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Alcala, Abigail From:Whyte, Cherie <cwhyte@discoverycube.org> Sent:Tuesday, June 3, 2025 12:32 PM To:eComment Subject:In support of agenda item #7 on Consent Calendar Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links. Dear Santa Ana City Council, Please accept this letter in support of the renewal of the Santa Ana Tourism Marketing District (SATMD). As a member of the Travel Santa Ana Marketing Advisory Group, I have seen firsthand the positive impact the destination marketing organization (DMO) has had on the City of Santa Ana over the past four years. The Marketing Advisory Group’s objective is to create synergy among fellow Santa Ana marketers by fostering awareness of what’s happening within the community. The goal is to share ideas, information, and brand insights—such as audience and demographic research, event and attraction updates, calendars, personnel changes, major announcements, and more. The destination marketing organization’s efforts to bring us together have resulted in cross-promotion, event and attraction collaboration, and partnerships with Santa Ana hotels. Travel Santa Ana’s strategic sales and marketing efforts continue to elevate the perception of our city, attracting visitors to our attractions, retail businesses, restaurants, events, and hotels. An estimated 90% of DMOs operate under 10-year agreements, and Travel Santa Ana should be no exception. The organization has proven invaluable in supporting hoteliers and the local tourism industry and should be allowed to continue its efforts without operational disruption. In addition, the proposed incremental increase would allow Travel Santa Ana the flexibility to address specific challenges—such as recovering from a downturn in tourism—or to expand marketing efforts into new or underserved markets, while adapting strategies to enhance destination competitiveness and further bolster the local economy. For these reasons, I ask the Santa Ana City Council to approve the renewal of the SATMD and support the continued success of Travel Santa Ana. The organization has demonstrated its commitment to enhancing the city's visibility, economic vitality, and cultural vibrancy. With the renewal and proposed funding structure, Travel Santa Ana will be well-positioned to build on its accomplishments and further contribute to the prosperity of our community. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Cherie Whyte VP of Marketing Discovery Cube 1