HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-08-23 CHOCVB AgendaCHAPEL HILL/ORANGE COUNTY VISITORS BUREAU
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
8:00 A.M.-9:00 A.M.
DATE CHANGE: WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2023
SHERATON CHAPEL HILL
I. Call to Order Karen DeHart, Vice Chair
(Filling in for Mark Bell who is on business travel).
II.Board member introductions Karen DeHart, Vice Chair
III.Approval of Minutes Karen DeHart, Vice Chair
IV.Strategic Plan Update Laurie Paolicelli, Director
V. Guest speaker Clean Advertising Agency
(New creative direction)
VI.New Business Karen DeHart, Vice Chair
a.Update on new members, open seats).
b. Uproar post event summary Katie Murray, OCAC
VII.Adjournment
For Approval August 23, 2023
Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau
In Person Board of Directors Meeting
June 21, 2023
Board Members Present: Mark Bell – Chair, Spring Council, Heidi Werner Dawson, Karen
DeHart, Jon Hartman-Brown, Sharon Hill, Tanya Moore, Beverly Payne, Jeri Lynn Schulke,
Damon Seils
Not Present: Manish Atma, Lisa Ganzermiller (has resigned her position), Lili Engelhardt, Grace
Holtkamp, Earl McKee, Karen Stegman
Also Present: Stephanie Cobert, Downtown Partnership, Director of Marketing; Martina Brooks
(representing Manish Atma)
Staff Attendance: Laurie Paolicelli, Marlene Barbera, Susan Rice, Katie Murray, Shannan
Campbell
Call to Order
Mark Bell - Chair, called the meeting to order at 8:10 a.m.
Approval of Minutes
Mark Bell requested a motion to approve the May 17, 2023 minutes. Sharon Hill so moved and
Beverly Payne seconded the motion. With all members in favor, the minutes were approved as
submitted.
Introductions
Laurie Paolicelli’ s presentation: https://www.orangecountync.gov/3186/202324-Program-
Goals
Overview of 10 Priorities Right Now:
July 19, Soccer Tournament + 60,000 in town, background on the 2 teams: Wrexham
and Chelsea – celebrity ownership, European soccer teams, first international soccer
competition held at UNC’s Kenan Stadium
Tickets for game (about 60,000) sold out in 4 days
A portion of every ticket sold will be donated to the Pediatric Hematology Oncology
Clinic at UNC Children's Hospital, the teams will visit the hospital while they are here
Laurie did a run-down of the Itinerary for the teams: starting with a warm, red-carpet
welcome at the airport for each team
Uproar: Laurie will be presenting a Marketing Design to Katie on Friday , June 23
Visitor Bureau is spending $50,000 to promote Uproar: Saturday trolley, Ad Agency
Campaign, swag, will market the festival to outside audiences
2 | P a g e C H O C V B B O D M e e t i n g J u n e 2 1 , 2 0 2 3
Operating Visitor Center: open 6 days a week, funded by Orange County
Monitoring Business Economy: Weekday business travel sill not here yet, travelers
blending business and leisure travel trips – sometimes with spouses and families
Marketing: Black Indigenous People Of Color (BIPOC) And Diversity Programming:
diversity website, LGBTQ marketing, mural on the side of the Visitor Center
Publications and Ads: ex – Carrboro brochure, NC Farm Ap, promote Hillsborough on
VISITNC
Spreading The Destination Word Nationally, public relations and social media staff
Articles in Pride Journeys and The Local Palate
Storytelling our People and Places: Orange Slices, people remember talking to people
and making a people connection
Group Business: Cvent: spent $50,000 - portal for meeting planners
Accommodations: promoting area hotels
Tacking Supply and Demand: short term rentals and Airbnb, occupancy tax collections
2023/2024 Budget
Discussion
Mark Bell reported he is now traveling for business, often mid-week
Question: what can the board do to promote/encourage business travelers to leave the
hotel besides just for dinner
Coming up with a list of things to do locally, offering package deals (combining hotel,
restaurants, venues)
Looking for experiences plus extra ideas for spouse/families joining business traveler
Offering tours, very popular both hosted and self-guided
Staff agreed to bring back ideas to August meeting
New Business
Tanya Moore - UNC
August 21st will be the first day of classes at UNC, proceeded by Orientation Week
Maymester UNC course offered: Loving Your Local Art https://summer.unc.edu/course-
offerings/course-descriptions/art-and-art-history/
Jon Hartman-Brown, Economic Development Director, Carrboro
Annual Pride Parade will be June 30th starting at 4:30pm
Parade will end at the Carrboro Town Commons for the Food Truck Rodeo and Dance
Party
3 | P a g e C H O C V B B O D M e e t i n g J u n e 2 1 , 2 0 2 3
Katie Murray – Reporting on Uproar
Save the dates: Friday, July 14 at Current on Franklin St, kickoff of Uproar
Saturday, 12 at the Eno Mill, closing party – bands, winners of the show
Katie needs volunteers, staffing the Visitor Centers, parties, etc.
