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Finance Report Finance Chair, Penny Rich reported that the Visitors Bureau budget for the upcoming fiscal year is balanced. We did realize some unbudgeted revenues for 2016 -17 and those will go into the fund balance. We depleted last year's fund balance with a LGBT campaign, NATJA and the Summer 2017 commercial in the triangle and Charlotte. The 2017 -18 budget includes a 5% increase in revenue. Laurie Paolicelli brought the board up to date on our membership in the local chambers of commerce. The Orange County Board of County Commissioners is looking at the peramiters of county departments relationships with the chambers. For the first time last year the Visitors Bureau paid to be a member of both county chambers rather than our historical approach of paying by event. At the end of this fiscal year she has let both chambers know that she does not feel the Bureau gets anything more from a paid membership than we do from incremental purchases. Penny Rich shared that the BOCC voted on June 20 to have one membership as an umbrella for the entire county government with those dues housed in Economic Development. That said, the Visitors Bureau is now a member of both the Chapel Hill Carrboro Chamber of Commerce and the Hillsborough Orange County Chamber of Commerce as part of the Orange County Government's membership. Ms. Paolicelli thanked George Cianciolo for his assistance once again in working with the Town of Chapel Hill, which is contributing at least $200,000 to the Visitors Bureau Operating Budget from their occupancy tax revenues. The Orange County Manager has asked the towns of Carrboro and Hillsborough to contribute from their occupancy tax revenues as well. Sales Consultant Report Rob Stern, Visitors Bureau Sales Consultant reported on a recent meeting he and Ms. Paolicelli attended with the UNC Alumni Association. He stated that some of the best stewards of Chapel Hill and Orange County are UNC Alumni and their ability to know who we are. In addition to the traditional Alumni Review, and its digital counterpart, we will be advertising in the Our Blue Newsletter which comes out the first Tuesday of each month, which reaches 158,000 people and experiences twice the open rate of the average online newsletter. He wants to remind alumni that Chapel Hill is not only a place to return to for homecoming and alumni events, but also a place to bring associations they may belong to for training, seminars, small meeting and conferences. There will be an emphasis on reaching out in key locations to active alumni groups in New York, Boston, Chicago and Washington and give them the chance to bring some business back. Sales Report Marlene Barbera reported that the Bureau is placing manaquines dressed by local retailers in the Visitors Center to promote shopping locally. New Business/ Roundtable Acting Chair Rich acknowledged all for updates in their respective fields: Sharman Campbell reported on the sidewalk closing happening in Hillsborough to widen Churton St. sidewalks for more outdoor dining and on street shopping. They hope to have this completed by October or November. The Tar Wheels Ride, which attrachs about 1,000 cyclests is coming up in July. The Riverwalk is closed periodically when the Eno floods due to heavy rain. The town will keep residents updated via their website about conditions. The Mayor and two Commissioners seats are up for election this fall. Meg McGurk reported that Target is scheduled to open July 15. Carolina Square is 75% leased out on apartments and retail but not office space. People will start moving into the apartments when Target opens on a staggerd bases, with all moved in by the end of August. She has learned that all the graphics for Google around the world are done from their offices across Franklin St. from Carolina Square. 31 Page CHOCVB BOD Meeting June 21, 2017