Experience Burnsville���������������������������'s balanced 2026 budget and strategic plan approved by council

Experience Burnsville's executive director Amy Burrows presented highlights from 2025, visitor-insight data sources and a balanced 2026 budget and five-year strategic plan; the Burnsville City Council unanimously approved the budget and plan by voice vote on April 21.

Burrows said the organization remains a one-person staff operation governed by a board of directors and that the board decided to "live within our means" in 2026: no additional staff and no drawdown from reserve funds. She told the council that seven of nine hotels reported approximately $15 million in combined revenue in 2025 and that the organization's primary funding source is the local option lodging tax under Minnesota Statute 469.190. Burrows explained the organization's use of research partners including Smith Travel Research (hotel performance) and Zartico (visitor insights), and she confirmed Experience Burnsville uses AI tools in marketing: "Yes, we are using AI."

Council members praised Burrows' stewardship of a small organization and asked questions about data sources, hotel performance and marketing approaches. The council moved, seconded and approved adoption of the budget and strategic plan by voice vote; the transcript does not record a named mover, named second, or a numerical roll-call tally.

Next steps: Experience Burnsville will continue marketing and data-driven research partnerships and implement the 2026 strategy under the adopted budget.