Newport agrees to extend tourism partnership

Newport Beach will look to continue its partnership with Visit Newport Beach Inc., City Manager Dave Kiff said Wednesday.

An agreement is circulating among city and company officials that would extend the city’s agreement with the firm for another two years and is set for City Council approval at a September meeting, Kiff said.

“We think they’ve done a good job of marketing the community’s brand and booking hotels,” he said.

The city’s partnership with Visit NB is to promote tourism and boost hotel occupancy. Hotels in the city have seen an increase in occupancy rates and revenue per room lately, the city said in a news release announcing the contract extension.

The city provides Visit NB $2.8 million a year from its Transient Occupancy Tax, which is about 18% of the TOT’s total revenue annually, officials said. The company also works with the Tourism Business Improvement District for group marketing efforts.

— Joseph Serna