What happened: Conventions and Visitors Advisory Board Member Tom Goodman was this Thursday’s feature of the SPI Chamber of Commerce’s Coffee and Conversation. Goodman is currently a Real Estate Broker and Property Manager on South Padre Island.

According to Tom Goodman, the island is projected to bring more families and expects the 20% increase in the average daily rates on the island to result in less traffic and more dollars.

Why it matters: Goodman discussed what summer could look like and whether the island would see another big year. “During COVID, while businesses were going down, here on the island, we saw an increase.”

Goodman stated that since they see less occupancy and more revenue, the island can expect less traffic but more money spent.

Through the increase, Goodman noticed a trend of vacationers leaning toward vacation rentals and stated that the HOT collection from rentals (54%) was higher than the HOT from hotels. In addition, “30% percent of the public hadn’t stayed in rentals, and now they do. So we are continuing to see people do it more.”

In response to the trend, Goodman and others formed a Vacation Rentals Association to improve current practices. “If there’s a problem, we want to know. We want to go to them and tell them to be better or get out of the business.”

While the RGV continues to bring in Sales Tax, Goodman says he’s optimistic about summer ’22. “I believe people will hesitate, like during COVID, and then start to look around.”

What now: Goodman announced the hire of new CVB Director Blake Henry, from Louisville, Kentucky, whose focus is to help the island during the “off-season.”

Top island visitors come from San Antonio, Austin, Houston, and Dallas.