Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) Funding

Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) Funding

Funder: Snyder Chamber of Commerce, Snyder, TX

Overview: The Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) Fund provides grants to support qualified events, activities, and facilities that directly enhance and promote tourism and the convention/hotel industry in the City of Snyder, Texas.

Funding Amount

• Maximum per event/facility per fiscal year: $20,000
• Applicants unable to justify the maximum are encouraged to request only amounts they can qualify for

Eligible Use Categories

Funds must fit into one of six statutorily defined categories under Texas Tax Code (Subtitle D, Chapter 351):

1. Convention Centers & Visitor Information Centers: Acquisition of sites, construction, improvement, enlargement, equipment, repair, operation, and maintenance
2. Registration of Convention Delegates: Furnishing facilities, personnel, and materials for delegate registration
3. Advertising and Promotional Programs: Advertising and solicitations to attract tourists and convention delegates from outside the City of Snyder (must target audiences at least 50 miles away)
4. Promotion of the Arts: Encouragement and promotion of instrumental/vocal music, dance, drama, folk art, creative writing, architecture, design, painting, sculpture, photography, graphic/craft arts, motion pictures, radio, television, and related arts
5. Historical Restoration and Preservation: Historical restoration/preservation projects or activities that encourage tourists and convention delegates to visit preserved historic sites or museums
6. Sporting Event Expenses: For counties with populations of 290,000 or less, expenses related to sporting events where majority of participants are tourists who substantially increase hotel economic activity

Eligibility Requirements

• Two-Part Test (REQUIRED): Every expenditure must:
- Part One: DIRECTLY enhance and promote tourism AND the convention/hotel industry - Part Two: Clearly fit into one of the six statutory categories above
• Applicants must demonstrate potential to generate increased hotel/convention activity by:
- Providing historical room night data from previous years of same event/facility - Providing examples of marketing programs likely to encourage overnight visitors to Snyder lodging properties
• Funds must be used to attract overnight visitors
• Events/facilities must be likely to cause increased hotel activity in Snyder lodging venues

What HOT Funds Will NOT Support

• Events not directly enhancing tourism or the hotel industry
• Projects/charities sponsored by the host organization that also profit from HOT funding
• Any expenditures not fitting the six statutory categories

Geographic Scope

City of Snyder, Texas and surrounding vicinity

Key Requirements

• Advertising Standards: All advertising must be in advance of event; must use legitimate media sources targeting audiences at least 50 miles outside City of Snyder (direct mail, newspapers, magazines, radio, TV, billboards); must include Snyder Chamber of Commerce logo and/or www.snyderchamber.org website reference
• Hotel Documentation: Applicants must document hotel stays; Chamber reserves right to independently survey hotels for event/facility benefit verification
• Post-Event Reporting: Required within 30 days of event completion
• Fund Return: Any unspent or unlawfully spent funds must be returned within 30 days of event
• Final Accounting: Must mirror original application budget with actual costs supported by proofs of payment

Funding Policy Notes

• NOT intended as primary funder — supports qualified events but is supplementary
• Multiple Applications: Accepted from same applicant, but each project/event requires separate application during appropriate funding period
• Late Submission Penalty: 12.5% penalty on funding; first-time events exempt from this penalty
• Post-Report Delay Penalty: If post-report not submitted within 30 days, remaining 12.5% allocation will NOT be disbursed
• Priority Criteria: Given to applicants with documented ability to directly promote tourism and hotel industry; measured by likelihood of increasing hotel activity in Snyder lodging venues
• Funding Decisions: Final approval by Snyder Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

Contact Information

Snyder Chamber of Commerce
• Address: 2302 Avenue R (or P.O. Box 840), Snyder, TX 79550
• Phone: 325-573-3558
• Email: info@snyderchamber.org
• Hours: Mon-Thu 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM; Fri 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM (closed 12:00-1:00 PM); Sat (Visitor Center) 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Funding Period

October 1 - September 30, 2026