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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCH-OCVB minutes 022101Minutes Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau Board February 21, 2001 The Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau Board met at 8 A.M. at the Sheraton Chapel Hill Hotel. Board Members Present: Creston Woods Nancy Davis Rick Strunk Frances Dancy Anne Loeb Moses Carey, Jr. Kevin Callaghan Pat Evans Lawrence Walters Missy Julian-Fox Board Members Absent: None Staff Present: Joe Blake Betty Davis Guests: Diane Reid CALL TO ORDER Chairman Creston Woods called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS Mr. Woods welcomed all board members and guests to the meeting. Mr. Lawrence Walters, new board member and general manager of the Sheraton Chapel Hill Hotel, gave a brief review of the renovations recently completed at the hotel and invited Board Members to take a tour of the property immediately following the Meeting. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chairman Woods asked for approval of the minutes of the December 20, 2000 meeting as presented. Ms. Frances Dancy made the motion to accept the minutes as presented; Mr. Moses Carey, Jr. seconded the motion. With all Board Members being in agreement the minutes were approved as presented. COMMITTEE REPORTS Budget and Finance Mr. Moses Carey reported that after a review of the financial report, the Bureau appeared to be within the budgeted projections for revenues and expenditures for the fiscal year-to-date through December 2000, as highlighted on the report included in the Board packet. It was noted that some expenses were less than budgeted, which was due to billing delays by vendors. However, staff reports indicated that the expenditures would come in line with budget figures nearer the end of the fiscal year as major projects were completed. Marketing Mr. Rick Strunk, Marketing Committee Chair, reported that the itinerary on the Visitors Bureau website was launched in January. Additionally, it was announced that staff would have the ability to generate a report that provides the number of times a specific business or event was added to an itinerary. The Board was informed that the Bureau was working with the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough to update and reprint the Revolutionary War Tour brochure. Bureau staff also was in the process of updating the “lure”/promotional brochure. The estimated completion of the release date of the final product was late April. Mr. Strunk also reported that the Orange County Purchasing Department sent out Request for Proposals (RFP) to marketing firms interested in representing the Bureau’s account beginning with the 2001-2002 fiscal year. The first assignment for the new marketing agency would be the update and printing of the Visitors Guide. DIRECTOR’S REPORT Mr. Joe Blake reported that Mr. Hill Carrow with Capitol Sports Marketing was coordinating a bid to host the US Olympics Swimming Trials in the Triangle in 2004. Mr. Carrow had been negotiating directly with the UNC Chapel Hill Athletics Department for the potential of the event to occur at the Koury Natatorium. Preferred dates for the event are July 7th through July 14th, 2004. The competition typically attracts 1000 athletes. The event would be televised by NBC, which owns the rights to televise the USOC Olympic Trials events. The event, through lodging, food, and other sales, would have a significant economic impact on the local economy. Mr. Blake updated Board Members on the Photo Contest co-sponsored by the Visitors Bureau and the Chapel Hill Herald. The grand prize for the “best in show” will be two airline tickets from Midway Airlines to any continental destination serviced by the airline. Mr. Blake stated that he and the bureau staff were preparing the preliminary budget documents for the FY 2001-2002. Additional information on the budget would be available at the next board meeting. Also reported by Mr. Blake was that a grass roots group was finalizing details for the road race to be held in conjunction with the La Fiesta del Pueblo. A steering committee met and committees were being formed. The group also met with Chapel Hill town staff and downtown merchants to determine routes for the road race so as not to interfere with downtown business and cause traffic disruptions. Additional information will be passed along to Board Members as it becomes available. Mr. Blake noted that the Bureau was invited to participate in a regional task force charged with creating a regional pride campaign targeted to residents. The group was formed after the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce conducted a survey of Wake County citizens. The results revealed that a small portion of the citizens responding to the survey recognized the Triangle as a descriptor for the area. Even fewer liked calling their area Greater Raleigh or Metro Raleigh. These results prompted the Raleigh Chamber to compose a steering committee including representatives from convention and visitor bureaus, Chambers of Commerce, and town and county governments for the purpose of creating a program that would promote the area regionally to citizens. The group is working with the bureaus in a spirit of regional cooperation from the standpoint of governments, especially with tourism programs that have a regional impact. The mission is to celebrate and articulate pride in the Triangle by cultivating a positive Triangle brand identity among all residents while allowing each community to maintain its own identity. Additional information will be provided as the group meets