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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCH-OCVB minutes 051607Minutes Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau Board May 16, 2007 The Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau Board met at the Rams Club at the Europa Center, Europa Drive, Chapel Hill, at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 16, 2007. Board Members Present: Lee Pavao Moses Carey, Jr. Jim Ward Rick Strunk Linda Convissor Jon Wilner Rachael P. Hawkins Bob Ward Mark Sherburne Creston Woods Liz Parham (ex-officio) Board Members Absent: Frances Dancy Moses Carey Staff Present: Laurie Paolicelli Dianne Reid Betty Davis Guests: John Montgomery, Rams Club Executive Director Ken Mack, Rams Club Matt Terrell, Ram Club Dan Dunlop, Jennings Agency CALL TO ORDER Mr. Lee Pavao, Chair, called the meeting to order at 8:03 a.m. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS Mr. Pavao opened the meeting by welcoming Board Members and guests. Mr. John Montgomery, Mr. Ken Mack and Mr. Matt Terrell of the Rams Club welcomed Visitors Bureau Board Members to the Rams Club. Mr. Mack and Mr. Terrell presented a PowerPoint presentation of the Ernie Williamson Athletics Center. It is anticipated the completion of the facility will be October 2007 prior to the 2007-2008 UNC-CH Basketball Season. The Ernie Williamson Athletics Center will house a UNC-CH athletic museum along with the Rams Club and other University sports offices. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Pavao asked for approval of the April 18, 2007 Board Meeting minutes. Mr. Bill Crowther made a correction to the minutes. Mr. Crowther was not in attendance at the April meeting. Correction made to the 4/18/07 minutes. Mr. Crowther made a motion to accept the minutes as presented with correction noted. Mr. Rick Strunk seconded the motion. With all Board Members in agreement, the motion was carried unanimously. COMMITTEE REPORTS Marketing Committee Mr. Rick Strunk, Marketing Committee Chair stated that the North Carolina High School Athletic Association had recently met with Paolicelli, Ekeland and Creston Woods to discuss a broader meeting with hoteliers. The purpose of the meeting was to organize a meeting among hoteliers to discuss ways to better solicit high school athletic competition participants to stay in Orange County accommodations. Mr. Strunk, introduced Mr. Dan Dunlop of the Jennings Agency. Mr. Dunlop reported on the development of the campaign that Jennings has been retained to develop for the Visitors Bureau to increase tourism. He presented initial ideas and stated the agency would present recommendations soon. Jon Wilner expressed concern that Chapel Hill and Hillsborough were represented through logo treatments but Carrboro was not. Feared that Carrboro would fall through the cracks and asked how Carrboro would be represented moving forward. Paolicelli explained that the initial campaign used the name Chapel Hill as the brand leader, and then emphasized towns of Carrboro and Hillsborough under that brand. She said she was confident that Carrboro and Hillsborough would equally benefit under the Chapel Hill brand, cognizant that although the name was the hook, the various city attributes were the sell, and all three would be positioned equally. Dunlop agreed that all three towns would equally benefit but that a separate Hillsborough complimentary logo was developed because Hillsborough has a separate agency that places advertising for the town, and they are attempting to augment and complement the Orange County Visitors Bureau’s advertising efforts. Budget & Finance (SUPPLANTED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT) Mr. Moses Carey, Finance Chair, was unable to attend the board meeting. Ms. Laurie Paolicelli led a discussion about budget and strategy, seeking approval on the proposed $733,000 budget which would also use an additional $195,000 from the fund balance. Paolicelli summarized the proposed 2007-2008 budget and board members discussed funding; reduction of the fund balance; strategy and future issues that could possibly occur when the fund balance is spent down. Dianne Reid asked what line items would be impacted if Chapel Hill did not increase its contribution. Paolicelli explained how overall advertising and conference servicing would be impacted. The board discussed various line items, including marketing expenditures, and a motion was made to accept the budget. After a lengthy discussion Mr. Pavao asked for a motion to approve the updates to the proposed FY 2007-2008 budget. Mr. Mark Sherburne made the motion to accept the budget as presented. Mr. Creston Woods seconded the motion. With all members in agreement the motion passed unanimously. NEW BUSINESS Ms. Dianne Reid, Economic Development Commission Director, who will be leaving her position with Orange County, was recognized for her leadership of the Visitors Bureau. Mr. Pavao presented Ms. Reid with a gift of appreciation from the Visitors Bureau Board of Directors. Ms. Liz Parham talked about the Downtown Partnership’s leadership role in a Way finding task force and how the Visitors Bureau would benefit from being a participant in that meeting. Linda Convissor asked the Visitors Bureau to add this to its plan of action. It was discussed, and agreed, that one of the most significant challenges faced by visitors to the area was access, and that way finding initiatives were much needed in order to guide locals and visitors to area restaurants and points of interest, thus fueling economic development. Paolicelli will add this strategy to Plan of Action. Jon Wilner expressed thanks for the Bureau’s contribution to adding greater cohesiveness to the hospitality industry. OLD BUSINESS Mr. Pavao reported that the By-Laws Committee was continuing in their discussions. They had met with county manager, Laura Blackmon, and were currently discussing options. OTHER MATTERS OF THE BOARD The next meeting of the Board will be June 20th with location in Hillsborough to be announced. ADJOURNMENT With all business of the Board completed, Mr. Pavao asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Crowther made the motion to adjourn and seconded by Mr. Strunk. With all Board Members in agreement, the meeting was adjourned at 9:15 a.m. ________________________________ _________________________________ Minutes Drafted by: Minutes Accepted by: Laurie Paolicelli, Executive Director Lee Pavao, Chair ________________________________ _________________________________ Date Date