CH-OCVB minutes 091912 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

MINUTES Orange County Visitors Bureau Board of Directors Meeting The Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau met at The Siena Hotel, Chapel Hill September 2012 Board Members Present: Annette Stone, Anthony Carey, Dave Gephart, Gene Pease, Gordon Jameson, Greg Overbeck, Jack Schmidt, Jim Parker, Karen DeHart, Laura Morgan, Lee Pavao, Lydia Lavelle, Mark Sherburne, Meg McGurk, Mike Gering, Valerie Foushee Announcements BOCC appointed Jack Schmidt to the Visitors Bureau board of directors representing the lodging seat. Introduction of Guest Speaker Chair Gephart introduced and welcomed Lynn Minges, Assistant Secretary of Tourism, Marketing, and Global Branding. Ms. Minges reported on state and county travel statistics stating that North Carolina saw an 8% growth over last year. Orange County saw an 8.85% growth. Ms. Minges spoke on a current initiative- project, 543, which will feature unique destinations within that mile range of NC. Orange County features will be the Carolina Inn, Southern Season and the Carolina BB Museum. She reported that four busloads of visitors from Germany will be traveling through North Carolina in November and concluding her report, Ms. Minges thanked Orange County for continually being a strong partner on media and sales missions conducted with the State Office of Tourism. Marketing Anthony Carey introduced Stephanie Perri of Clean Design for a quarterly progress report on the recent edge of the triangle campaign. Ms. Perri stated that they are very pleased with the results of the campaign so far- quoting a 25.5 million impressions rate. She reported 15,000 clicks on digital ads for a 2.5 month time period with a cost below industry average noting that the click through rate is four times higher than the national average. MS. Perri proposed the possibility of a benchmark study beginning this quarter and repeated again in spring 2013 in order to track brand recognition and success. Budget Gering gave the floor to Laurie Paolicelli for an update. Paolicelli reported that the budget is approximately 1.3 million. The support from Chapel Hill was raised to $175,000 (from 150k). Expenses to date are status quo with the exception of building expense for landscaping, advertising and dues expense, which have either been encumbered and/or due at the beginning of the fiscal year. Gering inquired on the rational for the administrative fee paid to the county. Ms. Paolicelli stated that will inquire specifically: 1. why the Bureau pays $50,000 in rent; $52,000 in administrative fees and building maintenance and bring back answers to the next meeting. Gering also requested that the financial statements list the amount of the Bureau’s fund balance.