Does your restaurant or hotel have good news to share? An expansion, revamped menu or a great story in the news? Send it to the North Little Rock CVB so we can share through our channels. Send updates and news to Stephanie Slagle, Marketing Manager: sslagle@northlittlerock.org.
North Little Rock lodging tax collections pass $1 million mark in 2017
The North Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau (NLRCVB), the destination marketing organization for the City of North Little Rock, reported an increase in 2017 lodging and foodservice tax collections and a $1.95 million economic impact of tourism in Pulaski County in its annual report this week.
“One reason for the increase in tax collections may be that beginning in July 2016, smaller hotels and all three RV parks began remitting the three-percent lodging tax,” says Bob Major, executive director of the NLRCVB. “2017 was the first full year that all 37 lodging properties began collecting the three percent.”
One of the three North Little Rock RV parks, the Downtown Riverside RV Park, is managed by the NLRCVB. The park saw a ten-percent increase in occupancy for 2017, with visitors from all 50 states and eight countries who stayed an average three days. These visitors spent an estimated $2.2 million in Central Arkansas.
In 2017 more than 6.4 million visitors spent $1.95 million in Pulaski County, according to the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism. Though an exact estimate of how much of those visited North Little Rock is unavailable, the attendance numbers of key North Little Rock attractions like Verizon Arena and Dickey-Stephens Park indicate high visitation. More than 400,000 fans and event attendees visited Dickey-Stephens Park, Verizon Arena attracted more than 330,000, and Burns Park pulled in 31,635 sports events participants. Every year, an average 20,000 visitors come to the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum.
“When these thousands of visitors come to North Little Rock, they spend money in North Little Rock restaurants, hotels and other businesses,” Major said. “They are then paying taxes that would normally fall to residents. Visitors saved Pulaski County residents $33.3 million in local taxes last year – that makes a difference.”
To attract visitors, the NLRCVB actively markets, advertises and sells North Little Rock. One of the most profitable markets for North Little Rock continues to be sports groups. Burns Park alone, with an average 70 sporting events annually, generated an economic impact of $4.4 million in 2017. Because of this, the NLRCVB expanded its team in 2017 and hired Erica Goss as sales manager, with a focus on sports.
The full report is available here.
March 2018 Happenings
Life on a submarine
KATV’s Ansley Watson took a “dive” into the life of a submariner aboard USS Razorback at the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum in North Little Rock. WATCH her tour with retired Navy veteran Joe Mathis for an inside-look. The museum was recently voted Best Choice for Family Friendly Museum in Kid’s Directory’s annual Best Choice for Kids & Families Awards. Tours are available Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sundays 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, visit the museum website or follow the Facebook page.
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Kids get in free at inaugural Arkansas Italian Food and Culture Festival Feel Italian for a day at the inaugural Arkansas Italian Food and Culture Festival, scheduled for April 20 and April 21 at the North Shore Riverwalk at Riverfront Park Drive in North Little Rock. For only $5 per person at the Willow Street entrance (kids five and under get in free!), you receive access to activities such as:
Join the Facebook event to stay updated. Reserve your hotel room at Wyndham Riverfront, within walking distance of the festival. Call (501) 907-4835 and say you’re coming to “The Italian Food Festival” for a special rate! |
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Two can’t-miss events in North Little Rock for yoga enthusiasts All-day free yoga and yoga with kittens…it can’t get better than this! The North Little Rock Parks & Recreation is hosting Rocktown Yoga on Saturday, March 31, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the North Little Rock Community Center (2700 Willow Street). The event will showcase different types of yoga classes, including Mixxed Fit, Beginner, 12 Step, Chair and Restorative. The event is free, but advance registration is required. On April 21 at 2 p.m., Blue Yoga Nyla at 3702 JFK Boulevard will be hosting a Kitten Yoga! Fundraiser/Adopt-A-Thon to support Out of the Woods Animal Rescue. A one-hour yoga class will be followed by “the release of the kittens” for one hour of yoga with kittens. The class is $20, register online. |
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Challenge friends and family to The Great Inflatable Race This month the wackiest, craziest and bounciest obstacle fun run is coming to North Little Rock! The Great Inflatable Race will be at the Stone Links Golf Course at 110 Highway 391 N in North Little Rock on Saturday, March 24, starting at 9 a.m. Bounce, bump and slide your way through giant inflatable obstacles. Today only, register for $50 off regular tickets and $45 off VIP tickets. Enjoy free event parking and special rates when you book your hotel room with Fairfield Inn & Suites in North Little Rock. |
