Orange County NC Website
Assignments for hotels participating as honored guests and sponsor accommodations are <br /> expected from the Games office prior to mid-March. <br /> Mr. Blake announced that a director for Orange County Economic Development had been <br /> hired. Ms. Dianne Reid will begin her new position on April 5. <br /> Mr. Blake asked the board members to refer to the prospectus for the Trading Path <br /> Preservation Association that was included in their meeting packet. He reviewed briefly <br /> the information contained in the document. Mr. Blake informed the board that the <br /> Association would like to list the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau as a <br /> reference. The request would not require monetary support to the Association from the <br /> Bureau. The Board members discussed the request briefly. A motion was made by Mr. <br /> Rick Strunk not to endorse the Trading Path Preservation Association in keeping with <br /> prior policy established by the board . Mr. Carey seconded the motion. With all members <br /> being in agreement, the motion was carried. <br /> Mr. Blake provided a report that some hotels and motels on the border of Orange County <br /> in Durham County were positioning themselves as being in Chapel Hill and had been <br /> requesting Chapel Hill/Orange County collateral pieces to display and distribute at their <br /> locations. He reminded the board members that it is the Bureau's policy not to distribute <br /> our publications to hotels or businesses outside Orange County. Under a previously <br /> arranged agreement with the Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau, the hotels should <br /> contact that Bureau if they desire a display copy of our information. <br /> Lastly, Mr. Blake made brief reference to the Orange County hotel occupancy and average <br /> daily rate performance for January. <br /> OLD BUSINESS <br /> Ms. Pat Evans reported that the matter of allowing bed &breakfast inn establishments in <br /> Chapel Hill was still undetermined. The Town Council had sent the matter back to staff. <br /> A hearing concerning the issue is to be held on April 19. A brief discussion among Board <br /> Members regarding the issue ensued. Mr. Pavao asked for support in favor of allowing <br /> bed &breakfast inns at the April 19, Chapel Hill Town Council meeting <br /> Mr. Pavao reported that Mr. Blake and he had visited five additional Orange County <br /> lodging accommodations recently. The purpose of the visits was to get feedback on the <br /> Bureau's performance from the managers. The accommodations visited have given very <br /> favorable comments regarding the visitors bureau's programs. <br /> Mr. Rick Strunk asked board members to refer to the revised by-laws document that was <br /> mailed two weeks prior to the meeting. He reiterated that the purpose for the proposed <br /> changes was to accurately reflect the Visitors Bureau's status as a county department <br /> instead of a private, non-profit agency, which the current by-laws reference. Mr. Strunk <br /> briefly reviewed the changes with the board. It was noted that the final document <br /> 3 <br />