Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 10-20-1999 Board Mtg Minutes Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau Board October 20, 1999 The Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau Board met on Wednesday, October 20, 1999, at the Burwell School Historic Site in Hillsborough Board Members Present: Lee Pavao Moses Carey, Jr. Rick Strunk Nancy Davis Catharine Callaway Creston Woods Board Members Absent: Mike Nelson Glenn O'Neil Catherine Martin Ann Loeb Staff Present: Joe Blake, Executive Director Betty Davis, Administrative Assistant Guests: John Link Dianne Reid Cathleen Turner Ebeth Scott-Sinclair Chairman Lee Pavao called the meeting to order at 8:05 a.m. INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS Mr. Pavao welcomed board members and guests to the meeting. Mr. Pavao thanked Cathleen Turner, Director of the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough for hosting the meeting. Ms. Turner introduced Ebeth Scott-Sinclair, Site Coordinator of the Burwell School and Ms. Scott-Sinclair gave a brief overview of the site's hours of operation. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chairman Pavao asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the August 18, 1999 meeting. Mr. Moses Carey made the motion and Mr. Rick Strunk seconded it. With all members in agreement the minutes were approved as presented. SUB-COMMITTEE REPORTS Budget and Finance Committee Mr. Moses Carey reported that the year end financial report for 1998-1999 came in under budget. Mr. Moses commented that the financial reports for the current fiscal year appeared to be on track, but it was still early into the new fiscal year. Marketing Committee Mr. Creston Woods reported that the Orange County map, which is distributed by the Visitors Bureau, has been reprinted and is being distributed to all accommodations and visitor venues on request. A copy of the North Carolina advertising insert that appeared in the October 8, 1999 edition of USA Today was presented. The insert was part of a cooperative advertising program sponsored by the NC Division of Tourism, Film & Sports Development. The Visitors Bureau's listing had generated approximately 70 direct inquiries during the first week. Also, the Board was shown a copy of the "Wonderful, Whimsical Winter in Orange County" advertisement, which will appear in the November/December edition of AAA's Go Magazine. The goal of the new promotion is to generate an increase in the number of visitors to the Orange County area during the winter months, historically the lowest demand period for visitation. DIRECTOR'S REPORT Mr. Joe Blake reported that the Orange County Occupancy Market Share for September 1999 showed a decline in occupancy versus prior year. He stated that the decline in occupancy was due primarily to cancellations resulting from Hurricane Floyd. Even with occupancy down, the average daily rate (ADR) was up. It was announced that the Visitors Bureau will host a group of twelve German Tour Operators on October 31 and November 1, 1999. Ms. Linda Ekeland will be the official community host for the group, which will tour Chapel Hill and Carrboro on the 31' and Hillsborough on the morning of November 1st. The mission will conclude with a trade show and dinner in High Point on November 1'for the entire group of approximately 70 tour operators that are participating in the statewide effort. Mr. Blake reported the Pan Am bid site tour went very well. However, feedback from the bid committee requested that the Athlete Village portion of the Triangle bid be revised to include only one village instead of three separate villages as originally proposed. The bid was revised to designate North Carolina State University as the Athlete Village headquarters. As a result, the number of proposed events in Chapel Hill and Orange County had been reduced to four from eight. The official decision of the location of the Pan Am 2007 Games will be announced October 23m. 2 Mr. Blake reported to the Board that the Association Executives of North Carolina would host its annual Tradeshow in Raleigh on December 2nd. A scaled down replica of the display, which will be used in the tradeshow booth, was passed around for review. Ms. Ekeland will coordinate the tradeshow along with two industry partners. Mr. Blake announced that the Finley Golf Course was scheduled to open on November 1' after being closed for renovations for almost one year. Mr. Blake presented the final version of Chapel Hill/Orange County Promotional Video for the Board's review. After the preview of the video, the Board was asked for requested changes. It was noted that the video would be duplicated and issued after two minor scene alterations were made. The video jacket was also presented for Board review. OLD BUSINESS Mr. Pavao reported to the Board Members that the ordinance on Bed & Breakfast Inns in Chapel Hill had been tabled for an indefinite period of time by the Chapel Hill Town Council. NEW BUSINESS Mr. Pavao noted that the terms for Board members, Catharine Callaway and Glenn O'Neil, will expire on December 31, 1999. Reappointment for the two seats on the board is forthcoming. By-Laws Committee Mr. Rick Strunk reported that the by-laws committee had met and had made a recommendation for an addition to the by-laws. Recommended addition as follows: ARTICLE III Section 12. Voting by electronic, facsimile or mail: As the need arises, proposals to be offered to the Board for an electronic, facsimile or mail vote, excepting election ballots, shall first be approved by the Board Chair. On any electronic, facsimile or mail vote, a majority of all those voting shall determine the action. Mr. Strunk made a motion that the Board accept the recommended addition to the by- laws. Mr. Woods seconded the motion. With all members being in agreement, the motion was accepted. Mr. Blake noted that the addition would be put in motion according to mandated Orange County procedures. 3 Mr. Blake informed the Board that media reports following Hurricane Floyd resulted in the misperception that the majority of North Carolina's tourism infrastructure had been severely damaged. The reality is that less than one-third of the state had been severely impacted by the storm. He indicated that a major effort to educate the media and prospective visitors was being spearheaded by the North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development. The primary focus of the campaign will be a three-month advertising program in major national publications advising these audiences that most of the state is "open" and ready to serve visitors. ADJOURMENT With all business of the Board concluded, Mr. Pavao asked for a motion to adjourn. Mr. Carey made the motion for adjournment and Mr. Strunk seconded the motion. With all members in agreement, the meeting adjourned at 8:45 a.m. Minutes Drafted by: Minutes Accepted by: Joseph Blake, Executive Director Lee Pavao, Chairman Date Date board/meetings/10 20 1999 Board Meeting Minutes.doc 4