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Approved March 20, 2013 <br /> <br />3 | Page CHOCVB BOD Meeting Feb. 20, 201 3 <br /> <br />Anthony Carey, Siena, reported that at this point he is not sure if they will take 27 rooms off line <br />now for renovations, or hold until after graduation. He did report that the last 1/3 rooms would be <br />off-line through July in order to complete renovations. <br />Paolicelli is concluding interviews for a part-time sales associate who will join the Bureau’s sales <br />team in March. <br />Sales Director Linda Ekeland informed board members of the upcoming UNC March Madness, <br />a two-day “sales blitz” in which the Visitors bureau and local hotels remind decision makers on <br />campus of new, existing and changing hotel accommodations and facilities. <br />She shared an inquiry that asked for 350 acres of land in the county. Tough Mudders, a team <br />building organization is looking for acreage for an obstacle course – 350 plus to hold 12-15000 <br />people for the fall. Ms. Ekeland informed that she is working with the Sportsplex for the <br />upcoming swim meets; brochures promoting hotels in Hillsborough will be distributed. <br />Paolicelli reminded of the upcoming Tourism Summit in Hillsborough. The Bureau has been <br />coordinating with the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough to bring local leaders together to discuss <br />how to bring everyone involved in tourism together. <br />Marketing <br /> <br />Anthony Carey, Marketing Chair, together with Stephanie Perri, Account Executive for Clean <br />Design (the Bureau’s advertising agency) reminded that in November, the Board commissioned <br />Clean Design to launch a study of our advertising campaign that will provide the Visitors Bureau <br />"tracking" data that gives the ability to measure the effectiveness of our EDGE campaign; and <br />track long-term changes in customer awareness, attitudes, and behaviors. Phase I of this study <br />was recently concluded and will be presented at the March meeting, said Perri. <br />New Business <br />Mark Sherburne with the Aloft Hotel said he was a member of the local community that <br />addressed Chapel Hill Town Council in support of allowing larger ground signs at shopping <br />complexes with over 50,000 square feet of retail space. East 54 is such a complex. The <br />ordinance currently allows signs with a maximum size of 15 square feet in area and 8 feet in <br />height. The proposed amendment would increase the maximum to be between 150 to 216 <br />square feet. “I believe that improved signs will boost sales and increase the capture rate of <br />community and visitor dollars,” said Sherburne. <br />Arts Commission – Gordon Jameson reported that the fall 2012 Arts grants have been handed <br />out, 20 recipients in all for a total of $26,749 in funds. Also reported three Orange County artists <br />were chosen for the Ella Fountain Pratt Emerging Artists Grant. <br /> <br />Visitor Bureau Communications – Patty Griffin reported that the new 2013 Visitors Guide <br />recently was completed and sent to press. The new guide has a brand new look and is smaller <br />in size. She also reported on her work with travel writers and Atlanta Media Mission.