Orange County NC Website
UNC Healthcare Hospital and the Orange County Campus of the Durham Technical Community College and he expects to <br />see just as much happen in the next ten years, including the changing of hands of many downtown properties, the <br />building of a Town Hall Campus and ideally the opening of a downtown hotel. At present the town has a 60/40 <br />residential /business property split. He thinks of Hillsborough as being made up of six districts: North, East, South, West, <br />Historic District and the Center District, with each district having a residential component and a work component. They <br />have a vibrant downtown within the Historic District which intertwines with the West end with its commercial space. <br />The Center District includes the Daniel Boone area which is ripe and ready for a transition into a new shopping center <br />and the likely home of a new train station. The South and East districts include the Sportsplex, the Meadowlands, <br />Durham Tech and UNC Healthcare. He expects Hillsborough's population to grow to 12,000 people in the near future. <br />Laurie Paolicelli shared that in a past study Hillsborough had a high recall rate among respondents, and a very favorable <br />rating from those respondents in Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. While Hillsborough does not <br />have a downtown hotel she suggested that Air B &B might be a good business model to keep our eye on when special <br />events drive greater demand. Shannan Campbell, Hillsborough Economic Development, reported that there is some <br />movement downtown in regards to retail space that is positive and will grow the retail base. The second leg of the River <br />Walk opened in the last few months and has been heavily used. She also shared that while there is adequate parking <br />now the town is looking at possible needs within the next five to ten years, as well as connectivity between the town's <br />districts to better move people without them having to drive everywhere. The Handmade Parade will take place on <br />Saturday, October 15 and the Farmers Market will have their Harvest Dinner this month as well as the Classic Car Show <br />and the half marathon early on the morning of October 2. Mayor Tom and Shannon Campbell offered to take the group <br />on a tour of the River Walk, but unfortunately it was a very rainy day. <br />Vice -Chair Lee Pavao asked Allison Nichols- Clapper to report on Mr. Nutter and Mapleview Farms following a recent fire. <br />Allison shared that Mr. Nutter has recently celebrated his 88th birthday. Due to a recent fire in the processing barn at <br />the dairy it will be six to eight weeks before they can go back to producing their milk products. All the wiring and the <br />roof of the building will have to be replaced. The store will remain open as long as their built up stock holds out. The <br />fire started in the building as a result of a faulty lawn mower stored there. Mr. Pavao asked Allison if we would be able <br />to meet at the farm in the near future. She was agreeable and we tentatively plan to meet there in February 2017. <br />Sales Report <br />Marlene Barbera recently traveled to Grapevine, TX to attend the Connect tradeshow. The show was attended by 3200 <br />people and she chose to focus on the specialty market which includes social, military, education, religious and fraternal <br />rather than association because this is business available now. She had 39 appointments over two days with each <br />meeting lasting six minutes. The trip generated three RFPs right away, which if the business comes to Orange County, <br />would generate $200,000 and 700 room nights. She will follow -up and expects to receive more RFPs in October and <br />November as a result of the trip. She is going the Huntsville AL the week of October 3rd for Small Markets Meeting <br />tradeshow. Rob Stern, Sales Consultant, has begun working and will attend a General Managers meeting on October 12 <br />followed by site tours of county hotels. Marlene shared that the North American Travel Journalists Association ( NATJA) <br />has finalized their contract with the Sheraton and the Bouncing Bulldogs have agreed to perform at the Tuesday night <br />event at the Barn at Valhalla. A new video is being produced with a segment about each town in the county to better <br />differentiate their unique personalities, with welcoming comments by all three Mayors. Penny Rich asked about the <br />upcoming Terra VITA food festival's effect of local hotels and Andrew Strickland reported that the Residence Inn has 20- <br />25 rooms booked and more at the Siena as well. <br />21 Page CHOCVB BOD Meeting September 21, 2016 <br />