Hotel Activity Incentive Program

Austin Tourism Public Improvement District

The ATPID Hotel Activity Incentive Program is designated for ATPID member hotels to provide incentives to end-user event entities/organizations that secure self-contained groups or meetings that will attract and/or retain overnight visitors to the City of Austin. 

Submission of an application does not guarantee approval, and hotels should await formal notification of the review outcome. Hotels are not entitled to or guaranteed any incentive payments. Hotels may appeal denied applications to the ATPID Board Executive Committee for further consideration.

 Program Details & Eligibility:

  • Hotel must be active ATPID members currently submitting district assessments to the City of Austin.

  • Applicant must be competitively bidding against other destinations and/or other hotels in or outside of the Austin TPID District to secure the event.

  • A minimum Return on Investment (ROI) of 5 to 1 is required to apply for funding; that is for every dollar provided in ATPID funding, five dollars in guest room revenue must be generated by the event.  See Pre-Event Application.

  • Applicant must submit a Pre-Event Application prior to event start date and contract signature date.  Application should be submitted at least thirty (30) days prior to the convention/meeting; however, a shorter booking window is allowed if applicable, but not less than seven (7) days prior to the event start date.

  • Applicant must submit a Post Event Form, supporting documentation, end-user event entity/organization provided invoice and W9, within ninety (90) days following the event's conclusion. Failure to submit these items within the 90-day period may result in the forfeiture of a previously approved incentive.

  • Any hotel with 100 or more rooms within the Austin TPID District may apply for incentive funds for eligible group activity. There is a cap for funding eligible events from this program of no more than $250 per guest room per fiscal year. The program is subject to the availability of TPID market-level funds under this program category per fiscal year. The ATPID fiscal year is October 1 - September 30.

  • ATPID members that receive other ATPID funds may not be eligible for the Hotel Activity Incentive Program,

  • An eligible event must utilize a minimum of 10 rooms on peak hotel nights.

  • Program awards are based on program parameters and funding availability for all approved groups taking place prior to December 31, 2034.

  • The incentive will be paid directly to the end-user event entity/organization and will not be paid to the hotel or any 3rd party intermediary.

  • Incentive payments will be made to the end-user event entity/organization after the event takes place.  Payments are based on performance and receipt of the Post Event Form, end-user event entity/organization provided invoices and the W-9 form.  

 Application & Funding Process:

  • Applications will be reviewed and approved by the program administrator (Executive Director of the Austin TPID or assigned representative).

  • Hotels should not consider the submission of an application as approved until the application has been reviewed and formal notification is sent back to the sales leader. Approval of incentive is not guaranteed, and neither the hotel applicant nor the event entity/organization is entitled to or guaranteed an incentive.

  • ATPID Board of Directors may review all approved applications at scheduled board of directors meetings.

  • The program administrator will review the submitted application within two (2) business days, and the applicant will be notified of the approval status. If the application is approved, the notification will include the approved amount of funding that the end-user event entity/organization is eligible to receive.

  • In an effort to maintain the funding integrity of the program, it is the sole responsibility of the applicant to provide a status update (i.e. lost, turndown or definite) to the program administrator.

  • If the applicant hosts the eligible convention/meeting, the applicant is required to provide all supporting documentation in accordance with the Post-Event Form requirements.

  • After all required information and supporting documentation have been received, reviewed and confirmed by the program administrator, the end-user event entity/organization will be paid an amount up to the previously approved amount based on the 5 to 1 return.

  • Event entities/organizations may receive a lesser amount (than previously awarded) if their actual room pickup is less than originally projected but still meets the 5 to 1 ROI post event.  For budgeting purposes, the end-user event entity/organization will not receive a greater amount than the previously approved eligible amount, even if actual room pickup is greater than projection.

  • Within ninety (90) days of the event’s conclusion, the applicant must submit the following:

    • Post Event Form

    • Support documentation confirming results and “‘proof of performance,” such as, but not limited to the following:

      • Housing Bureau’s ‘actualized’ room pick-up report and corresponding average daily rates paid.

      • Group’s Master Account Folio outlining room pick-up and corresponding average daily rates paid.

    • End-user entity/organization provided invoice

    • End-user event entity/organization W-9

  • After review by the program administrator, the incentive will be paid to the end-user event entity/organization based on actual performance up to the maximum pre-approved amount.

If your application was approved, but you learn your property did not win the bid business, please forward a copy of the incentive approval email to atpid@visitaustin.org, with the subject line “ATPID incentive, Lost Business.”

For questions, please contact Tim Sullivan, Austin TPID Executive Director, at tsullivan@austintpid.org.