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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL—AUGUST 9, 2021 2 <br />A. Twin Cities Gateway Visitors Bureau Presentation <br />Allen Stauffacher, Twin Cities Gateway Visitors Bureau, provided the Council with an update <br />from his organization. He discussed the amount of tourism that occurs in the State of Minnesota <br />each year noting 17% of all Minnesota sales tax comes from the tourism industry. He described <br />what happens when more people come to town and how the economy is positively impacted. The <br />TCG strategic objectives were reviewed with the Council. He commented on how sporting events <br />at the NSC and the surrounding area has driven hotel reservations this summer and reviewed the <br />events the TCG member cities would be hosting in the month of August. He reported TCG spends <br />more money on marketing their member cities than any other visitors' bureau in Minnesota. <br />Natalie Conrad, Twin Cities Gateway Visitors Bureau, commented further on the market and <br />communication efforts for TCG. It was noted all marketing efforts were led by the organization's <br />strategic goals. She reported it was crucial for her to have the organizations website up to date. <br />She commented further on how social media and marketing analytics are utilized by her <br />organization. She indicated she was just beginning to reenter the meetings and events market post <br />COVID. <br />Joshua Clark, Regional Director of Sales for Hawkeye Hotels, introduced himself to the Council <br />and noted he owned six properties in the twin cities, one being the Spring Hill Suites in Arden <br />Hills. He spoke to the importance of how the CVB assists him in getting rooms rented in his <br />hotels which allows him to keep paying his staff full time. <br />Mayor Grant discussed the economics of the hotel industry and noted it was similar to the airline <br />industry and asked how hotels break even. <br />Mr. Clark explained opening a new hotel was all about market awareness and the overall hotel <br />industry. He commented further on how he supported TCG. <br />Councilmember Holmes questioned what the cost was to be a part of TCG. <br />Mr. Clark commented there is no cost to the City of Arden Hills. Rather, 3% of all lodging taxes <br />are collected by hotels from visitors and this is passed along to TCG. <br />Councilmember Holmes requested further information regarding TCG's branding. <br />Mr. Stauffacher explained the meaning behind "Gateway" was that the cities involved in the <br />visitors' bureau were the gateway into the Twin Cities. <br />Councilmember Scott asked if people were able to find the new Spring Hill & Suites hotel for <br />the Back to the 50's event. <br />Mr. Clark stated he did have people that found his hotel and actually rebooked for 2022. He <br />anticipated that as more people became aware of this new hotel, room rentals would continue to <br />increase. <br />Mayor Grant thanked Mr. Stauffacher for his presentation.