Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCH-OCVB minutes 092006Minutes Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau Board September 20, 2006 The Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau Board met at The Cedars Clubhouse, 100 Cedar Club Circle, Chapel Hill at 8:00 a.m. on September 20, 2006. Board Members Present: Linda Convissor Bill Crowther Moses Carey Frances Dancy Bob Ward Mark Sherburne Rachel Hawkins Jon Wilner Jim Ward Liz Parham, Ex-officio Board Members Absent: Lee Pavao Creston Woods Rick Strunk Staff Present: Laurie Paolicelli Dianne Reid Betty Davis Linda Ekeland Patty Griffin Guest: Seth Reeves – UNC Athletics CALL TO ORDER Mr. Moses Carey, Finance Chair, conducted the meeting in the absence of Lee Pavao. Mr. Carey called the meeting to order at 8:05 a.m. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS Mr. Carey opened the meeting by welcoming Board Members, guest and staff members. Mr. Bob Woodruff, Director of The Cedars welcomed those attending the meeting and gave a brief overview of the property. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Carey asked for approval of the minutes for August 16, 2006 Board Meeting. Mr. Bill Crowther made a motion to accept the minutes as presented. Ms. Frances Dancy seconded the motion. With all Board Members in agreement, the motion was carried unanimously. UNC Presentation Mr. Seth Reeves of UNC Athletics, made a presentation highlighting the ways which UNC Athletics is working in partnership with the Visitors Bureau to increase visitors stays in Chapel Hill/Orange County. Mr. Reeves presented football schedules, UNC athletic posters, and UNC T-shirts and sun visors to those attending the board meeting. COMMITTEE REPORTS Budget & Finance Mr. Carey stated that Ms. Paolicelli would present the current financial report. Ms. Paolicelli stated that when the Board voted to meet monthly, excluding July and December, a financial report would be presented every other month. The report summary indicated that the official year-end audit had not been completed but a complete financial year end summary should be available for the October board meeting. COMMITTEE REPORTS Sales Committee Mr. Sherburne reported the Sales Committee had not met since the last board meeting. Sherburne stated that the coupon books had been distributed and the co-op advertising with local accommodations was proving to be successful. Also, the Sales Committee has provided a list of local hotel properties to the UNC Athletic Department and the Friday Center for distribution to visiting athletes, sports fans and for those who may be attending meetings or conferences at the Friday Center. The Sales Director has committed to providing FAM tours of Chapel Hill/Orange County limited service properties to interested meeting planners or groups. Mr. Sherburne emphasized that he would like to see the Bureau coordinate cooperative advertising pages in magazines like Our State, Southern Living and others. By-Laws Committee Mr. Carey stated the by-laws committee was working on the revisions to the bureau’s by-laws and that the process was taking longer due to heavy travel schedules of its members. Carey said that the committee was meeting with county department heads throughout October and that they anticipate further updates to Board Members at the November meeting. Advertising Committee In Mr. Strunk’s absence, Mr. Bob Ward reported the committee had not met since they reviewed the RFP’s for advertising agencies. The committee has narrowed the selection to four agencies. The committee will meet on October 10th & 11th for presentations by those agencies. The presentations will be held in the conference room at the Visitors Bureau. DIRECTOR’S REPORT Ms. Paolicelli asked Linda Ekeland, Director of Sales, to report to the Board current sales activities. Ms. Ekeland reported that she had participated in, along with five other bureaus, the Affordable Meetings national tradeshow. Ms. Ekeland stated that transportation to Chapel Hill/Orange County from RDU was being addressed with several companies showing an interest in resolving the transportation needs. Ms. Ekeland reported that the Orange County Tourism Partnership next meeting will be at the Friday Center on Thursday, October 12th. Ms. Ekeland also reported to Board Members regarding the Director of Sales Meeting, two upcoming FAM tours in November, and the UNC FAM “March Madness” tour. Following the Director of Sales report, Ms. Patty Griffin, Communications Manager, reported that the “Passport to Savings” coupon books had been received and were being distributed to industry partners, visitors to the visitors center, and to the local chambers of commerce. Ms. Griffin reported the updated version of the lure brochure and the DVD was almost to completion. Also, that in conjunction with the Chapel Hill Magazine, the Bureau co-sponsored a section in the magazine “Art Community …Got Art.” Ms. Griffin attended the Travel Writers Showcase in Fayetteville recently and stated that she had met with 33 travel writers. Ms. Paolicelli reported to Board Members that July was a good month for Orange County accommodations occupancy with the increase in weddings, fraternal meetings, and corporate business. Ms. Paolicelli reported that she had the opportunity to speak to the Rotary Club regarding the tourism industry and her role at the Visitors Bureau. Ms. Paolicelli reported she had contracted with Daniel Wallace do write a feature story on Carrboro with emphasis on the arts and the unique character of the community. Ms. Paolicelli has also contracted with Michael Malone to write an article on Hillsborough. Ms. Paolicelli reported she has successfully worked with the UNC Black Alumni Association to hold their annual reunion in Chapel Hill. The Bureau will sponsor a table at the reunion dinner and Ms. Frances Dancy will speak on behalf of the Visitors Bureau. NEW BUSINESS Ms. Paolicelli, along with Ms. Dianne Reid and others from UNC, local business people, and officials travel to Madison, Wisconsin on September 24, 25 & 26. The purpose of the trip is to learn how Madison deals with similar challenges as Orange County. OLD BUSINESS – None ADJOURNMENT With all business of the Board completed Mr. Carey asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Ward made the motion to adjourn and motion was seconded by Mr. Linda Convissor. With all Board Members in agreement, the meeting was adjourned at 8:45 a.m. ________________________________ _________________________________ Mi nutes Drafted by: Minutes Accepted by: Laurie Paolicelli, Executive Director Lee Pavao, Chair ________________________________ _________________________________ Date Date