Orange County NC Website
Chair's Report <br />Chair Rosemary Waldorf reported on the meeting with county hotel General Manager's that was held at the Basketball <br />Museum on May 12, 2016. Notes from that meeting are attached to these minutes. HB2 was discussed and it was <br />agreed that we need an advertising strategy to counteract the negative effects of this legislation. We have a <br />documented quarter million dollar loss at this time which does not include business that had not already announced <br />itself. We will be working with Clean Design to emphasis that everyone is welcome here and that we do not <br />discriminate. Improving communication with UNC Healthcare was also discussed in an effort to draw hotel business, <br />generated by them, to stay in Orange County. We want to help them shift those guests to Orange County hotels <br />because of the overall economic impact. The company UNC Healthcare uses to help place patients and their families <br />tend to place them in Durham. Mark Sherburne commented that we would like UNC to keep us apprised when they are <br />going to bring in consultants such as Huron. Jeffrey Strickler reminded the board that UNC Healthcare looks at this from <br />the point of view of the patient families and is focused on making it as easy for them as possible. Chair Waldorf <br />referenced the possibility of adding a portal on the Visitors Bureau Website to make it easy for UNC to let us help them <br />with their accommodation needs. <br />Sales Report <br />Marlene reported that the Executive Director, Helen Hernandez, of NATJA is returning to Orange County. Marlene <br />requested statistical data from her following their most recent conference in Oxnard, CA. She shared that during the <br />conference there were 3.4 million impressions on twitter and Instagram. Before during and after the conference there <br />were over 6 million impressions. Carrboro and Hillsborough (through their Tourism Board and Tourism Development <br />board have contributed funds for the conference. She is still reaching out to Chapel Hill and UNC. She is attending <br />tradeshow Destination Southeast in Columbia SC. After six months of contracting with a Sales Specialist we have <br />decided not to renew the contract as leads have to be produced. We will try another avenue. <br />Executive Directors Report, including Budget Report <br />She shared that the Orange County Manager, Bonnie Hammersley, enjoyed meeting with the board last month and that <br />the manager really defends the marriage of tourism and the arts and wants to see that relationship continue. She stated <br />that we are wrapping up this year's budget. Last year's budget was $1.4 million and we spent down the fund balance to <br />do a major advertising web campaign. Next month we will bring in web consultants from Atlanta who will talk about <br />how we are going to highlight Carrboro and Hillsborough. Budget report in June will include update on what is going on <br />with the Manager's Recommended Budget as it pertains to the Visitors Bureau. A $500,000 advertising campaign will be <br />rolled out in the coming months with $350,000 devoted to media. Our ad agency is recommending that we get a <br />message out immediately to state associations (we have seen a quarter million dollar loss in this area) in NC that HB2 <br />aside, Orange County welcomes everyone and that we have always been in the for front on Civil Rights and Human <br />Rights. Paolicelli stated that we see more association business here that corporate due largely to the University. Penny <br />Rich asked about the resolution that the board had committed to and Ms. Paolicelli stated we would have that prepared <br />for the next meeting. Paolicelli will go back to our ad agency for clarification on in state needs for spreading the word as <br />opposed to the greater Atlantic coast region. <br />Rosemary Waldorf shared that she, Ms. Paolicelli and George Cianciolo are working together to try to get an additional <br />$25,000 in funding from the Town of Chapel Hill the help fund the H132 response. Ms. Paolicelli stated that going <br />forward we would be reaching out to Carrboro and Hillsborough to form a greater fiscal partnership. Cianciolo shared <br />that he wants to insure the Town Council understands in importance of keeping the occupancy tax increases going. <br />21 Page CHOCV.B BO Meeting May 18, 2016 <br />