CHOC Visitors Bureau minutes 011619

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Guest Presentation Chair Carey introduced Joel Sheer who has completed a Stakeholder Study at the request of the bureau . The interviews were conducted between November 15, 2018 and December 10th , 2018 . These interviews were conducted on the telephone on a one-on -one basis to assure a more accurate measure of concerns and sentiments . Forty people were selected to participate in this study and seven did not participate . We intentionally sought key stakeholders who influence and are influenced by the Visitor' s Bureau . These groups included : Orange County Commissioners (3 ), Chapel Hill Town Council ( 3 ), Hillsborough Commissioners ( 2 ) , Town Mayors from within Orange County (3 ), Hotel Managers within Orange County ( 5 ) , Economic Development Directors from the County and Towns ( 1 ) , Downtown Partnerships and Alliances ( 1 ) , Arts Community ( 1 ); Chamber of Commerce Directors ( 1 ), UNC Officials ( 2 ) , Key Restaurant Owners and Groups (2 ) , Key Citizens & Organizations (7 ), Local Media ( 2 ) . The goals of this study were : To test and validate our assumptions with our stakeholders in a more structured manner; to seek opinions on the quality of the Visitors Bureau ' s outreach efforts, marketing, and positioning of our towns, to better understand the qualities people are looking for in their Visitors Bureau and to determine the extent it participates in these qualities ; to inform the Bureau ' s Board of Directors on the role the Visitors Bureau serves in the community and where it can make the greatest difference moving forward . The report containing responses to these questions is an attachment to these minutes and was shared with board members electronically. The board felt that further study is necessary and Rosemary Waldorf made the following motion : Ask the staff of the Visitors Bureau to review Joel Sheer's findings as well as the SWOT analysis. Further, make a recommendation to the board on how to move forward with a long term strategic plan that addresses opportunities and concerns for the entire Orange County. Staff will bring a plan for next steps back to board. Rosemary Waldorf made the motion and it was seconded by Mark Bell. The motion passed. Laurie Paolicelli suggested starting in the second part of this fiscal year and finishing with a presentation during the first part of the new fiscal year. This is an opportunity to look at the county as a whole . Raw data could be translated into a simple achievable plan presented to the community . Rosemary shared that it is important for our community leaders to know about us, but it is important for us to deliver that information in a well- reasoned, comprehensible manner that has some action steps to go along with it . Penny Rich suggested holding an event, as they do in Raleigh , and bring the county's visitors bureaus together and share information all at once, which would be a good way of getting our message out . Laurie shared that the Raleigh meeting looked at all of Wake County . Executive Director' s Report Laurie Paolicelli shared the following updates with the board : The Visitors Bureau sponsored this year's Hog Day event for $ 3 , 000 and the event never took place because of weather and their inability to find a suitable weekend to reschedule . The Hog Day committee would like sponsors to allow them to keep the money to either use for local charities they support or use it for future events and the bureau said no as we would like to use those funds to support another event this fiscal year in northern Orange County . The bureau will continue to ask for this refund . Laurie met with Aaron Nelson from the Chamber of Commerce and a group of hotel GMs who agreed that they would like the chamber to ask for regulations for Airbnb . They agreed these restrictions should not apply to local residents renting their home or part of their home, but rather developers who are renting out apartments or whole apartment buildings . 2 Page CHOCVB BOD Meeting January 16 , 2019