Hoteliers in Waco worked with staff from the Waco Convention Center & Visitors Bureau for several years toward the creation of a special Waco Tourism Public Improvement District (WTPID). This district included hotels within the city limits of Waco with 75 or more rooms. Within this district, a 2% assessment is self-imposed on the hotels with 75+ rooms.
The motivation for the local hotel industry to propose the creation of the WTPID was to self-generate additional funding to pursue three primary purposes: 1) to fund an enhanced marketing program to generate increased hotel business; 2) to provide increased funding for sales incentives to attract and retain groups, large conferences, conventions, and other hotel-night generating meetings; and 3) to provide funding for the administration and tourism research activities that are necessary to enable the increased sales and marketing activities.
Authorized representatives of the Waco hotels with 75+ rooms were presented with petitions in June 2020. A threshold of 60% of petition approvals in two categories (appraised value and square footage) is required to create the TPID. This threshold was met and exceeded, with 85.08% of hoteliers approving the petition based on appraised value, and 79.84% approving it based on square footage.
The City Council of the City of Waco authorized the creation of the District and annually reviews a Service and Assessment Plan and budget. The board has contracted with the City to collect the funds, and with the Waco Convention & Visitors Bureau, a department of the City of Waco, to administer the program. The WTPIDC is a 501(c)(6) Texas non-profit corporation governed by nine directors who represent a cross-section of included hotels in terms of size, brand, and demographics.
Sales incentives for meeting planners
Waco TPID is pleased to offer a new incentive program to meeting and event planners, filmmakers, sports planners, and other large groups. The program is specifically created to incentivize group or event entities to book guestrooms at Waco TPID member hotels. The WTPID offers a reimbursement per consumed hotel room for new business brought to Waco. The combination of more affordable hotel rates plus an additional bonus through the reimbursement program is a win-win for meeting planner budgets.
Waco TPID Magazine
In Waco, everything is within reach of your attendees – hotels, meeting space, parking, great restaurants, and exciting attractions. In fact, many of our conventioneers say they can come to Waco, park their car, and leave it for the entire convention. They love that! Read online or download the digital version of our Waco TPID Magazine.