Summer Council, Mama Dip’s Kitchen
Family is working on creating a new business model
Looking for a new space in Chapel Hill that will suit their needs
Will be trying to coordinate a new space before selling and moving out of their
current location
Damon Seils asked her to consider Carrboro, Beverly Payne suggested Hillsborough
Sharon Hill
Thought the Visitors Bureau’s Open House in May was terrific, she enjoyed
everything especially the magician, band and local food
Laurie talked about how former VB board members and former elected officials
were sent invites and how much they appreciated being included since so many of
them served on the Visitors Bureau Board in years past.
Next meeting: Wednesday, August 16, 2023 at TBD
Meeting adjourned at 9:06 a.m.
FY2021-2022 vs FY2022-2023
MONTH FY 20-21 FY 21/22 % CHANGE FY 22/23 % CHANGE $ CHANGE
July $54,109.10 $119,216.66 120.33% $125,717.79 5.45% $6,501.13
August $66,834.84 $113,421.75 69.70% $168,037.83 48.15% $54,616.08
September $53,263.99 $126,523.98 137.54% $165,398.86 30.73% $38,874.88
October $66,339.57 $163,082.10 145.83% $196,172.92 20.29% $33,090.82
November $50,034.22 $128,859.01 157.54% $170,515.13 32.33% $41,656.12
December $38,425.02 $108,857.84 183.30% $116,227.41 6.77% $7,369.57
January $46,071.87 $90,802.56 97.09% $126,452.61 39.26% $35,650.05
February $57,477.33 $132,819.41 131.08% $136,759.95 2.97% $3,940.54
March $82,320.03 $133,493.61 62.16% $183,265.51 37.28% $49,771.90
April $84,018.59 $170,924.79 103.44% $185,785.52 8.69% $14,860.73
May $110,044.09 $187,964.30 70.81% $199,926.34 6.36% $11,962.04
June $113,110.20 $181,988.92 60.90% $162,199.29 -10.87% ($19,789.63)
YTD Total $822,048.85 $1,657,954.93 101.69% $1,936,459.16 16.80% $278,504.23
2022-2023 Gross Occupancy Receipts Comparison (including collections from Airbnb)
Current and YTD Expenditures and Revenue
June 2023
YTD
cludes funds encumber
REVENUE
Chapel Hill Support $0.00 $348,657.50 $348,658.00 100.0%
Occupancy Tax*$199,926.34 $1,948,759.24 $1,540,000.00 126.5%
I nterest $7,223.00
$6,216.25 $156,432.82 $209,638.00 74.6%
TOTAL $206,142.59 $2,461,072.56 $2,098,296.00 117.3%
Overhead
Transfers County Administrative Fee $86,644.00 0.0%
Personnel
Salaries/Benefits $62,207.13 $557,856.75 $558,709.00 99.8%
Subtotal $62,207.13 $557,856.75 $558,709.00 99.8%
Operations
Travel -$579.20 $11,134.00 $16,500.00 67.5%
Mileage $420.31 $7,424.38 $7,600.00 97.7%
Telephone $282.48 $3,376.04 $9,904.00 34.1%
Postage $590.38 $2,021.52 $3,000.00 67.4%
Freight $389.05 $3,181.13 $5,500.00 57.8%
Building Rent $0.00 $154,394.32 $166,572.00 92.7%
Printing $119.50 $2,543.06 $3,000.00 84.8%
Dues $0.00 $17,945.00 $18,198.00 98.6%
Subscriptions $7,812.00 $33,032.01 $33,538.00 98.5%
Dept Supplies $998.93 $19,943.91 $25,000.00 79.8%
Office Supplies $0.00 $483.16 $500.00 96.6%
Contract Services $1,352.32 $11,301.83 $13,200.00 85.6%
Electricity $477.00 $3,818.66 $10,500.00 36.4%
Credit Card Machine $0.00 $0.00 $252.00 0.0%
Strategic Alliances $0.00 $13,692.46 $15,700.00 87.2%
Subtotal $11,862.77 $284,291.48 $328,964.00 86.4%
Advertising $100,855.71 $772,589.30 $842,258.00 91.7%
