Frisco hotels offer ‘staycation’ rates as city revises plan to promote tourism through Visit Frisco

Visit Frisco should encourage tourists to visit the city sooner rather than later to boost hurting businesses, Frisco City Council members said at a work session last week.

Restaurants, bars and retailers have started reopening this month after the state loosened restrictions set during the coronavirus pandemic, and Frisco wants its tourism organization to send the message that it’s open for business.

“There’s a group that [is] ready to come to Frisco and are going to be super excited to hear that message,” Mayor Jeff Cheney said during the meeting, according to Community Impact. “No matter how long you wait, there’s going to be a group that’s not ready to come out yet. And that’s not who we’re catering to.”

In 2018, an estimated 6.6 million visitors spent $2.1 billion in the city, Community Impact reported.

“Businesses here are hurting, and they’re hurting badly,” Mayor Pro Tem Will Sowell said. “As quickly as you guys are comfortable, I would love to see us promoting, ‘Come. Be safe. It’s a little different, but we’d love to have you.’”

Cori Powers, Visit Frisco director of marketing and communications, told the council that Visit Frisco plans to launch the revised advertising in June, according to Community Impact, and is not spending additional money.

The mayor said it is “perfectly fine” some people are not ready to travel, but he expects that group to be “loud and negative.”

Some Frisco hotels have also run “staycation” rates to encourage city residents to book rooms. Participating hotels include the Omni Frisco Hotel, Hotel Indigo, the Embassy Suites Hotel & Conference Center and Candlewood Suites.

“We wanted to offer Frisco essential workers, families, and individuals an opportunity to escape in their own neighborhood this summer,” Jeff Smith, Omni Frisco Hotel general manager and Visit Frisco board chairman, said in a prepared statement. “When they’re ready, we look forward to welcoming them to a safe and clean environment where they can get away and still be close to home.”