2025-04-16 CHOCVB Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau Advisory Board Meeting Sheraton Chapel Hill March 19, 2025 8:00—9:30 AM Board Members Present: Paris Miller-Foushee, Craig Lloyd, Allison Reid, Lisa Kaylie, Creston Woods, Randee Haven-O'Donnell, Heidi Werner-Dawson, Wendy Smith, Jeri Lynn Schulke, Meredith Saybe Not Present: Sally Greene, Matt Hughes, David Putnam, Jon Hartman-Brown, D.R. Bryan, Karen DeHart Staff Attendance: Laurie Paolicelli, Marlene Barbera, Hannah Hemphill, Katie Murray Guests: Jessica Herschaft—Clean, Inc., Jon Parker—Clean, Inc., Ben Marklin—Alliance for Historic Hillsborough, Tike Hoke, Sarah Potter—Town of Chapel Hill Economic Development, Shannan Campbell— Town of Hillsborough Economic Development Call to Order Upon learning that Chair Karen DeHart was too sick to come to the meeting, Laurie Paolicelli called the meeting to order at 8:08 AM. Round Table Introductions Approval of Minutes Laurie Paolicelli requested a motion to approve the minutes from the January 15, 2025 board meeting. Wendy Smith made a motion to approve the minutes for both meetings and Meredith Saybe seconded the motion. With all members in favor, the minutes were approved as submitted. Visitors Bureau Updates • Overview of BOCC meeting from last year discussing whether to shift the usage of the Visitors Bureau Occupancy Tax Fund. The discussion included three options—Option 1 to leave the Visitors Bureau Fund as is, Option 2 to utilize 2/3 of the Occupancy Tax Fund for Visitors Bureau expenses and use 1/3 for tourism related initiatives that currently exist in the County, and Option 3 to utilize 2/3 of the Occupancy Tax Fund for Visitors Bureau expenses and use 1/3 to fund new initiatives in the County. Additionally,they discussed whether to leave the practice of keeping 15% Occupancy Tax Fund in reserve. • The discussion instructed the County Manager to leave the budget in place but see more funding put into the Arts Commission(currently included in the Occupancy Tax Fund). Soccer Update: • MexTour 2025 is requiring the Visitors Bureau to increase promotion and marketing. This event will include 55k seats at Kenan stadium and tickets go on sale April 1, 2025. • Working with Clean and subcontracting with Latino firm in Charlotte to promote the event.