Sales &Promotion, Events, Ent.$15,538.36 $73,488.44 $86,500.00 85.0%
Marketing Trade Shows $89.23 $10,886.07 $13,800.00 78.9%
Sales Travel $341.40 $1,242.83 $6,800.00 18.3%
Research $0.00 $10,400.00 $17,000.00 61.2%
Publications $10,500.00 $106,746.95 $197,500.00 54.0%
Subtotal $127,324.70 $975,353.59 $1,163,858.00 83.8%
Total Overhead, Personnel, Ops $201,394.60 $1,817,501.82 $2,138,175.00 85.0%
Recurring Capital Building Improvements $0.00 $5,000.00 100.0%
Ar ts Commission
Personnel Salary/Benefits $15,532.83 $125,692.76 $134,165.00 93.7%
Operating Travel $0.00 $2,460.09 $2,461.00 100.0%
Training/Development $0.00 $128.16 $129.00 99.3%
Mileage $355.67 $1,285.52 $1,395.00 92.2%
Telephone $330.05 $2,276.00 $2,871.00 79.3%
Postage $0.00 $70.20 $71.00 98.9%
Building Rent - 71390 $9,013.69 $108,164.28 $105,706.00 102.3%
Printing $0.00 $1,127.91 $1,273.00 88.6%
Advertising $480.13 $9,374.45 $9,500.00 98.7%
Dues $0.00 $400.00 $405.00 98.8%
Dept. Supplies $10.43 $6,046.60 $6,000.00 100.8%
Dept Supplies - 71390 $866.88 $7,482.84 $7,500.00 99.8%
Office Supplies $51.47 $775.50 $819.00 94.7%
Contract Services - 71390 $0.00 $270.00 $5,000.00 5.4%
Program Expense $3,239.05 $39,077.80 $39,079.00 100.0%
State Arts Grant $0.00 $52,187.00 $52,187.00 100.0%
Local Arts Grant $208.63 $28,698.63 $28,704.00 100.0%
T otal Ar ts Commission $30,088.83 $385,517.74 $397,265.00 97.0%
TOTAL Expenses $231,483.43 $2,208,019.56 $2,535,440.00 87.1%
Arts Commission Revenues
Current M
o
nt
h
Annual Bu
d
g
et
% BUDGET
U
S
E
D
YTD
includes funds encumbered
REVENUE
Chapel Hill Support $0.00 $0.00 $375,000.00 0.0%
Occupancy Tax*$162,199.29 $162,199.29 $1,852,791.00 8.8%
$178,710.00 0.0%
TOTAL $162,199.29 $162,199.29 $2,406,501.00 6.7%
Overhead
Transfers General Fund $0.00 $0.00 112,000.00 0.0%
Transfers County Administrative Fee $0.00 $0.00 $83,592.00 0.0%
Transfers Outside Agencies Funding $0.00 $0.00 $15,289.00 0.0%
Personnel
Salaries/Benefits $25,436.34 $25,436.34 $580,239.00 4.4%
Subtotal $25,436.34 $25,436.34 $580,239.00 4.4%
Operations
Travel $0.00 $0.00 $29,325.00 100.0%
Mileage $400.00 $400.00 $6,513.00 6.1%
Telephone $241.29 $241.29 $9,964.00 2.4%
Postage $0.00 $0.00 $3,500.00 0.0%
Freight $108.40 $108.40 $6,050.00 1.8%
Building Rent $22,760.00 $22,760.00 $170,760.00 13.3%
Printing $217.72 $217.72 $3,300.00 6.6%
Dues $4,671.00 $4,671.00 $17,537.00 26.6%
Subscriptions $6,254.27 $6,254.27 $30,224.00 20.7%
Dept Supplies $1,812.29 $1,812.29 $28,500.00 6.4%
Office Supplies $0.00 $0.00 $600.00 0.0%
Contract Services $1,100.00 $7,187.64 $19,886.00 36.1%
Electricity $405.90 $405.90 $11,750.00 3.5%
Credit Card Machine $0.00 $0.00 $252.00 0.0%
Strategic Alliances $0.00 $0.00 $10,950.00 0.0%
Subtotal $37,970.87 $44,058.51 $349,111.00 12.6%
Sales &Promotion, Events, Ent.$1,992.55 $1,992.55 $79,550.00 2.5%
Marketing Trade Shows $0.00 $0.00 $14,775.00 0.0%
Sales Travel $0.00 $0.00 $10,800.00 0.0%
Research $0.00 $0.00 $2,200.00 0.0%
Publications $7,657.52 $7,657.52 $160,800.00 4.8%
Advertising $116,610.69 $111,329.94 $849,700.00 13.1%
Subtotal $126,260.76 $120,980.01 $1,117,825.00 10.8%
