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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCH-OCVB minutes 032107Minutes Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau Board March 21, 2007 The Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau Board met at WCHL 1360 Board Room, 88 Vilcom Circle, Chapel Hill at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 21, 2007. Board Members Present: Lee Pavao Moses Carey, Jr. Jim Ward Rick Strunk Mark Sherburne Creston Woods Bill Crowther Frances Dancy Bob Ward Board Members Absent: Rachel Hawkins Linda Convissor Jon Wilner Dianne Reid Liz Parham (ex-officio) Staff Present: Laurie Paolicelli Patty Griffin CALL TO ORDER Mr. Lee Pavao, Chair, called the meeting to order at 8:10 a.m. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS Mr. Pavao opened the meeting by welcoming Board Members and guests. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Pavao asked for approval of the February 21, 2007 Board Meeting minutes. Mr. Moses Carey made a motion to accept the minutes as presented. Ms. Dancy seconded the motion. With all Board Members in agreement, the motion was carried unanimously to approve minutes from the meeting. COMMITTEE REPORTS Marketing Committee Mr. Rick Strunk, Marketing Committee Chair, reported that Jennings Advertising will make a presentation to the Chapel Hill Town Council on the Bureau’s branding campaign and the next stops to be taken. Ms. Laurie Paolicelli mentioned a letter to the editor in the day’s Chapel Hill News questioning the use of the money for “a slogan.” Mr. Jim Ward said that it was important for Chapel Hill to understand that this is a thoughtful; well researched campaign that the Bureau will be proceeding with. Jennings should stress the depth of what we are selling and stress it’s something we would be proud of. Citizens need to understand that the campaign will help with the tax burden. Is cautiously optimistic that members of the town council recognize and support that promoting business is a good thing. Bylaws Committee Mr. Carey reported that he hoped to have had a draft of the new bylaws for this meeting but they still need a couple of clarifications. Hopes to get the bylaws to the board two weeks before the next board meeting with proposed changes to get the boards thoughts. Then they go on to the county board of commissioners. Carey asked Paolicelli to provide a brief history of work to date. Paolicelli explained that the tourism bureau, as a sales and marketing agency, saw the need to be more nimble and quicker to market. This was based on competition from other markets and the desire of hotels to have the Bureau make quicker decisions incentivize sales staff and, at times, allow purchasing decisions to be made quickly. To this end, the Bylaws committee was researching models for quasi-governmental agencies that would keep the Bureau as a county agency; while allowing for sales and marketing flexibility that would result in a better performance for the town and county. Mr. Pavao said that he felt that the proposed bylaws changes would allow the Bureau to be more flexible. Budget & Finance Committee Due to Mr. Moses Carey, Finance Chair, not receiving the budget via email, he asked Ms. Paolicelli to report on the finances. Ms. Paolicelli reported that the committee has recommended that the Bureau not request an increase in the county occupancy tax from 2% to 3% at this time because of the Bureau’s current fund balance of $385,000. Mr. Carey reiterated that the committee felt it was a good strategy to delay asking for an increase in the occupancy tax while at the same time asking Chapel Hill to increase their funding to the Bureau. Ms. Paolicelli said that the hotels are 100% behind asking for the 1% percent occupancy tax increase, which we will do next year. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT Ms. Paolicelli asked Mr. Jim Ward to present an update on the North Carolina Botanical Garden Visitor Education Center. The Center will have three major sections connected by covered breezeways. One section is a large multipurpose space for workshops, conferences, and special events and can accommodate 200 people (120 for dinners). A second wing is a museum quality is a 2-story space with an art gallery, volunteer rooms and other visitor space. A third section will house classrooms and staff offices. This space is environmentally and energy friendly (use 50% less energy). Ground breaking is mid-April and construction begins later in this year with work lasting 12 to 18 months. Ms. Paolicelli reported that Jennings is moving forward with their focus groups. Present discussions are do we make Chapel Hill the brand with Hillsborough (i.e. Chapel Hill with Historic Hillsborough, the feeling never leaves) or do we do a separate Hillsborough campaign. Ms. Paolicellli said that the Bureau would request $125,000 from the Town of Chapel Hill for 2007-08, up from $85,000. Hotels will provide support. Ms. Paolicelli reported on a number of other hotel issues. She said that March and June for hotel occupancy are iffy and the Bureau is discussing whether to try a quick push campaign to try to increase occupancy. She said that hotels with external entrances have asked us to spread the word that our properties are safe to alleviate concerns. The Carrboro hotel will have 128 rooms and 3,000 square feet of meeting space and is looking at a 2010 completion date. Ms. Paolicelli asked Mr. Mark Sherburne to present an update on Best Western University inn property. Sherburne said the closing date for the East 54 is June. The new hotel will be located where the Avalon Medical Building is located. It will be an upscale mid-level hotel (not a Best Western) with approximately 130 rooms, some food service and meeting space. Sherburne said that the Bureau could expect occupancy tax from the Beat Western through 2007. Ms. Paolicelli asked the Board to mark their calendars for May 8 for a bus tour highlighting Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough and targeted to community leaders and newcomers. Elizabeth Ryan, author of the Orange County Trio book will conduct the tour and give participants a copy of her book. Ms. Paolicelli recognized Patty Griffin’s membership in the Society of American Travel Writers. NEW BUSINESS Mr. Pavao reported that the North Carolina High School Athletic Association has a short fall of $10,000. Mr. Rick Strunk reported that Duke University would not host the Football championships in the future. Currently UNC hosts 2 games, NCSU hosts 2 and Wake Forest hosts 2. NSCU has offered to host the two games that Duke will not host, though no decision has been made on that. Next year the bureau is giving the NCHSAA $5,000, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber is making a financial contribution as well and the Town of Chapel Hill is contributing $30,000. A committee was formed to pursue additional funds for the NCHSAA. Corporate sponsorship will be pursued for an additional $30,000. Chapel Hill Mayor Kevin Foy will ask Blue Cross/Blue Shield for funds and Moses Carey is meeting with UNC Healthcare also requesting financial support. They are looking for a four-year commitment. OLD BUSINESS None OT HER MATTERS OF THE BOARD None ADJOURNMENT With all business of the Board completed, Mr. Pavao asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Moses Carey made the motion to adjourn and seconded by Mr. Strunk. With all Board Members in agreement, the meeting was adjourned at 9:13 a.m. ________________________________ _________________________________ Minutes Drafted by: Minutes Accepted by: Laurie Paolicelli, Executive Director Lee Pavao, Chair ________________________________ _________________________________ Date Date