Lodging Tax Grant Program

The City of Vancouver's Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) offers grants to enhance local tourism and cultural enrichment. These grants are specifically designed for local event/festival organizers, tourism promotion organizations, and one-time tourism program and facilities projects. The overall mission alignment is to support initiatives that attract visitors, contribute to the local tourism economy, and enrich the cultural landscape of Vancouver, with a strong focus on celebrating cultural diversity and promoting equity and inclusion within the community. The grant program targets a diverse range of beneficiaries, including 501(c)3 or 501(c)6 nonprofit organizations that host events, festivals, or provide services to Vancouver's tourism industry. The impact goals are to increase tourism, enhance Vancouver's reputation as a destination, and foster cultural awareness and appreciation. Specifically, the Cultural Enrichment Grant aims to support events that benefit "vulnerable populations" such as multicultural, women, LGBTQIA2S+, or communities with accessibility needs, thereby demonstrating a commitment to equity and inclusion. The Large Event/Festival Grant aims to attract a significant number of visitors (2,500+ attendees) who will likely spend the night in paid accommodations or travel from outside the immediate area, thereby boosting the local tourism economy. Key priorities and focuses across the grant categories include attracting tourists (defined as visitors spending nights in paid accommodations or traveling significant distances), promoting cultural diversity, and supporting events that are open to the public. For Cultural Enrichment Grants, there is a clear emphasis on events that advance the awareness or appreciation of vulnerable populations, aligning with the city's broader goals of equity and inclusion. For Large Event/Festival Grants, the focus is on events that generate substantial tourism and economic benefits. Funding for all categories is restricted to the marketing and operations of events or programs designed to attract tourists. Expected outcomes include an increase in tourist visitation, enhanced cultural experiences for residents and visitors, and a stronger local tourism economy. Measurable results for Cultural Enrichment Grants include demonstrating contributive potential to align with the City of Vancouver’s focus on celebrating cultural diversity and promoting equity and inclusion, potentially by raising awareness or support for issues faced by specific communities. For Large Event/Festival Grants, a key measurable result is anticipating attendance of 2,500+ people and attracting visitors who stay overnight or travel from other regions. Grant awards are contingent on the strength of the application and available funds, with a maximum request limit for Cultural Enrichment Grants not exceeding the greater of 15% of the event budget or $2,500.