Total Overhead, Personnel, Ops $189,667.97 $190,474.86 $2,258,056.00 8.4%
Recurring Capita Building Improvements $0.00 $0.00 $25,000.00 0.0%
Ar ts Commission
Personnel Salary/Benefits $6,200.16 $6,200.16 $187,043.00 3.3%
Operating Training/development $0.00 $0.00 $500.00 0.0%
Mileage $0.00 $0.00 $1,500.00 0.0%
Telephone $214.95 $214.95 $2,871.00 7.5%
Postage $0.00 $0.00 $100.00 0.0%
Building Rent - 71390 $18,488.63 $18,488.63 $110,786.00 16.7%
Printing $0.00 $0.00 $3,575.00 0.0%
Advertising $0.00 $0.00 $10,000.00 0.0%
Dues $0.00 $0.00 $405.00 0.0%
Dept. Supplies $0.00 $0.00 $6,000.00 0.0%
Dept Supplies - 71390 $0.00 $0.00 $7,500.00 0.0%
Office Supplies $0.00 $0.00 $1,000.00 0.0%
Travel $0.00 $0.00 $2,500.00 0.0%
Program Expense $3,850.44 $3,850.44 $16,214.00 23.7%
State Arts Grant $0.00 $0.00 $25,105.00 0.0%
Local Arts Grant $0.00 $0.00 $28,800.00 0.0%
Total Arts Commission $28,754.18 $28,754.18 $403,899.00 7.1%
TOTAL $218,422.15 $219,229.04 $2,686,955.00 8.2%
*Occupany Tax Revenue - for June
Ar ts Commission Revenues
Current and YTD Expenditures and Revenue
July 2023
Current M
o
nt
h
Annual Bu
d
g
e
t
% BUDGET
U
S
E
D
Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau
Communications Report
June 2023
Monthly Statistics Current Month 22-23 TOTALS 21-22 Totals
Definite Runs: 20 274 247
Bureau Referenced: 10 124 111
Triangle: 10 390 343
Regional: 7 180 183
National: 2 102 146
International: 2 46 28
Total Media Assisted: 8 136 133
Highlights Media & Communications Highlights
Publications/Flyers/Online Campaigns/Videos in June – Sent mural map files to designer on June 7. Sent files to wall
map designer on June 23. Wrote and sent July Check it Out newsletter on June 30 to 3,533 subscribers. Updated and
printed what’s open sheet for July and placed in Welcome Center for walk-in visitors. Visitor Bureau has ongoing digital
marketing and social media campaign this spring with Triangle Digital Partners with Reels posted on June 1 – Pride
Month in Orange County and June. This month’s Video Reels posted June 1 Pride in Orange County and on June 19 –
West Franklin Street/Midway Businesses. Bureau highlighting LGBTQ website page for Pride. Bureau updated published
Chelsea/Wrexham informational page on website.
Work with VisitNC and/or Work from Travel Writers who visited or interested in a visit –Went to Women’s
Correctional Facility for presentation on What there is to do and see in Orange County, including highlighting Uproar on
June 28. Attended PRSA Travel & Tourism Conference in Madison WI on June 20-23 and participated in the Media
Reception on the final night meeting 6 media. Proofed Uproar Featured Event for VisitNC.com website on June 26.
June Travel Media Assistance –Working with Kimberly Simpson of Our State Magazine to update the Sounds of
Orange County story which ran last summer; Charlotte Travel Blogger Kathy Hsu interested in visiting Chapel Hill
with family for weekend; Aaron Keck on WCHL interview Laurie about the upcoming international soccer match;
Roadtrip Amerika Oliver Hedderick wanted to do a German cooking show with the UNC Football Team – time does not
allow.