in the future. Mr. Blake reported the Raleigh Durham Airport had negotiated a contract with CNN to provide 24-hour news at the airport. Our destination was the only other one besides Raleigh and Durham to participate in the program at no charge. The Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau will provide copy and footage taken from the existing video for a one-minute commercial to run in rotation for a minimum of six months. Based upon information provided by the RDU staff, the CNN airport programming has the potential to reach approximately 31,500 travelers per day. Mr. Blake announced that the Chapel Hill Inntown has a new owner, Mr. Eric Plow, and the extended stay property had reopened for business. The Carolina Courage Soccer Team will play their games at Fetzer Field here in Chapel Hill until their move to Cary next year when the Cary soccer complex is completed. The Bureau will conduct a spring hospitality training bus tour and if any of the Board Members are interested in participating please notify the Bureau. Mr. Blake asked Board Member to check the roster that was included in the Board Packet for accuracy. If changes or corrections were needed to notify the office and the changes would be made. Mr. Blake reported to Board Members regarding the status on-line reservations for Orange County accommodations. Mr. Blake stated that after an informal survey of hotels that the majority of them were in favor of on-line reservations. Additional information would be forwarded to Board Members as it became available. Mr. Blake reported that Capital Sports Management has informed the Bureau that the 2003 Masters Games will take place in the Triangle. OLD BUSINESS Mr. Woods reported that The Alliance for Historic Hillsborough had nominated Mr. Bill Crowther to represent them on the Visitors Bureau Board. The Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of Commerce had nominated Mr. Sam Hobgood to represent the Chamber. Both nominations would be presented for the Commissioners consideration after the individuals completed and submitted volunteer application forms. Mr. Woods opened the discussion on the “Shaping of Orange County’s Future” document. Board members discussed the fact that the document did not recognize tourism as a viable and clean industry that contributes millions of dollars to the economy. Mr. Blake suggested that the Board make a motion that a letter be drafted and sent to Mr. David Stancil of the Orange County Environment & Resource Conservation, with copies going to county, town officials, and Economic Development to include the tourism industry in the “Shaping of Orange County’s Future.” Ms. Evans made the motion and Ms. Julian-Fox seconded the motion. With all Board Members in agreement the motion was carried. Mr. Blake and Mr. Woods will prepare the letter and send it to all officials aforementioned. It was noted all Board Members would receive a draft of the letter in order to provide feedback before it was mailed. NEW BUSINESS Mr. Woods announced to Board Members the nominating committee for the Board would consist of Nancy Davis, Moses Carey, Pat Evans and Rick Strunk. With all Board Members in agreement the nominating committee was approved. Mr. Strunk discussed the enhanced listings in the visitors guide with the Board Members. After a discussion by Board Members a motion was made by Rick Strunk to discontinue the charge for enhanced listings in the accommodations, shopping and dining sections of the visitors guide, but to allow staff to upgrade all accommodations listings to be consistent with the paid ads in the current edition of the Guide. The motion was seconded by Pat Evans. With all Members in agreement, the motion was approved and carried. Mr. Blake announced that the State of the Local Economy Breakfast would be held on March 27th at the Friday Continuing Education Center. Ms. Dianne Reid, Director of the Economic Development Commission, would be the presenter at the breakfast. The Bureau had reserved a table for the event and all Board Members were invited to attend. Board Members were asked to notify the office if they wished to attend. The next meeting of the Visitors Bureau Board was announced for April 18th at Ayr Mount in Hillsborough. Other Matters of the Board Mr. Kevin Callaghan announced that Carrboro had opened the new Century Center. The Century Center houses some town offices and has meeting spaces available for meetings and other events. Ms. Dianne Reid stated that at the last Economic Development Commission meeting it was suggested that a member of the Visitors Bureau Board sit on the EDC Board and Arts Commission. More information on the suggestion would be provided at a later date. Ms. Reid also mentioned that the 250th Anniversary of the founding of Orange County would take place in September of 2002. The Visitors Bureau had been extended an invitation to participate in the celebration. Mr. Strunk announced that the North Carolina High School Athletic Association would host the 87th High School Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship here in Chapel Hill on March 9th and 10th. The theme for the event - “The Road to Chapel Hill.” ADJOURNMENT With all business of the Board completed, Mr. Woods asked for a motion to adjourn. Ms. Evans made a motion to adjourn. Ms. Dancy seconded the motion. With all Board Members in agreement, the meeting adjourned at 9:05 a.m. ________________________________ _________________________________ Minutes Drafted by: Minutes Accepted by: Joseph Blake, Executive Director Creston Woods, Chairman ________________________________ _________________________________ Date Date