GREATER PALM SPRINGS
TOURISM
• FOUNDATION
Application for 2023 GPS Tourism Grant
For grant consideration, this form and authorization must be submitted in full in addition to any supplemental information required to fulfill the requested information.
Date Submitted: June 28, 2023
Visit Greater PS JPA Member City/County: City of Cathedral City Contact Person/Title: Ryan Hunt, Communications & Events Manager E-mail: [email protected]
Address: 68/00 Avenida Lalo Guerrero Cathedral City, CA 92234 Phone: 760-770-0396
Please attach details of your project with the following information:
1. Project description
2. Details on how the GPS Tourism Grant Funds will be utilized for this project.
3. Description of how the project will enhance the visitor experience or advance the destination priorities.
4. Accounting: Describe in detail how you will track, evaluate, and report the success of your project.
GPS Tourism Grant Application: (Please sign and return with application) I have reviewed the GPS Tourism Grant from the Greater Palm Springs Tourism Foundation. I am in full agreement with the information contained in this application and its attachments as accurate and complete. I further acknowledge that the Greater Palm Springs Tourism Foundation does not assume any liability or responsibility for the ultimate financial profitability of the project for which the funds are awarded. In addition, the Greater Palm Springs Tourism Foundation will not guarantee or be responsible or liable for any debts incurred for such an Date: Le-28-23
Acceptance By Greate er Palm Springs Tourism Foundation Signature of Greater Fal Im Springs Tourism Foundation Chair, Board of Directors 1192023
Date:
70100 Highway 111 | Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 | 760.969.1301 visitgreaterpaimsprings.com/foundation
Cathedral City
June 28, 2023
Ms. Davis Meyer
Greater Palm Springs Tourism Foundation
70100 Highway 111
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
RE: GPS Tourism Grant
Dear Ms. Meyer:
Please accept this application from the City of Cathedral City for a $29,926 GPS Tourism Grant by the Greater Palm Springs Tourism Foundation to build upon the successful Cathedral City International Hot Air Balloon Festival and Food Truck Fiesta (new name for the gth annual event) presented by Agua Caliente Casinos during the third weekend each November.
Project Description
In 2023, the Cathedral City Hot Air Balloon Festival will celebrate its gth 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 from across the United States and around the world. It has enjoyed balloons coming from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, 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 company. 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 League Dreams Sports Park in Cathedral City.
The Festival has grown over its short time span from attracting 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.
68-700 Avenida Lalo Guerrero • Cathedral City • California • 92234 www.cathedralcily.gov Renans age 1 of 2
Grant Utilization
The City of Cathedral City would like to utilize the GPS Tourism Grant to fund:
• Implement the international direction of the festival this year with special shape balloons and teams from the Netherlands, Thailand, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, and the US. Starting in 2023, the event will now be named the Cathedral City International Hot Air Balloon Festival.
• Add more security and amenities to the Saturday evening Balloon Glow taking place on the Festival Lawn, Community Amphitheater and Agua Caliente Casinos Cathedral City lot. • An additional Special Shape Balloon Glow at Agua Caliente Casinos Cathedral City enclosed with food and souvenir vendors, a stage, DJ announcements and music during the Balloon Glow and Drone Show Saturday evening.
• Coachella type projection art images projected on the unique Cathedral City downtown buildings.
• More activities and acts on Saturday geared toward children and families.
In 2022, the City of Cathedral City was able to utilize the GPS Tourism Grant to fund the expansion of special shape hot air balloons coming to the festival which will help elevate the festival to new heights.
These proposed enhancements are designed to do the same in 2023. The focus of this festival is to provide a fun, safe and hospitable weekend of flying in our beautiful valley while enjoying the many amenities of our winter resort area and Cathedral City's small-town charm.
The festival has grown over its short time span from attracting several thousand attendees locally from its inception in 2015 to bringing in over 25,000 attendees regionally. We believe these enhancements have the potential to increase attendance by at least 25%.
Accounting Detail
To fully account for the enhanced entertainment at the 2023 festival, the City of Cathedral City will provide the foundation with a detailed list of each enhancement and its description. The City will issue payment to Steve and Cindy Wilkinson of Fantasy Balloon Flights, a Palm Desert tourism company that manages and operates the event.
Within 30 days of the conclusion of the festival, the City of Cathedral City will provide an Excel spreadsheet to the Foundation detailing the information above along with an invoice for the 50% reimbursement upon successful conclusion of the project.
The success of the grant program will be measured by comparing the attendance of the 9th Annual Cathedral City International Hot Air Balloon Festival for 2023 versus 2022 and comparing estimated crowd sizes at the nightly balloon glows where the special shape balloons are featured versus previous years' attendance. incere y your:
Charles P. McClendon, City Manager