June Stories Appearing and/or Media Mentions – ConventionSouth online Directory features Chapel Hill; Local
Reporter includes Laurie Paolicelli Orange Slice Columns throughout the month; Botanist & Barrel feature on NC
Weekend; Car-Free Summer Weekend in Chapel Hill by Alyssa – Wayward Travel Blog; NC Speakeasy Reinvents the
Supper Club in Carrboro on Eater Carolinas by Jenn Rice; 11 Hottest Triangle Restaurants in June by Matt Lardie on
Eaters Carolinas; Chapel Hill queerramid downtown during Pride Month on WRAL; Local Palate Magazine running 7
destination stories on Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough and went live this month; Our State Field Trip magazine
includes Orange County; PrideJourneys website includes Chapel Hill & Carrboro during pride month by Joey Amato;
WCHL story on Hargraves Center added to statewide civil rights trail; Sounds of Summer in Orange County in Our State
by Jodi Helmer updated and posted on June 27; Storm Chases Blog on SB Nation by Justin Dottavio on the Maim
Hurricanes features what to do and see when the Canes visit Chapel Hill for football game this fall; WCHL story on
Soccer Match ran June 26; Charlotte Observer Road Trip: 23 Places to Visit during summer 23 including Chapel Hill.
Sent June Press Releases: None June Blogs– Ways to Celebrate Juneteenth in Orange County NC; Top Summer
Festivals in Chapel Hill & Orange County.
Other Accomplishments/Activities
Call with Circle Park on possible partnership
Participated in VisitNC Webinar on Outdoor NC on June 8
Participated in Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership Board Meeting on June 8 and followed up with report to staff.
Participated in calls with CLEAN on June 14, 26, 28 discussing upcoming media campaigns, advertising plan, bus wrap
and more
Staff Zoom calls on June 6, 14, 27
Proof weekly Susan Rice’s web calendar list
Reviewed Tina’s July social media calendar on June 30
Hold monthly communications dept. staff meeting
Budget and Publication Inventory
Inventory as of June 30, 2023: Official 22-23 Visitors Guide—10,650; Official Visitors 22-23 Map—6,300; 22-23 Dining
Map Pads –57
During June we had 56,131 website visits. For the 22-23 year we have 562,985 visits up from 21-22 with 390,107 visits.
For fiscal year 2022-23 we distributed 247 images down the 2021-22 distribution of 265 images. Had 274 definite media
runs up from 247 last year. Bureau was referenced 124 times, up from 111 the previous year in media stories.
Welcome Center walk-in visitors for 22-23 4398 vs 21-22 at 2350
Tina Fuller Website Social Media Report (June 1 – June 30, 2023)
Facebook – Beginning 22,674/Ending 22,954 Increase 280; Posts 16
Twitter – Beginning 5,689/Ending 5,692, Increase 3; Tweets 13
Instagram – Beginning 5,725/Ending 5,987, Increase 162; Posts 3
Pinterest - Beginning 597, Ending 597 Increase 0; posts 80
Fiscal YTD 22-23 New Likes/ Followers Total Posts
Facebook 1498 242
Twitter 35 268
Instagram 534 63
Pinterest 1 944
Fiscal YTD 21-22 New Likes/ Followers Total Posts
Facebook 1494 279
Twitter 247 375
Instagram 482 67
Pinterest 8 1063
Social Media work
• Day to day postings/monitoring comments on posts/monitoring mentions of VB from others/engaging on posts by
other businesses and people.
• Created content calendar for July.
• Reviewed Flip to contest submissions with Marlene.
• Worked with Triangle Media on Instagram and FB collaborations.
• Paid social (in-house):
o On-going Facebook like campaign $5/day; Ad began 1/23/2023 targeting the Charlotte market. 854 paid
likes to-date, $924.81 spend.
o Boosted Summer Festival blog $200/14 days.
Website work
• Created, published or re-published blogs in CMS: Ways to Celebrate Juneteenth.
• Upload Chapel Hill brochure to ISSUU and website
• Changed out home page Tar Heel? Baseball image for Football
• Created Chelsea vs Wrexham landing page.
• Transferred old Universal Analytics for Goal Conversions to new GA4 – Reached out to Niki Media Two
regarding transfer of Google Tag accounts.
• Changed out Homepage alert from Carolina Inn to Chelsea vs Wrexham.