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All about Argenta The Argenta Arts District, the downtown Main Street area of North Little Rock, was featured in Do South Magazinelast month. “‘A city’s downtown is its front porch and if you’re going to have a vibrant city you’d better have a vibrant downtown,” [North Little Rock Mayor Smith] says.’ Read the full article for how to “dogtown like a local.” Also, the City of North Little Rock announced this week that “Argenta Plaza” will be the official name of the new downtown space that will have water features and a “front porch” sitting area, all a short walk from local restaurants and attractions. |
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Dickey-Stephens Park winds up for busy season The main attraction of Dickey-Stephens Park, the Arkansas Travelers minor-league baseball team, opens the season April 5 with single game tickets going on sale this coming Monday, March 5, at 10 a.m. Despite the busy game schedule April through August, the park also stays busy throughout the year with other fun events. The University of Arkansas Razorbacks football team will be on-hand and signing autographs at the Friday, April 6, Arkansas Travelers game against the San Antonio Missions. Food & FoamFest, hosted by the Arthritis Foundation of Arkansas, is April 15 and will have more than 400 varieties of craft beer from all over the world plus food tastings from local restaurateurs. Musician Jake Owen will bring his “Life’s Whatcha Make It” Tour to Dickey-Stephens Park on June 16, tickets go on sale tomorrow (March 2). To stay up-to-date about Dickey-Stephens Park, follow the Arkansas Travelers Facebook page and sign up for the newsletter. |
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Verizon Arena lineup Professional Bull Riders – March 2 & March 3 Platinum Comedy Tour – March 23 *NEW: Monster Jam – April 6 & April 7* REO Speedwagon and Styx with special guest Don Felder – April 10 Disney on Ice: Reach for the Stars – April 18 – April 22 Journey & Def Leppard – July 7 *NEW: Keith Urban – November 1* *NEW: Metallica – January 20, 2019*
Do you RV? Stay at Downtown Riverside RV Park, a short walk away from Verizon Arena. |
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Arkansas Brews Cruise dominates #1 spots on TripAdvisor Arkansas Brews Cruise, a fun service that transports craft beer fans to exclusive experiences at local breweries,recently took over the #1 spots for Tours and Nightlife in Little Rock. If you enjoy a good craft beer, this is the perfect outing for you. The Downtown Tasting Tour runs every Friday and Saturday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. |
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Meeting rescheduled
The North Little Rock Advertising & Promotion Commission meeting scheduled for this week has been rescheduled for Monday, January 22, at 3:30 p.m. at the Visitors Information Center in Burns Park.
2018 Advertising & Promotion Commission meeting dates announced
The North Little Rock Advertising & Promotion Commission will meet on the following dates at 3:30 p.m. at the Visitors Information Center (1 Eldor Johnson Drive, North Little Rock).
Tuesday, January 16
Tuesday, April 17
Tuesday, July 17
Tuesday, October 16
Tuesday, December 11
Ordinance amendment to reduce increase to lodging tax one-half percent
On November 13, 2017, North Little Rock City Council passed Ordinance No. 8955 to amend Ordinance No. 8950 to reduce the increase to the North Little Rock Advertising and Promotion lodging tax one-half percent.
The one-half percent increase in the Advertising and Promotion Lodging Tax will become effective on January 1, 2018.
NLR A&P Commission Special Called Meeting Oct. 26
At the request of the Executive Director, Chairman Manoj Patel has called special meeting of the North Little Rock Advertising & Promotion Commission to be held:
Date: Thursday October 26, 2017
Time: 3:00pm
Location: NLR A&P Commission Offices, 1 Eldor Johnson Dr.
Agenda: Review and approve the Purchase-Sale Agreement between the NLR A&P Commission and the North Little Rock Downtown Development Board for their portion of the construction of an office building located at 600 Main St., North Little Rock.
October Happenings
Check out upcoming events in our October Happenings newsletter, including:
- a new catfish festival in North Little Rock
- 1929 Ford Trimotor Airliner visiting the North Little Rock Municipal Airport
- Cirque du Soleil’s Crystal at Verizon Arena
- Lucinda Williams at CHARTS
- Classic and antique boats stop in North Little Rock
- Thea Foundation opens doors after renovations
- Restaurant Spotlight: Kamikaito by Kiyen’s
- Verizon Arena lineup
Want to receive the Happenings e-newsletter every month? You can sign up here.
Welcome to the new A&P website!
To better serve our restaurants and hotels, we have created a separate website with important information about remitting taxes.
If you are a foodservice operator, please visit the Foodservice Tax page under the “Remit Taxes” tab.
If you are a lodging operator, please visit the Lodging Tax page under the “Remit Taxes” tab.
To learn more about the North Little Rock Advertising & Promotion Commission, click the About tab.
If you have any questions about remitting taxes, please contact Robin Powell, the Tax Revenue Manager, at (501)758-1424 or rpowell@northlittlerock.org.
We will be posting updates and any other news important to our foodservice and lodging partners under the News section.
We hope you find the site easy to navigate and welcome your feedback!
