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Executive Directors Report Laurie Paolicelli shared that while we are Ashville in miniature with a staff of 6, a budget of $1.5 million and 1600 hotel rooms our principle and our growth have been the same. Our budget has doubled in the past 10 years; we have launched a new website, promoted new advertising and added television ads. We are presently running a $25,000 LGBT ad in Garden & Gun. Our advertising budget is presently $500,000 and we plan to grow that. She thanked Stephanie for reminding us all that tourism growth is a strong return on investment. Ms. Paolicelli stated that we have hired CSL Market Research to do a study on demand generators in Orange County. We will receive the preliminary results of that study later today and will present those findings to the board in March. With the boards blessing we will use drawn down fund balance to produce television ads and our team from Clean Design will be here next month to report on that. An analysis committee has been put together to look at what would happen if we took some of the anomalies out of hotel occupancy such as Huron, Epic and Lux. Would the market have remained flat or actually grown? They are studying this a) to make the case for marketing, but b) to provide our elected officials with information on what kind of properties we will need in the future, there by letting the market make decisions. She also reported that she had attended a very preliminary meeting about the Old Town Hall renovation and future use. Sales Report Marlene shared that representatives from NATJA will be here at the beginning of March to finalize plans for the conference. She will be holding a luncheon for UNC meeting planners during March Madness as there has been hotels added and planner turnover at UNC since the last time she held the event. The visitors' bureau services will also be promoted at the luncheon. New Business /Roundtable Chair Waldorf acknowledged all for updates in their respective fields; Meg McGurk of the Downtown Partnership reported that they will have their annual meeting January 20 at DSI Comedy Theater. They will be announcing an exciting new partnership they are entering into with a downtown non - profit. Shimmer, the Art of Light will be held for the second Friday Art Walk. There will be a series of economic development meetings regarding the future of West Rosemary St. Annette Stone will be reporting to her board in Carrboro next week on economic development there. They rely on the Visitors Bureau to bring tourists into Orange County and then they bring them to Carrboro through their advertising efforts once they get here. Shannan Campbell reported that the bi- annual garden tour will happen this spring. The Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce will hold their annual meeting next week. The Orange County Museum is opening a Horace Johnson exhibit and will host an opening event. Katie Murray shared that the Orange County Arts Commission is presently in a period of transition. The board is looking at the direction they are going in to plan the best way to support local artists going forward. They will have assistance from local artists through focus groups. They have just completed a yearlong survey and will have those results in March. 31 Page CHOCVB BOD Meeting January18, 2017