• Added new blogs to feed on hotel page.
• Updated events layout widget to show football fall events on UNC Sports page.
• Added Uproar and West End O.S to homepage.
• Downloaded Google Universal analytic reports from 7-1-22 to 6-29-23 in prep for transfer to GA4.
2022-2023 month over month Website visits (sessions)
3-year, month over month (website sessions)
Accounts Payable/Contracts/Budget
• Ran May Budget YTD report for Marlene.
• Sent W9 and EFT forms to Civil Wars Trails Inc
• Entered and processed (5) A/P batches for FY22-23 and (1) for FY23-24
• Processed Contracts and requested P.O.s for Houck & Simpleview FY22-23
• Update ACTUAL budget sheet to reflect current account balances.
• Reached out to Destination International regarding membership & DMAP billing error.
• Reached out to MDI, OE Enterprise, Clean and iDSS for updated COI and SOW, if applicable for 2023-2024
contracts
2022-
2023
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Leisure
Campaign
Begins
All
Leisure
ads/search
running
All ads
running
including
meetings
Meetings
campaign
ends
Sessions 26,862 40,536 48,878 52,915 49,104 55,365 43,852 40,738 46,017 51,809 50,778 56,131
• Call meeting with Melissa Tegedar, Risk Management re: COIs for Cole Barbara and Destination Analysts
• Began creating hard copy and digital files in prep for Hannah’s start date.
Book Direct (formally, JackRabbit) Widget
• Google analytics reports 137 searches, 25 Visit Hotel Website link clicks and 17 unique Book Now clicks.
Visit NC Farm app.
• Updated listings: Cedar Grove Blueberry Farm, RambleRill Farm, Luna Blues Farm
• Worked with Admin from Alamance County to update listings for our OC farms that vend at Mebane Farmers’
market per her request.
• Added event for RambleRill and push notification.
Google Business page
• Posted Check it Out Newsletter
Photoshelter
• Created Gallery for Blackwood Farm Park images by SP Murray – request Susan tag.
Newsletters/Reports/Publications
• Tourism “By the Numbers” newsletter
• Monthly report
• Social media and website comparison worksheet updates
• e-newsletter request report -added contacts to iContact lists for Orange Slices and Check it Out.
Miscellaneous
• Attended virtual meetings with staff meetings.
• Attended virtual meetings with Clean.
• Met with Patty & Susan for monthly meeting.
• Attended virtual meetings with Circle Park & Destination Analysts
• Attended virtual meeting with LP, TOCH, Chamber and CHDTP regarding Soccer Match
• Created folder for Accreditation files and began adding documents needed for submission. Reviewed
requirements with Marlene.
• Created list of onboarding needs for new business officer, sent to LP.
• Completed and sent featured event form for Visit NC website – Patty edited upon her return from conference.
Note: Took 4 days of vacation & 1 holiday.
####
Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau
Communications Report
July 2023
Monthly Statistics Current Month 23-24YTD 22-23YTD 22-23 Totals
Definite Runs: 43 43 15 274
Bureau Referenced: 21 21 6 124
Triangle: 24 24 10 390
Regional: 14 14 8 180
National: 10 10 21 102
International: 8 8 9 46
Total Media Assisted: 24 24 9 136
Highlights Media & Communications Highlights
Publications/Flyers/Online Campaigns/Videos in July –40 Mural Map Pads were printed and arrived in house on July
11. Updated and printed what’s open sheet for August and placed in Welcome Center for walk-in visitors. Put together
RFP for printer for 2024 Visitors Guide. Laid out printing scheduled and content ideas for guide. Beginning ideas for
itinerary brochure. Bureau produced a trolley map for the Uproar Arts Festival. Worked with Spectrum on Uproar
Video Ad. The Bureau produced posters for Chelsea/Wrexham and ordered mascots heads and stand-ups and flags for
promotion of the game. Promoted Soccer information page on website homepage.
Work with VisitNC–Selected to attend VIsitNC Media Mission in New York on November 6-8. Will also be
participating in Raleigh Media Mission in September. Worked with Art Director of the 2024 Travel Guide to set up a
photo shoot at Pluck Farm on July 19 for a feature in the guide. Approved Welcome Center listing in the 2024 NC Travel
Guide.
Media Relations/Travel Writers: Travel Blogger from Greenville SC Penny Zibula who travels with her service dog
and writes blog Six Legs Will Travel is interested in visiting the designation; Charlotte Mother Travel Content Creator
Kathy Hsu interested in Chapel Hill visit.
