CH-OCVB minutes 041917 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Executive Directors Report We are committed to the promotion of LGBT Tourism and as part of that commitment, the Bureau recently hosted a national vlogger who has a very large LGBT following. NC is still on the do not travel list for 20 state's government employees. Starting in 2018 some NCAA tournaments will be held at NC venues. Our advertising right now is LGBT, Micro Brews, Food, Dinning and a little bit of sports as we try to appeal to a larger crowd. The current budget year is coming to a close. We had a $1.6 million budget that included spending down our fund balance from a few dynamic years of occupancy tax collections. A television spot is presently being produced and it will be ready for the board to review at next month's meeting. The spot will run in Charlotte, the Triad and the Triangle. Looking at next year's budget we have an allocation for indirect costs from the county, the Arts Commission, administration, operations and sales /marketing. The allocations follow best practices of the industry. In the coming year we will be in television, our online media presence will be much stronger; there will be more diversity in our advertising. She will be speaking at the Mountains to the Sea Trail conference in Elkin, NC about how CVBs and state agencies can get the word out about the trail. She thanked Meg McGurk for organizing the second Friday Artwalk. The Visitors Center had 200 guests during the April event. We currently have a RFP out for an ad agency as required by the county. We are looking at a minimal bid process. Visitor numbers are up at the Visitors Center but occupancy tax collections are slightly off last year's collections. Chair's Report Rosemary Waldorf updated the board on the status of the market research by CSL regarding the possibility of adding an economic generator to the county. CSL has identified two possibilities, a conference center with an adjoining hotel or an indoor, hardcourt sports facility. They are looking at the impact of these possibilities on existing hotels. The second phase of the research is looking at funding scenarios. A full report will most likely be presented after the summer break, with the August 16, 2017 meeting being considered for a presentation by Bill Krueger of CSL. New )Business /Roundtable Chair Waldorf acknowledged all for updates in their respective fields: Jeff Strickler invited the board to attend a reception that will be attended by the Virtual Enterprise and Technical Education from area high schools. The group is coming to the UNC Health Care campus to participate in a networking event to offer the students experience in engaging in a professional social event. All board members are invited from 5:30 -7 pm the evening of April 19, 2017. Erik Lars Myers shared that there will be a music event the weekend of April 28 -30, 2017 in west Hillsborough, called West Fest. Shannon Campbell shared that Friday, April 28, 2017 is the first Last Friday of the season. Hillsborough is doing a street scape project on Churton St. with the bulk of the construction coming in July. Katie Murry reported that the Arts Commission's grant cycle is now open. One of the changes they have made this year is to offer training for potential applicants. One will be held in Hillsborough and another in Chapel Hill. Brumley Forest will open the weekend of April 29, 2017. Penny Rich would like to work with the Visitors Bureau and the Parks Work Group on the app that is being built to highlight all the trails in Orange County. 3 Page CHOCVB BO Meeting April 19, 2017