind approximately $34.5 million economic impact on the community.  (more)

The results of a comprehensive analysis by Global Insight indicates that the number of travelers for both leisure and business purposes to Austin jumped to 19 million in 2006 and generated an economic impact of $2.84 billion. This marks a 12 percent overall increase, or a 3.8 percent compound annual growth rate, since 2003 when the last tourism study was conducted and the total number of visitors reached 16.9 million. It also shows that tourism-related jobs jumped from 65,500 in 2003 to more than 76,400 in 2006, a 5.3 percent annual growth rate. During the same time period, total employment growth in the Austin metropolitan statistical area (MSA) only averaged 3 percent.  (more)

With a busy spring still underway, Austin leads all major Texas cities in year-to-date hotel occupancy numbers at 72.3 percent. In addition to an increase in overnight stays, the average room rate has risen by nearly 14 percent. According to Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau President & CEO Bob Lander, the numbers reflect Austin’s increasingly favorable reputation among convention, business and leisure travel markets.  (more)

The International Music Products Association (NAMM) has announced that its summer conference and trade show will return to the Austin Convention Center, July 27-29, 2007.   (more)

For the first time in its 92-year history, the Washington, D.C.-based Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) brings its annual conference of convention and tourism industry leaders to the Lone Star State, and to Austin, in particular.  (more)

In the midst of a record summer convention schedule, Austin leads all major cities across the state in year-to-date hotel occupancy numbers at 71 percent. In addition to a significant increase in overnight stays, local hotels are also garnering higher room rates per night. This trend, according to Austin CVB President & CEO Bob Lander, speaks to Austin’s increasingly favorable reputation among all segments of the travel market—business, convention and leisure.   (more)