Visit Austin Destination Marketing

Thank you for stopping by to learn more about Visit Austin: who we are, what we do, how we do it and WHY we do it. We hope that this small sampling of our work will leave you informed and energized about Austin’s positioning domestically and internationally as a premier business and leisure destination.

WHO WE ARE

Our mission is simple.

Visit Austin is charged with marketing Austin nationally and internationally as a premier business and leisure destination, thus enriching our community's overall quality of life.

Contracted by the city, the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Austin) is the official destination marketing organization for the city of Austin. In addition, Visit Austin has four affiliated entities; the Austin Film Commission, Austin Music Office, Austin Sports Commission and the Visit Austin Foundation a 501(c)(3) organization.

Visit Austin is funded primarily through a portion of the 15 percent hotel occupancy tax. The nine percent city portion of the occupancy tax is distributed to Visit Austin, the Austin Convention Center and for the arts and heritage preservation grant programs.

Our departments and programs include:

• Marketing Communications
• Tourism
• Austin Film Commission
• Austin Music Office
• Convention Sales
• Austin Sports Commission
• Convention Services
• Visitor Services
• Strategic Alliances
• Visit Austin Foundation

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WHAT WE DO

Austinites love sharing their city with visitors from all over the world. Whether you’re here on business or visiting with friends and family, laid-back locals and one-of-a-kind local businesses are ready to greet you with a warm welcome and a unique Austin experience.

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HOW WE DO IT

Austin’s target audience, the Curious Urban Traveler, is an inclusive group of travelers from various backgrounds and regions who share a common mindset toward travel:

• Values experiences > things
• Music lovers
• Food & drink explorers
• Cultural enthusiasts

They are travelers, not tourists. Their adventurous spirit drives their decisions from dining, to hobbies to travel. The Curious Urban Traveler is in search of novelty and new experiences that Austin provides in spades. Unique culture, rich music experiences, diverse food and an entrepreneurial spirit woven throughout the city.

We have a variety of channels that serve as portals for our compelling content and as vehicles through which to deepen engagement with our key audiences. Nearly 90% of the businesses featured are locally owned.

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WHY WE DO IT

Destination marketing attracts new visitors to cities and states, whose spending creates significant economic activity. This in turn generates crucial tax revenue that supports essential public services, improving the quality of life for the area’s residents and when U.S. states and cities attract more visitors, their local economies thrive. Without the travel and tourism industry, residents in Travis County would pay an additional $1,250 per household in state and local taxes.

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