Cathedral City Page 1 of 2 Printed on 2/7/2023
Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 3.G
Meeting Date: January 11, 2023
From: Ryan Hunt, Communications and Events Manager
Title: Greater Palm Springs Balloon Festival Tourism Grant
City Council
RECOMMENDATION:
To accept a $17,500.00 Grant from the Greater Palm Springs Tourism Foundation and approve the expenditure of the matching funds in the amount of $17,500.00 from the General Fund (100) Special Events Budget used to build upon the successful Cathedral City Hot Air Balloon Festival and Food Truck Fiesta.
BACKGROUND:
In 2022, the Cathedral City Hot Air Balloon Festival celebrate d its 8th Anniversary bringing a kaleidoscope of color, sound, art, and enjoyment as the hot air balloons launch and fill the Coachella Valley sky with their majestic presence. It is an opportunity for families to cherish shared memories that will last a lifetime as they experience the beauty of these airships sailing above our desert oasis. The festival welcomes balloon pilots and their crew s from across the United St ates and around the world. It has enjoyed balloons coming from England, Canada, and Thailand.
The festival is owned by the City of Cathedral City and managed and produced by Steve and Cindy Wilkinson of Fantasy Balloon Flights, a Palm Desert tourism co mpany. Besides featuring an average of 30 hot air balloons, the festival also includes the best food truck cuisine in Southern California; Balloon Glow and Music at our host hotel, Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort and Spa (Rancho Mirage), and in Downtown Cathedral City; LIVE music at the Cathedral City Community Amphitheater and at Agua Caliente Casino – Cathedral City; morning balloon launches in Cathedral City and Rancho Mirage; Classic Car Show; Art Show; Kid Zone; and Special Shapes Sunday at Big Leagu e Dreams Sports Park in Cathedral City.
DISCUSSION:
The City of Cathedral City applied for and was awarded the Greater Palm Springs (GPS) Tourism Grant to fund the expansion of the special shape hot air balloons coming to the Hot Air Balloon Fe stival in 2022, in the amount of $17,500.00 . This grant required a City match in the same dollar amount. The City has already received the funding from the GPS
Cathedral City Page 2 of 2 Printed on 2/7/2023
Tourism Grant, however, due to the transition period of the Communications & Events Manager position between the previous and current employee, staff was unable to bring this item to the City Council for acceptance until this time. For Council’s information, s pecial shape balloons are entertainment balloons shaped to a favorite character or recognizable pop culture icon, such as a honeybee, a Tweety bird, and/or a pirate ship. Special shape balloons cost more than regular balloons as they are in demand from many balloon festivals throughout the year and often must travel from other states or countries. The cost to bring a special shape balloon to a festival average s about $3,000 .00 per balloon. The festival invited 12 special shape balloons in addition to the existing 10 that are invited each year.
The festival has grown over its short time span from attr acting several thousand attendees locally from its inception in 2015 to bringing in over 25,000 attendees regionally, and more importantly, more than 50% of the attendees from outside of the Coachella Valley.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The $17,500.00 match for the GPS Tourism Grant was funded from the General Fund (100) special events budget.
ATTACHMENTS:
Greater Palm Springs Tourism Grant Application - Updated - Cathedral City