July Travel Media Assistance – Sent ideas and photos for Guide to NC Colleges story in Cardinal & Pine by
Vanessa Infanzon; PBS filming Uproar Installation; Sent Small Town Feature ideas for Hillsborough NC to Maria
Spanadoris of Famadillo.com; Worked with Raleigh Freelance writer Brigid Washington on a Garden & Gun story on
Chapel Hill: A Local's Pick which appeared on the Garden & Gun website on August 1; Working with Our State for a
Tar Heel Town feature on Chapel Hill for placement in October - providing ideas and photos; Best Colllege for Sports
Fans by USA 10best Editors.
July Stories Appearing and/or Media Mentions – Top 10 Things to Do in Chapel Hill in Southeast Travel Guide;
Travel Lens Features 18 Best Chapel Hill Restaurants by Jude Perez; Out and About WRAL Stories on Maple View
and Union Grove Farm by Kathy Hanrahan and Caffe Driade; Carolina earns 5-star rating from Money magazine; Eater
Carolinas 11 Hottest Restaurants in Triangle in July by Matt Lardie; Guide to NC Colleges in Cardinal & Pine appeared
including Chapel Hill; Local Reporter includes Laurie Paolicelli Orange Slice Columns throughout the month
The bureau assisted media and numerous interviews and stories were done on Chelsea/Wrexham game both before the
match and afterwards highlighting the economic impact of the event. Media included: WUNC -FM, Spectrum 1, ABC 11,
Chapelboro/WCHL, The Atlantic/New York Times; CBS 17; WRAL-FM; VisitNC NewsLink; Yahoo; WRAL-TV; News
& Observer; Daily Tar Heel; Essentially Sports.com.
Uproar received a lot of media coverage including Indy and Indy Newsletter, Chapelboro, Chapel Hill Magazine, Our
State Newsletter, Spectrum Video, Chapel Hill Chamber, DTH, News of Orange, N&O, Town of Carrboro, WRAL-TV,
Cardinal & Pine and NCTripping, Also featured on our social media and in Orange Slices and Check it Out newsletters. I
also tracked the number of visitors in the welcome center during Uproar and sent weekly reports to Katie.
Sent July Press Releases: Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau Narrows the Digital Accessibility Gap; Blogs– 12
Places to Sip a Beer Outdoors in Chapel Hill & Orange County, NC; 12 Places Serving up Ice Cream and Frozen Treats in
Orange County; Hiking and Biking Trails in Chapel Hill and Orange County; The Perfect Pair- A Wine & Cheese
Sampler of Producers & Sellers in Chapel Hill and Orange County.
Other Accomplishments/Communications Activities
Participated in VisitNC Webinar on the State’s Film Program July 13
Participated in calls with CLEAN on July 12 and 20 on upcoming creative for 23-24, bus wrap, advertising and more
Staff Zoom calls on July 11, 18, 25
Call with Simpleview to begin talking about the updated VisitChapelHill website in the works
Proof weekly Susan Rice’s web calendar list
Reviewed Tina’s August social media calendar on July 31
Held monthly communications dept. staff meeting
Photographer Steven Whitsitt took photos of Chelsea/Wrexham
Enewsletter - Wrote and sent August Check It Out on July 28 to 3,566 subscribers
Volunteered in the Welcome Center for Uproar opening weekend
Budget and Publication Inventory
Inventory as of July 31, 2023: Official 22-23 Visitors Guide—9,200; Official Visitors 22-23 Map—5,100; 22-23 Dining
Map Pads –50; Mural Map Pads 38
During July we had 66,081 website visits.
Website Social Media Report (July 1, 2023 – July 31, 2023)
Facebook – Beginning 22,954/Ending 23,166 Increase 212; Posts 23
Twitter – Beginning 5,692/Ending 5,683, Decrease 9; Tweets 25
Instagram – Beginning 5,987/Ending 6,153, Increase 166; Posts 6
Pinterest - Beginning 597, Ending 598 Increase 1; posts 57
Social Media work
• Day to day postings/monitoring comments on posts/monitoring mentions of VB from others/engaging on posts by
other businesses and people.
• Created content calendar for August.
• Reviewed Flip.to contest submissions with Marlene.
• Uploaded Uproar video to YouTube, shared on social channels, also sent to VisitHillsborough per their request so
they could share through their channels.
