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22 <br /> NAME OF BOARD/COMMISSION Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau Advisory Board <br /> Report Period January 2021-December 2021 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS <br /> ANNUAL REPORT/ WORK PLAN FOR THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br /> Board/Commission Name: Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau Advisory Board <br /> Person to address the BOCC and contact information: <br /> Laurie Paolicelli, Director, Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau <br /> Paolicelli(cb_visitchapelhill.org <br /> (919) 259-1658 <br /> Primary County Staff Contact: <br /> Leslie Wilcox, Admin. Support II, Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau <br /> Iwilcox orangecountync.gov <br /> (919) 245-4328 <br /> How many times per month does this board/commission meet, including any special <br /> meetings and sub-committee meetings? <br /> Once monthly, every third Wednesday, except the months of July and December. <br /> Brief Statement of Board/Commission's Assigned Charge and Responsibilities. <br /> The mission of the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau is to develop and <br /> coordinate visitor services in Orange County and to implement marketing programs that <br /> will enhance the economic activity and quality of life in the community. <br /> What are your Board/Commission's most important accomplishments? <br /> From 1992 to 2019, with the exception of the recession of The Great Recession—the <br /> period of marked general decline observed in national economies globally that occurred <br /> between 2007 and 2009—the tourism industry has grown, on average 6% annually. Of <br /> course this is not the sole result of the Visitors Bureau board or staff. Rather, the <br /> industry has banded together to market, sell and serve the visitor assets of Orange <br /> County and the results are encouraging. The recipe for this success is a beautiful <br /> county that people want to visit, a top University, first class hotels and restaurants and a <br /> service arm that meets, greets and helps visitors and conference groups meeting in <br /> Orange County. <br /> List of Specific Tasks, Events, or Functions Performed or Sponsored Annually. <br /> • Operation of a Walk-In Visitors Center that operates Monday through Saturdays. <br /> • Fulfillment of visitor racks at RDU Airport, with materials encouraging a visit to <br /> Orange County. <br /> • Production of an annual Orange County Visitors Guide, visitor map, restaurant <br /> map, postcards, walking tour brochures and digital information that a visitor can <br /> easily download to help navigate their visit. <br /> • Sponsorship of six annual events, including an arts festival, food festival, film <br /> festival, Black Alumni Reunion, Meeting and Event planner event every March <br />