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week to elected officials and visitor industry businesses in Orange County. Mr. Woods <br /> also advised to the Board that the Chapel Hill/Orange County website is under <br /> construction and should be completed in the very near future. Also, the Orange County <br /> Lodging Association met last month and Mr. Woods indicated that the Association will <br /> become more active within the Orange County community. <br /> Budget and Finance Committee <br /> Mr. Moses Carey, Finance Committee Chair, noted that for the months of June and July <br /> the County Finance had not provided the Visitors Bureau with financial information <br /> pending the final audit for the 1997-98 fiscal year. Mr. Carey reported that the financial <br /> information would be available for the next Board meeting. <br /> Mr. Joe Blake reported that the Bureau had a $25,000 increase in occupancy tax <br /> collections during 1997-98 as compared to 1996-97. Mr. Blake noted this was more than <br /> 6% above the budgeted amount. <br /> DIRECTOR'S REPORT <br /> Mr. Blake, Acting Director distributed to Board Members a draft copy of the new visitors <br /> guide. He asked Board Members to review the visitors guide and if they had any <br /> suggestions or questions to contact him. <br /> Mr. Blake stated that June 30th, 1998 was the end of the fiscal year and that the Bureau <br /> has met all goals set for the 1997-1998 fiscal year. He did advise that the hotel occupancy <br /> tax was down 3% for Chapel Hill/Orange County, but that the occupancy tax for the other <br /> Triangle areas was down 8-9% during this period. Mr. Blake stated to the Board that <br /> conference bookings were up and also leads from trade shows have been very positive. <br /> Also, he reported that the hotel room rates for Chapel Hill/Orange County were up. In <br /> overview, the Bureau is on track at this time and more business is expected after <br /> tradeshows in Atlanta (September) and Washington (December). <br /> The Meeting and Event Planning Guide is in the process of being printed and a copy will <br /> be forwarded to Board Members as soon as the guide is available. <br /> Mr. Blake stated the website for the Bureau is being worked on and it is expected that the <br /> accommodations and attractions will be up and running in September. <br /> OLD BUSINESS <br /> Mr. Blake reported the highway signs had been bid out and that the Bureau was working <br /> with three companies to complete the project. It is anticipated that the signs should be in <br /> place in October or November of this year. <br /> 2 <br />