From Staff Reports —
Hotel occupancy tax (HOT) funds are collected from guests who stay overnight in local hotels, motels or short-term rentals. Under Texas law, those dollars must be used to promote tourism and bring visitors to the community.
HOT funds can support:
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Tourism-driven events and festivals
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Advertising and marketing to attract visitors
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Visitor information centers
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Historic preservation projects tied to tourism
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Promotion of arts and culture that generate overnight stays
To qualify, applicants must show:
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How their event or project will increase hotel stays (“heads in beds”)
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A budget detailing how the tax funding will be spent
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Post-event reporting proving the event met state requirements
Val Verde County also collects HOT funds, and organizations may apply separately to the county. Both the city and county support some events, including the George Paul Memorial Bull Riding and the International Good Neighbor Council’s Fiesta de Amistad.
Del Rio’s City Council approves how much funding each organization receives through an internal review process and a scoring matrix.
See story about discussion of HOT funds here.
