Sponsorship Request Application

How are sponsorships awarded?

Once the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) has determined that an event/facility/convention has met state law requirements, sponsorships will be considered based on available funding, the number of requests, and the number of overnight visitors generated by each requestor. State law provides Convention and Visitors Bureaus the option as to who receives funding but does not mandate that sponsorships have to be awarded. Once state laws are met, the CVB has discretion as to how the funds are used to promote tourism.

There is a two-part test that every expenditure of local hotel occupant tax must meet to be valid by state law.

Criteria #1: First, every expenditure must DIRECTLY enhance and promote tourism and the conventions and hotel industry. In other words, a funded event or facility must be likely to do two things: 1) directly promote tourism; and 2) directly promote the convention and hotel industry. Regarding the first prong of Criteria #1, tourism is defined under Texas State law as bringing visitors from outside of the city (from a different city or country) into the city or its vicinity. With regards to the second prong of Criteria #1, the event or facility must be likely to cause increased hotel or convention activity.

Criteria #2: Every expenditure of hotel occupancy tax must clearly fit into one of the nine statutorily provided categories for expenditure of local hotel occupancy tax revenues.

  1. Funding the establishment, improvement, or maintenance of a convention center or visitor information center.
  2. Paying the administrative costs for facilitating convention registration.
  3. Paying for advertising, solicitations, and promotions that attract tourists and convention delegates to the city or its vicinity.
  4. Expenditures that promote the arts. (arts related expenditure must be likely to directly promote tourism and the hotel and convention industry)
  5. Funding historical restoration or preservation programs (that are likely to attract tourists and hotel guests)
  6. Funding certain expenses, including promotional expenses, directly related to a sporting event within counties with a population of under 1 million.
  7. Funding the enhancement or upgrading of existing sports facilities or sports field for certain municipalities.
  8. Funding transportation of tourists from hotel to attractions.
  9. Signage directing tourists to sights and attractions that are visited frequently by hotel guests in the municipality.

What can the Graham Convention & Visitors Bureau do for you?

The Graham Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) is a close-knit group of friendly, enthusiastic, high-level professionals committed to making your event the best ever. We are here to help you at every step, offering an all-encompassing service for the needs of your group or event.

Areas of Assistance Needed:
MM slash DD slash YYYY
MM slash DD slash YYYY
Contact Person:(Required)
Contact Address:(Required)
Is this an Annual Event?(Required)
For example: You host a 2 night event. 3 people stayed at Holiday Inn, and 2 people stayed at Best Western. Your event total is 10. # of people X # of nights = total
Please provide how many rooms are booked at each venue for this year’s event:
Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 256 MB.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

If awarded a sponsorship, the recipient must complete the post event evaluation report provided by the Convention and Visitors Bureau. The report will be sent electronically no later than six weeks from the event’s last day. If the sponsorship recipient fails to provide the post event evaluation report to the CVB within the specified period, the event/facility/convention may not be eligible for funding next year.