HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-03-19 CHOCVB Advisory Board Minutes Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau
Advisory Board Meeting
Sheraton Chapel Hill
March 19, 2025
8:00—9:30 AM
Board Members Present: Paris Miller-Foushee, Craig Lloyd, Allison Reid, Lisa Kaylie, Creston Woods,
Randee Haven-O'Donnell, Heidi Werner-Dawson, Wendy Smith, Jeri Lynn Schulke, Meredith Saybe
Not Present: Sally Greene, Matt Hughes, David Putnam, Jon Hartman-Brown, D.R. Bryan, Karen DeHart
Staff Attendance: Laurie Paolicelli, Marlene Barbera, Hannah Hemphill, Katie Murray
Guests: Jessica Herschaft—Clean, Inc., Jon Parker—Clean, Inc., Ben Marklin—Alliance for Historic
Hillsborough, Tike Hoke, Sarah Potter—Town of Chapel Hill Economic Development, Shannan Campbell—
Town of Hillsborough Economic Development
Call to Order
Upon learning that Chair Karen DeHart was too sick to come to the meeting, Laurie Paolicelli called the
meeting to order at 8:08 AM.
Round Table Introductions
Approval of Minutes
Laurie Paolicelli requested a motion to approve the minutes from the January 15, 2025 board meeting. Wendy
Smith made a motion to approve the minutes for both meetings and Meredith Saybe seconded the motion.
With all members in favor, the minutes were approved as submitted.
Visitors Bureau Updates
• Overview of BOCC meeting from last year discussing whether to shift the usage of the Visitors Bureau
Occupancy Tax Fund. The discussion included three options—Option 1 to leave the Visitors Bureau
Fund as is, Option 2 to utilize 2/3 of the Occupancy Tax Fund for Visitors Bureau expenses and use
1/3 for tourism related initiatives that currently exist in the County, and Option 3 to utilize 2/3 of the
Occupancy Tax Fund for Visitors Bureau expenses and use 1/3 to fund new initiatives in the County.
Additionally,they discussed whether to leave the practice of keeping 15% Occupancy Tax Fund in
reserve.
• The discussion instructed the County Manager to leave the budget in place but see more funding put
into the Arts Commission(currently included in the Occupancy Tax Fund).
Soccer Update:
• MexTour 2025 is requiring the Visitors Bureau to increase promotion and marketing. This event will
include 55k seats at Kenan stadium and tickets go on sale April 1, 2025.
• Working with Clean and subcontracting with Latino firm in Charlotte to promote the event.
For Approval April 16, 2025
How we are attracting more meetings mid-week
• Marlene Barbera provided a presentation showcasing the CVENT platform that is used by meeting
planners to source venues and destinations.
0 300k venues worldwide are listed. The platform allows planners to send RFPs and compare
bids.
o The Visitors Bureau is investing in CVENT to push Chapel Hill to the top and provide
more visibility to area hotels and meeting spaces.
o We include targeted banner ads when someone is looking at Raleigh and Charlotte, a copy
feature allowing planners to copy the VB to their RFP, and Google display ads.
o Important to keep promoting for midweek business. Heidi speaks about the Carolina Inn
seeing increased meeting business with 60/40 split. This is the first time she's seen this
since 2019.
• Clean Presentation
o Developing assets with Clean to market properties to meeting planners. Clean also provides
meeting ads for CVENT. "Places and spaces"videos provide virtual tours of hotels and
meeting spaces to promote Orange County properties.
Update from board members
a. Meredith Saybe, Union Grove Farms
o Vineyards update—70 planted acres and adding 30 new acres, Yd largest vineyard in the
state of NC. Preparing land for another 100 acres, including irrigation pond.
o Union Grove is certified regenerative, which involves hitting certain programs and
practices. Including no pesticides or herbicides.
o Planning a regenerative distillery,using equipment bought from the Top of the Hill
distillery.
o Planning a farm stage. Was approved by Triangle Land Conservatory advisory board to
expand their envelope. Hearing scheduled for March 12th and there was a lot of
consternation in the community. The meeting has been moved to June. Working to
communicate better with the community to educate the regenerative nature of the
project and the importance of agritourism. They will have a tour ahead of the June
hearing.
b. Katie Murray, Uproar 2025
2Page CHOCVB BOD Meeting March 19 , 2025
For Approval April 16, 2025
o Call for Art for Uproar closed with 140 applicants and includes big names in the
Triangle sculpture community that didn't apply last year. A review panel will finalize a
list of artists. Hillsborough and Carrboro to provide a purchase award and Chapel Hill
will provide a commission award. A sponsorship campaign will launch soon and needs
to raise over $100k
o First Friday on April 4th. The show REKINDLING: Voices of Restoration and Resilience
will open. The opening will include the installation of a solitary confinement unit and Jaki
Shelton Green will be in attendance.
c. Allison Reid, UNC Initiatives
o Carolina North is a development of around 250 acres and a design firm has been hired
to meet with the steering committee to discuss drivers (enrollment increase, more
student/community housing, academic growth, mixed use)
o Interview for Executive Director for engagement of Carolina North Development
d. Sarah Potter
o Hoping to hear a date soon for the groundbreaking of new hotel-Element-that faces
Rosemary St. The new hotel will include parking on site and a contract with the town
for additional parking, rooftop bar, conference and meeting spaces.
e. Paris Miller—Foushee
o Legion Rd is a town owned property designated for state-of-the-art park and housing
which will include needing to drain the pond. After the construction phase they will
continue to have wetlands. Economic feasibility study for the coal ash site at 828 MLK.
f. Wendy Smith—The Arts Center
o The Arts Center has several classes and art school throughout the week. They have 100
kids in afterschool programs, a youth gallery, and 1500 campers throughout the
summer.
g. Randee Haven O'Donnell—Town of Carrboro
o Drakeford Library Complex will have its rescheduled grand opening on Friday at 11 am
with Valerie Foushee in attendance for the dedication. The Arts council approved a
mural for the new deck.
h. Lisa Kaylie—Extraordinary Ventures
o Development on hold in the Blue Hill District.
o Extraordinary ventures has inclusive employment opportunities for IDD adults
o They do have space available for booking at Blue Hill Event Center through 2026.
3Page CHOCVB BOD Meeting March 19 , 2025
For Approval April 16, 2025
i. Craig Lloyd, Hillsborough events
o April 5th Revolutionary War Days, April 5&6 Antique festival, Last Friday Art Walk,
April 5th tractor pull
o Cedar Grove annual horse and livestock shows, family days
o USA Women's soccer teams in Efland in invitation only type event.
Next meeting:April 16, 2025 at Well—501 W Franklin St.
Jeri Lynn Schulke made a motion for the meeting to adjourn,which was seconded by Creston Woods. The
meeting was adjourned at 9:19 AM.
41 Page CHOCVB BOD Meeting March 19 , 2025