CHOC Visitors Bureau minutes 022019

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2017 was a record year for NC tourism : $ 23 . 97 billion in visitor spending, more than 225, 000 jobs, $ 1 . 7 billion federal tax revenues, $ 1 . 2 billion in state tax revenues, $ 732 million in local tax revenues which resulted in a savings of $ 512 saved by every household in NC . Orange County experienced a positive year as well : $ 198 million in visitor spending, which was a 2 . 7 % increase over 2016, more than 1, 900 jobs, $ 10 . 7 million in state revenue, $ 4 . 3 million in local tax revenue . Orange County residents saved $ 105 per household in taxes due to visitor spending . NC remains the 6th most visited state for domestic travelers behind California , Florida , Texas, New York and Pennsylvania . In 2018 both occupancy and room rates were up 2 . 4% . When asked about HB2 she responded that tourism is recovering and the state is offering more grant funds to compensate . Two states are continuing to ban state employee business travel to NC and neither one of those is a primary market . They track total consumer spending generated by tourism and are able to break that out into retail , food and beverage , accommodation and transportation at the state level , but not by county . Full report here . Executive Director' s Report Laurie Paolicelli introduced guest, Lili Engelhart, CEO of Frolyk . Frolyk is the experience version of Airbnb . As a test experience Laurie arranged for her family to take a class instructed by an Endocrinologist on how to cook with an instant pot for better endocrine health . Occupancy is up so far this fiscal year . The bureau is currently arranging for production of a drone video by the award winning Wil Weldon . She is very excited about moving forward with Clean Design as our ad agency and is looking forward to their presentation at our next board meeting when they will present new campaigns, tweaks to our logo and signs to be placed in Charlotte . Clean has already begun work with Hillsborough to design a bus wrap featuring the town . Overall, the number of visitors visiting the Visitor' s Center is declining and we are looking at possible location changes in the future . Sales Report Marlene Barbera reported that she is focusing on mid -week travel in order to fill hotel rooms when occupancy is lower . One approach is traveling to tradeshows around the country that give her access to meeting planners who may have association events to bring to Orange County for mid -week meetings . She has just returned from a conference in San Antonio that is the first of four conferences she will attend this calendar year which will allow her to meet with 100 new meeting planners . The UNC meeting planner event, March Madnes pill be on March 14 from 3 -5 at the Carolina Club . At that event eighteen venues will be showcased to UNC meeting planners . Information will be shared about planning their conferences locally and how the bureau can assist them with services . New usiness / Roundtable Chair Carey acknowledged all for updates in their respective fields : • Katie Murray of the Orange County Arts Commission gave everyone of copy of the commission' s new report Setting/ the Stage, accessing and prioritizing the arts for the creative future of Orange County, NC. The publication is a summary of the research the commission has done over the past few years . It is a preview of where the commission is heading in terms of initiatives . The top three priorities are : serving as the local arts agency for Orange County; both short term and long term arts infrastructure in the county; increasing access to the arts . • Anthony Carey shared that while the sub - committee chose to contract with Clean Design he would like to see the bureau do some projects with the other agency that was considered , Odd Fellows . Odd Fellows is also based in Raleigh and they specialize in music and film and other things that are unique, much like our community is . 2 Page CHOCVB BOD Meeting February 20 , 2019