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Home My WebLink About2024-11-20 CHOCVB Minutes Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau Advisory Board Meeting Carolina Inn November 20, 2024 8:00—9:15 AM Board Members Present: Tanya Moore, Karen DeHart- Chair, David Putnam, Heidi Werner Dawson, Jon Hartman-Brown, Wendy Smith, Anna Richards, Jeri Lynn Schulke, Paris Miller-Foushee, Randee Haven- O'Donnell, DR Bryan—Vice Chair, Craig Lloyd Not Present: Matt Hughes, Steven Peck, Meredith Saybe Staff Attendance: Laurie Paolicelli, Patty Griffin, Tina Fuller, Hannah Hemphill, Pix Walsh, Katie Murray, Steve Brantly Guests: Rick Steinbacher, Tim Hoke, Allison Reid Call to Order Karen DeHart called the meeting to order at 8:09 AM. Welcome to the Carolina Inn by Heidi Werner Dawson. Round Table Introductions • Welcome to Allison Reid, who will be succeeding Tanya Moore as the representative from UNC. • Welcome to Craig Lloyd, representing the Hillsborough Chamber position on the board. Approval of Minutes Karen DeHart requested a motion to approve the minutes from the October 16, 2024 board meeting. Wendy Smith made a motion to approve the minutes for both meetings and Jeri Lynn Schulke seconded the motion. With all members in favor, the minutes were approved as submitted. Executive Director's Report • Presentation of Certificate of Appreciation as a thank you to Tanya Moore for six years of service to the Advisory Board. • Marketing updates: o Logo update: Do we need to update the logo to include more parity between the towns? ■ Survey had split results, with half saying the logo is fine as is and half looking for change. o Advertising agency search ■ The Visitors Bureau will be going out to bid to explore new ad agencies. ■ Hold on logo changing until the ad agency for FY25/26 is chosen. o Current ads running in tourism and meetings market ■ Paid search reaches people precisely when they are looking for information regarding meeting/conference plannings. 0 2025 Visitors Guide For Approval January 15, 2025 ■ Going to press and will be delivered in December. This year is fewer pages, but still covers all information. o Carrboro brochure is being reviewed and redone. o Sneak piques doing well with 273k plays on Facebook. o Building group business— Sheraton is the third largest meeting space in Orange County. 0 2025 Slight Growth— ■ Tourism industry is expected to continue to grow slowly ■ Looking at 2025 as a normalized year for travel, looking to target new demographics and interests. Carolina Athletics Capital Projects and Facilities—Rick Steinbacher ■ Future of the Dean E. Smith Center Presentation • Arena selection process includes teams of people to envision what it will look like. There is also a planning phase to determine potential paths forwards. This includes internal engagement and alignment, site analysis, construction options and costs, and options for repairing, renovating, or replacing. o Question from Jeri Lynn asking where teams would play during renovations? ■ Options include playing conference games in Greensboro and Charlotte, non-conference games at Carmichael, or could renovate while playing Smith Center with reduced capacity. 0 7 Options as of today o Repair and Maintain- 20 year cost of$150mil o Renovate o Build new: one of five locations (same location, two main location options, bowles parking lot, Odum Village, satlitte options—Friday Center(demo) and Carolina North) ■ Question from Jeri Lynn about the location of Odum Village?Steinbacher shares a map of the different proposed sites, available in presentation slide. ■ Question from Steve on whether UNC would entertain having concerts and other events at the new arena? Steinbacher expects a new arena would be able to compete for some concerts or shows. ■ Question from Tim Hoke about what economic impact in the community is UNC considering? ■ Concerns that satellite campuses would impact student traditions and life, such as rushing franklin st. • Survey of over 33k fans to determine interest and demand to help determine how many people would donate, buy a suite, etc. o Question from David Putnam asking what are the front runner options from survey responses? Answered with strong concern about not staying on main campus. 5%repair/maintain, 20% renovate, 75%build new. 80% of responses said they want to see a new build on campus. 2Page CHOCVB BOD Meeting November 20 , 2024 For Approval January 15, 2025 o Question from Jon Hartman-Brown about the long term plans for Carolina North? Chancellor Roberts commissioned committees, including looking at a master plan with housing, campus rec, arena. Enrollment growth with the booming growth in North Carolina. o Question from Steve about corporate hospitality and departure from venues where the only thing to do is watch the game, social interactions vs. game. Trying to bring in the passion of the game alongside corporate hospitality that can generate revenue o Question from Paris Miller-Foushee about the economic impacts of moving arena off campus for Franklin Street businesses. The project has done focus groups with Franklin St businesses. o Question from DR Bryan about the number of seat rights having an impact on the decision. Included in the financial impact models. Board Meeting Schedule Discussion • It was proposed to the board by Laurie Paolicelli that we shift to every other month meeting schedule instead of our current schedule of meetings 10 times a year. It would allow staff to present more robust reports, decrease meeting costs, and increase attendance at the meetings. • Advisory board members discussed the proposal and there were several concerns including not having a strategy for addressing items that might come up between meetings, losing momentum on collaboration between different partners, increased time needed for the meetings if the schedule shifts, and whether there is a requirement for monthly budget reports. • Heidi and Laurie discuss inclusion of sub-committees. This discussion included concerns that subcommittees would increase staff and board member time commitment. • Heidi motions and Karen second to move to every other month. Heidi withdraws motion based on further discussion. • It was requested that in January the Visitors Bureau could propose an alternative meeting schedule based on discussion. This includes suggestions from the discussion such as coming up with a directive about subcommittees, every other month have small group work sessions, the chair being able to call meetings as needed, and how to focus less on frequency of meetings and more on the structure of the meeting to foster productivity and collaboration. Partner Updates Katie Murray—Arts Commission had first dance performance, holiday bazaar, last week of paint it orange exhibit (closes on Tuesday). December has 30 Orange County residents . first uproar planning meeting on Friday, seeking volunteers to get involved for event in August 2025. Jeep raffle still has a ways to go. Craig Lloyd—Tarheel Antique Festival including from out of state. Haunted House,wedding, rodeo! Elfland Christmas Festival starting weekend of December 6th Wendy Smith—art classes. Performances up and running and selling out shows. Carolina Inn Holiday Market on December 8th 15th, including opportunities for folks from WNC. 31 CHOCVB BOD Meeting November 20 , 2024 For Approval January 15, 2025 Chapel Hill Carrboro Christmas Parade will be held on Saturday, December 7tn Next meeting: January 15, 2025 at NCHSAA Jon Hartman-Brown made a motion for the meeting to adjourn, which was seconded by Randee Haven- O'Donnell. The meeting was adjourned at 9:32 AM. 41 Page CHOCVB BOD Meeting November 20 , 2024