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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCH-OCVB minutes 062106Minutes Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau Board June 21, 2007 The Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau Board met at The Carolina Inn, 211 Pittsboro Street, Chapel Hill at 8:00 a.m. on June 21, 2007. Board Members Present: Lee Pavao Rick Strunk Linda Convissor Bill Crowther Creston Woods Moses Carey Frances Dancy Bob Ward Mark Sherburne Rachel Phelps-Hawkins Jon Wilner Board Members Absent: Jim Ward Staff Present: Laurie Paolicelli Dianne Reid Betty Davis Linda Ekeland Guests: Cathleen Turner – Alliance for Historic Hillsborough Liz Parham – Chapel Hill Downtown Commission Pat Evans CALL TO ORDER Mr. Pavao, Chair, called the meeting to order at 8:05 a.m. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS Mr. Lee Pavao opened the meeting by welcoming Board Members, guests and staff members. Chair Pavao announced and greeted new Board Member Jon Wilner. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Pavao asked for approval of the minutes for February 16, 2006 and April 19, 2006 Board Meetings. Mr. Bob Ward made a motion to accept the minutes as presented. Mr. Rick Strunk seconded the motion. With all Board Members in agreement, the motion was carried unanimously. COMMITTEE REPORTS Budget & Finance Mr. Moses Carey, Jr., Finance Chair, reported that the Bureau’s financial report appeared to be on target for May. Monies will need to be transferred from one line item to another line item to balance two line items in the 2005-2006 budget. Overall the budget for May appears to be 82% spent with only June left in the current year’s budget. Mr. Carey made a motion to accept the budget as presented. Ms. Frances Dancy seconded the motion. The motion was carried unanimously. Ms. Paolicelli reviewed the proposed budget FY 2006-2007. A brief discussion ensued regarding Chapel Hill contributions to the support of the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau. DIRECTOR’S REPORT Ms. Paolicelli reported that the Bureau’s staff members would meet with the UNC-CH Athletics staff in an effort to build a stronger presence with the university sports departments. Also, to build a program that would attract teams and sports fans to extend their visits to Orange County. As a result of the summer advertising campaign the Bureau has experienced an increase in telephone visitor inquiries, increase in website visits and an increase in the number of visitors to the Visitors Center. Ms. Paolicelli stated that occupancy and average daily rates for Orange County accommodations were up in May due to an increase in group/corporate, graduation, weddings and leisure travel. Ms. Paolicelli also presented the Request for Proposal (RFP) seeking an agency’s services for a “Campaign Concept and on-Line Strategy for the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau.” It is anticipated the “Book Banner” project for the visitors center will be completed by the middle of June. The banner should bring attention to the numerous writers in Chapel Hill/Orange County. Ms. Paolicelli asked Ms. Ekeland, Director of Sales, to present a brief sales report to Board Members. Ms. Ekeland spoke briefly on the “March Madness Program” designed to introduce the UNC-CH meeting planners to the Bureau’s services. Ekeland also discussed the Bureau’s program of working with other convention and visitors bureaus in North Carolina to present at industry tradeshows and the meetings held with local accommodations general managers and directors of sales. After a brief discussion regarding the sales of the Bureau, Mark Sherburne was asked to coordinate the monthly GM/DOS meetings with Ms. Paolicelli and Ms. Ekeland. Ms. Paolicelli reported the inaugural luncheon-forum of the Orange County Tourism Partnership meeting was conducted at The Siena Hotel on June 15, 2006 with 35 people attending. The presentation “Shuttle Service from RDU to Chapel Hill/Orange County.” Presented by Teresa Damiano, Director of Marketing with RDU Airport, on shuttle service from RDU to Chapel Hill/Orange County proved to a topic that interested those in attendance. NEW BUSINESS Mr. Pavao discussed extending membership to the Visitors Bureau Board to the Chapel Hill Downtown Commission. No action taken. Mr. Pavao announced that he would contact board members regarding a marketing committee to review upcoming marketing strategies. Mr. Carey opened a discussion regarding changes in the local municipalities leadership. John Link is retiring as Orange County Manager and Cal Horton retiring from the Town of Chapel Hill. Mr. Carey made a motion that Chair Pavao appoints a committee to review the visitors bureau’s by-laws and to establish a relationship with new municipality leadership. Ms. Linda Convissor seconded the motion. With all Board Members in agreement, the motion to accept was unanimous. Mr. Pavao opened a discussion with Board Members regarding additional board meetings. Discussion revealed that with multiple projects anticipated by Ms. Paolicelli that additional board meetings would expedite the approval of such projects. Mr. Pavao made a motion that the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau Board meets each month with the exception of July and December. Mr. Bob Ward seconded the motion. Board Members unanimously passed the motion. OLD BUSINESS – None ADJOURNMENT With all business of the Board completed Mr. Pavao asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Rick Strunk made the motion to adjourn and motion was seconded by Mr. Ward. With all Board Members in agreement, the meeting was adjourned at 9:00 a.m. ________________________________ _________________________________ Minutes Drafted by: Minutes Accepted by: Laurie Paolicelli, Executive Director Lee Pavao, Chair ________________________________ _________________________________ Date Date