• Attended meeting with Rory Triangle Media & LP to review possible new collaborations and results from
previous collabs.
• Edited video of Ann Hobgood taken by LP in Adobe Premier, shared on social.
• Worked with Triangle Media on Chelsea vs Wrexham ticket giveaway.
• Uploaded Threads app and connected to Instagram business account. Requested current Instagram followers to
follow us on Threads.
• Attended meetings with Circle Park regarding YouTube collaboration.
• Paid social (in-house):
o On-going Facebook like campaign $5/day; Ad began 1/23/2023 targeting the Charlotte market. 866 paid
likes to-date, $947.54 spend.
Website work
• Created, published or re-published blogs in CMS: 12 Places Serving up Ice Cream, Hiking & Biking Trails, Wine
& Cheese Sampler.
• Added two Orange Slices stories to homepage.
• Attended the kick meeting with Simpleview, VB staff and Clean for new website. After setbacks with Destination
Analysts and brand updates it was determined to hold off until those projects are in place
• Reached out to Meredith and Delaney regarding Voice and Player not showing on AudioEye toolbox - found out
that they discontinued those features due to current technology available to the public is better than what they had.
• Removed Chelsea vs Wrexham alert and replaced with Uproar on homepage.
• Updated LGBTQ page to remove event widget and June’s event schedule.
• Added Hannah as new uses in CMS.
• Shared Website demo and geo information with Destination Analysts – still waiting for Cyber Liability Insurance.
2023-2024 Month over Month Website Sessions
3-yr comparison
Accounts Payable/Contracts/Budget
• Purchase order requests in Munis: Bank of America (Spectacular Mag), Dest. Int. for EIC, Simpleview FY2023-
24, O.E. Enterprises
• Reconciled pCard transactions in Works in Marlene’s absence
2023-
2024
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Leisure
Campaign
/search
running
Sessions 66,081
• Drafted contracts for J. Phelan, D. Wallace and N. Largent, Clean Inc and Circle Park, processed contract for OE
Enterprises
• Entered invoices in Munis and processed (6) A/P batches which included finishing out the 2022-23 year.
• Once set up in Munis, worked with Hannah on navigating the system, entering invoices and purchase orders,
running Monthly/YTD budget reports, and completing budget report for BOD meeting packet. Also, reviewed the
travel request process. And the Contracts over 90K process to get on the BOCC meeting agenda.
• Created a new ACTUAL budget spreadsheet for 2023-2024, reconciled 2022-23 with Munis to bring actuals up to
date.
• Reached out to Monica Rainey, TOCH, regarding Performance Agreement, sent COI for Orange County
• Drafted Agenda Abstract and sent along with contract to legal, budget and accounting per checklist
• Reached out to Melissa Tegeder regarding pending COI’s and possible waivers.
• Followed up with Payroll regarding travel reimbursement not included in check.
• Submitted support ticket to IT to set up Hannah in DocuSign. Once set up, worked with Hannah on drafting
contracts and the routing process.
• Reached out to Jessica from Clean to let her know payment to them for CVENT was on its way and requested
they send payment to CVENT.
Book Direct (formally, JackRabbit) Widget
• Google analytics reports 155 searches, 27 Visit Hotel Website link clicks and 36 unique Book Now clicks.
• Sent Measurement ID number from GA4 per request for purposes of Book Direct analytics integration.
Visit NC Farm app.
• Added RambleRill event.
Google Business page
• Posted Check it Out Newsletter
Photoshelter
• Created new galleries for Blackwood Farm and Memorial Day ceremony. Also began adding descriptions to the
galleries.
• Added Brenda Bartholemew and Melissa Blackburn to PhotoShelter
Newsletters/Reports/Publications
• Tourism “By the Numbers” newsletter
• Monthly report
• Social media and website comparison worksheet updates
• e-newsletter request report -added contacts to iContact lists for Orange Slices and Check it Out.
Miscellaneous
• Attended virtual meetings with staff meetings.
• Attended virtual meetings with Clean.
• Attended meeting with LP, TOCH re logistics for Wrexham vs Chelsea game.
• Continued uploading accreditation documents, submitted application and is now under review.
• Filled in on a Monday for Susan in the Welcome Center while she was on vacation.
• Sent three emails to IT regarding Adobe subscription renewal, and Sally finally replied and handled the request.
+++++