Lakeway City Council unanimously approved $300,000 in hotel occupancy tax funding for the Special Olympics Texas Winter Games 2024 at a Nov. 20 meeting.

The gist

The hotel occupancy tax, or HOT tax, funding approved by City Council will be used for advertising and promotion of the event to attract tourists and convention delegates—$295,000—as well as transportation for attendees—$5,000, according to city documents.

The details

The Special Olympics of Texas Winter Games 2024 is expected to be larger than in previous years, with over 2,500 expected participants, said Chad Eason, Special Olympics senior director of competition and games.


The 2024 event is expected to attract approximately 1,750 hotel guests, compared to 850 hotel guests in 2023, Eason said.

Eason said participants will be from across Texas and will also include athletes from Arkansas and Arizona in addition to 32 delegates from Special Olympics Mexico. The multiday event will be held Feb. 16-18 at various locations in Lakeway and Bee Cave.