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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 04-21-1999 Board Mtg Minutes Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau Board April 21, 1999 The Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau Board met on Wednesday, April 21, 1999, 8:00 a.m., at the Holiday Inn located at 1301 North Fordham Boulevard in Chapel Hill. Board Members Present: Lee Pavao Moses Carey, Jr. Rick Strunk Pat Evans Catherine Martin Board Members Absent: Mike Nelson Glenn O'Neil Nancy Davis Catharine Callaway Creston Woods Staff Present: Joe Blake, Executive Director Betty Davis, Administrative Assistant Linda Ekeland, Director of Sales Guests: Sandy Roberts Cathleen Turner Dianne Reid Chairman Lee Pavao called the meeting to order at 8:08 a.m. in the Franklin Room. INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS Mr. Pavao welcomed board members and guests to the meeting. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Pavao announced that due to the lack of a quorum of members present the approval of minutes would be delayed until the June 16th, 1999 meeting. SUB-COMMITTEE REPORTS Marketing Committee In Mr. Creston Woods' absence, Mr. Blake provided the committee report. He advised the Board that the initial two-year contract period with Sheer Associates would expire on April 30, 1999 requiring renewal. According to the original agreement approved by the Board of Commissioners in 1997, the contract could be renewed for up to two one-year periods with Visitors Bureau Board approval. Board Members indicated that renewing the contract years would be satisfactory. Budget and Finance Committee Mr. Moses Carey, treasurer, reported on the Bureau's financial status. Mr. Carey stated that after his review of the financial statements that the Visitors Bureau was in very good financial shape. He noted that year-to-date expenditures were less than budgeted due primarily to the $50,000 of lapsed salaries. DIRECTORS REPORT Mr. Blake introduced Ms. Linda Ekeland, the Bureau's new Director of Sales, who started employment on April 19 '. A hospitality industry veteran with more than 15 years experience, Ms. Ekeland was most recently the Director of Sales for the Triangle SportsPlex in Hillsborough. Mr. Blake reported that the recent Hospitality Training was successful. The format for the training was a one-day bus tour with 22 participants. A half-day classroom hospitality training will be conducted on May 25 at the Orange County Homestead Center. The highlight of the classroom training will be staff members of the 1999 Special Olympics World Summer Games presented an overview of the impact on Orange County during the event. The Games are scheduled to occur throughout various Triangle venues June 26 — July 4, 1999. Almost half of the sporting events will be held at UNC-CH. Mr. Blake announced that the Bureau's Happenings publication had recently won an award during a competition sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Newspaper and Advertising Executives Association. The publication garnered third place honors in the category for a niche publication with circulation of 15,000 —40,000. The Chapel Hill Herald, the publisher of Happenings, submitted the entry. It was announced that the summer issue of the Happenings would be an insert in the Herald the third Sunday in May. The issue will include a special focus on the various Special Olympics World Summer Games events that will take place across Orange County. Lastly, Blake referred members to the Orange County market share graph for March 1999 that was included in the board packet. It was noted that occupancies are down Triangle 2 wide. However, the Orange County average daily rate continues to increase while Raleigh's and Durham's are down 5% and 2% respectively. OLD BUSINESS Chapel Hill Bed & Breakfast Public Hearing Ms. Pat Evans reported to the Board Members regarding the public hearing held on April 19, 1999 at the Chapel Hill Town Hall. Ms. Evans stated that Mr. Creston Woods, on behalf of the Visitors Bureau and Orange County Lodging Association, spoke to the group in favor of bed and breakfast inns in the Town of Chapel Hill. Some Chapel Hill citizens and Historical Society members voiced concerns about bed and breakfast establishments in the town, and the negative impact they perceived B & Bs could have on their neighborhoods. The Town Council directed the town staff to conduct additional research on the issue. As a result, the vote on revising the zoning ordinance to allow the b&bs was postponed indefinitely. Ms. Evans voiced her continued support in favor of an ordinance allowing bed and breakfast inns. She agreed to keep the Board informed on the status of the matter. Meadowmont Hotel Project Chairman Pavao informed the Board that the Town of Chapel Hill had gone to court on Monday, April 19, 1999, to defend the Council's denial of a special permit for the proposed hotel at the Meadowmont development. The judge stated that he had read the briefs submitted by lawyers for both the Town and the developer. His ruling was expected by the end of the week. Mr. Pavao will continue to keep the Board informed of issues concerning the development of a hotel at Meadowmont. NEW BUSINESS Nominating Committee Chairman Pavao requested that the nominating committee remain the same as last year: Mr. Moses Carey, Committee Chair; Ms. Pat Evans and Ms. Nancy Davis. Mr. Carey and Ms. Evans consented to serve. Ms. Sandy Roberts, serving as alternate for Ms. Davis, stated she would inform Ms. Davis of the Chairman's request that she serve on the nominating committee. Board Meeting Dates Mr. Pavao asked Board Members if continuing the meetings on bi-monthly basis at 8:00 a.m. was agreeable. The members in attendance indicated the schedule was satisfactory. The board meetings will continue to be held on the same schedule currently in place in various Orange County venues. It was announced that staff would present the proposed meeting schedule and sites at the June meeting. 3 Board Terms Mr. Pavao stated that only one board member term would expire at the end of this year. Ms. Pat Evans' term will expire on December 31, 1999. Ms. Evans represents the Orange County Economic Development on the Visitors Bureau Board. However, because her appointment on the EDC Board expires on June 30, 1999, the EDC Board will have to appoint a representative to complete the remaining six months of the term. Ms. Evans will recommend that the Orange County Economic Development Board appoint a member to the Visitors Bureau Board. Funding from Chapel Hill for 1999-2000 Mr. Pavao stated the Chapel Hill Town Council had begun budget work sessions regarding the town's 1999-2000 budget. He informed that the town was deliberating an increase in taxes and, as a result, the council members were evaluating areas in which to make budget cuts. Mr. Pavao and Ms. Evans, both members of the Chapel Hill Town Council, stated they would strongly support the continuance of the 15% occupancy tax grant from Chapel Hill to the Visitors Bureau. Alliance for Historic Hillsborough Update Guest Cathleen Turner, Director of the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough, gave a brief update on the Alliance's tourism initiatives for Hillsborough. The Alliance is funded primarily by the Hillsborough prepared meals tax. The organization also receives funds from several grant programs. Ms. Turner spoke about a number of programs and events including the Spring Garden Tour; the parlor performance series; outdoor concert series; summer bicycling tour; the Native American Pow-Wow; Hog Day and the Special Olympics Host Town program. She invited members to attend the Durham Symphony performance in Cameron Park on April 25 '. Ms. Turner answered questions from the Board. ADJOURNMENT With all business being concluded Mr. Pavao asked for a motion for adjournment. Mr. Moses Carey made the motion for adjournment; Ms. Pat Evans seconded the motion. With all members being in agreement the meeting adjourned at 9:00 a.m. Minutes Drafted by: Minutes Accepted by: Joe Blake, Executive Director Lee Pavao, Chairman Date Date 4