|
For Approval October 19, 2016
<br />MINUTES
<br />Chapel Hill /Orange County Visitors Bureau Board of Directors Meeting
<br />September 21, 2016
<br />The Chapel Hill /Orange County Visitors Bureau met at
<br />The Orange County Library, Hillsborough, NC
<br />Board Members Present: George Cianciolo, Penny Rich, Shannan Campbell, Andrew Strickland, Meg McGurk, Tim
<br />Hoke, Michelle Johnson, Mark Bell, Lee Storrow, Allison Nichols- Clapper, Lee Pavao
<br />Not Present: Jeffrey Strickler, Nitin Khanna, Rosemary Waldorf- Chair, Karen DeHart, Aaron Bachenheimer, Mark
<br />Sherburne, Annette Stone,
<br />Staff attendance: Laurie Paolicelli, Marlene Barbera, Allison Chambers
<br />Also present: Tom Stevens, Mayor, Town of Hillsborough, Libbie Hough, Alliance for Historic Hillsborough, Sarah
<br />DeGennaro, Executive Director, Alliance for Historic Hillsborough, Travis Myren, Deputy County Manager, Katie Murray,
<br />Arts Council Director, Amanda Garner, Orange County Economic Development
<br />Call to Order
<br />Vice -Chair Lee Pavao called the meeting to order at 8:08 am.
<br />Introductions were given by all.
<br />Approval of Minutes
<br />Mr. Pavao requested a motion to approve the August 17, 2016 minutes. Lee Pavao so moved, Penny Rich seconded.
<br />With all members in favor, the minutes were approved as submitted.
<br />Finance Report
<br />Penny Rich, Finance Chair, reported that we are moving into our new budget year and the present numbers are just the
<br />beginning. We are coming off a year of strong occupancy taxes. The 2016 -17 budget is $1.4 million, supporting a staff
<br />of six, the Orange County Arts Commission, increased fees to the county and a tourism sales and marketing budget.
<br />Advertising, on -line marketing and print publications take more than $400K. October hotel rates seem to be dropping
<br />because UNC will have only one home game during the month of October this year. Andrew Strickland reported to the
<br />board that football weekends are always significant revenue generators for his hotel. The budget numbers are where
<br />we would expect them to be at this point in the year and we will monitor those numbers as we move forward.
<br />Guest /host speakers
<br />Vice -Chair Lee Pavao introduced Hillsborough Mayor Tom Stevens. He thanked the board for coming to Hillsborough
<br />and explained that talking about the town was one of his favorite things to do. People think of Hillsborough historically
<br />for both its part in North Carolina history as well as its part in United States history. The town's speedway was part of
<br />the beginnings of NASCAR and is one of only three speedways on the National Register of Historic Places. He sees the
<br />town as an Arts and Culture district for the Triangle, while the Triangle is a wonderful place, as is the state of North
<br />Carolina; Hillsborough is a gem of many wonderful places. Hillsborough has a strong connection to nature with the River
<br />Walk and many parks. The town is known for its writers and music venues including many outside music performance
<br />opportunities. People like to live in, and visit, Hillsborough because they can participate in small things in a small town.
<br />The town's population is 6,500 people. There are always new things happening with an enduring sense of history as
<br />well. A lot has happen in the last ten years in the town including the new library, Weaver Street Market, the River Walk,
<br />
|