Keep Austin something something

The city is on the hunt for an advertising agency to develop a strategic plan for promoting and increasing cultural tourism throughout the city. In a request for proposal released on Monday, the city disclosed that it seeks an agency to create “a distinct brand and graphic identity for Austin’s collective cultural amenities, and a multi-pronged regional, national and international advertising campaign, across media platforms that positions Austin as leader in the field of cultural tourism.” The plan is expected to be completed over a 12-month period for $150,000, with a $200,000 advertising budget. The plan is being solicited by the Economic Development Department, though it is not known if it is being funded using money from the city’s portion of the Hotel Occupancy Tax, which is levied in large part to help grow the local tourism industry. According to the 2012 update to the study “The Economic Impact of the Creative Sector in Austin,” the city’s creative economy generated $4.4 billion in business activity locally, with tourism generating $1.4 billion of that total.