San Marcos Unaffected By SXSW Hotel Crowding

 

Tens of thousands of tourists will flock to Austin’s annual South By Southwest (SXSW) music, film and interactive festival next week, leaving minimal impact on San Marcos.

 

Adriana Cruz, president of the Greater San Marcos Partnership (GSMP), said San Marcos does not experience a “substantial increase” in tourism during the 10-day festival. Cruz and Mike Kamerlander, vice president of GSMP, will attend SXSW to represent the city and the GSMP.

 

The festival tends to fill Austin, and hotels fill up quickly, leaving little room for last-minute reservations. San Marcos has been a location for those who could not get a spot in Austin in the past, but this year is different. 

 

“Austin now has more than enough hotels to accommodate for SXSW,” said Rebecca Ybarra-Ramirez, executive director of the San Marcos Convention and Visitor Bureau.  “Those that do decide to stay in San Marcos are those that want to pay a little lower and those that want to get away from all of the hustle and bustle and want to relax.”

 

Ybarra-Ramirez said San Marcos does not host any special events during SXSW for tourists staying in the city.

 

“What we do is just promote what we have and try to entice people that way,” she said.

 

Ybarra-Ramirez said tourists should take advantage of the trails and outdoor activities, such as Purgatory Creek Natural Area, as well as shopping downtown and at the outlet malls.

 

“Anytime that you have tourists or outside visitors come to the area, it provides an opportunity to (go) downtown, go to the square and see the assets that we have,” Cruz said.

 

In the past, the San Marcos Embassy Suites reserved rooms for company representatives attending SXSW, Cruz said.

 

The hotel does not have any rooms set aside for SXSW attendees this year, said Stephanie Guajardo, who works in guest services at Embassy Suites.

 

“(Embassy Suites) doesn’t look like it will be too busy with (festival tourists),” Guajardo said. “We won’t have overflow.”

Cruz said members of start-up companies looking for an affordable, easy commute to Austin are a target audience for SXSW hotel guests in San Marcos.

 

“Believe it or not, the hotels are full no matter what event may be going on in Austin or San Antonio,” Ybarra-Ramirez said. “Hotels don’t increase their rates because of SXSW.”

 

Ybarra-Ramirez said hotel rates in San Marcos are only influenced by Austin during the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas.

 

“(GSMP is) providing opportunities for our companies to participate in SXSW,” Cruz said. “As a matter of fact, we will have some passes for the trade show.”

 

Free passes to the SXSW trade show will be available for interested businesses, she said.

 

Cruz said GSMP has a positive relationship with the SXSW organizers. Cruz talked to organizers about including the regional communities of Austin more in the future.

 

“(At the trade show) we will be talking about San Marcos and the regional communities, Texas State University and what assets are available just south of Austin,” she said.

 

Cruz hopes San Marcos businesses will participate in the SXSW trade show. The interactive trade show features new social media, websites and promotional activity technology.

 

“They are talking about the convergence of technology, art, music and film,” Cruz said.

Cruz hopes to reach out and talk to the companies present.

 

“(San Marcos is) a more affordable option than Austin,” Cruz said. “We have the presence of the university, an educated workforce, the charm and culture and uniqueness that makes San Marcos special (and) a beautiful natural environment at a more affordable cost.”