DDA approves targeted WXYZ media buy and $100K in support for restaurant week, including $50K BOGO program

The Downtown Development Authority voted Jan. 21 to reallocate part of an earlier media package to run a targeted WXYZChannel7 campaign and to support Royal Oak Restaurant Association programming for 2026.

Staff described the WXYZ package as a homepage takeover plus an e‑blast to ~50,000 subscribers and retargeting elements focused on restaurant week and event promotions, noting the buy is a reallocation rather than a new appropriation from the $237,000 media package the board previously approved. Staff said the campaign’s return on investment had been strong in prior events.

Separately, the board approved a $50,000 sponsorship to the Royal Oak Restaurant Association and a $50,000 BOGO program (purchase $50, receive $50) targeted to increase redemptions during restaurant week; staff said the BOGO has a two‑week redemption window and that prior Small Business Saturday BOGO efforts had ~96% redemption. Staff recommended restricting the BOGO to restaurants.

Directors discussed coordinating parking‑related messaging within the broader marketing outreach and requested a report to the business marketing committee about city-level parking communications. The motions for media reallocation and restaurant support passed by voice votes; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript.

Provenance: topicintro SEG 638, topfinish SEG 1024

Speakers quoted: Staff presenter (unnamed), Steph (restaurant association), Director Dunston.