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Home My WebLink AboutTDA 10-26 2011 NEW HANOVER COUNTY TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS October 26, 2011 PRESENT: John Andrews, County Restaurant Jonathan Barfield, Chairman – New Hanover County Commissioners Anne E. Brodsky, Hotel/Motel Owner – Kure Beach David Cignotti, Mayor – Wrightsville Beach Kim Hufham, President/CEO – NHC TDA Frank Jones, Hotel – (150-) Wilmington Dean Lambeth, Mayor – Kure Beach Sabina Newman, Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce Chuck Pennington, County Bed and Breakfast Avril Pinder, Authority Finance Officer Jimmy Pope, Hotel – Carolina Beach EXCUSED: Carl Marshburn, Anne Marie Hartman, Mike Keeler, Bob McKoy, Dan Wilcox, Mayor Bill Saffo STAFF: Jeanette Foster/Administrative Services Manager, Recording Secretary Shawn Braden, Executive Vice-President of Marketing Mikie Wall, Vice-President Sales and Services Connie Nelson, PR/Communications Director Linda Brothers, NHC Finance GUESTS: Brandon Agency (George Durant, Wendi Burrell) Kemmy Goodson, Goodson and Taylor, CPA’s Vice-Chairman John Andrews called the meeting of the New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority Board to order at 5:30 p.m. at the Coastline Conference Center. ITEM #1 – EXCUSED Bob McKoy, Anne Marie Hartman, Carl Marshburn, Mayor Bill Saffo, Dan Wilcox, Mike Keeler 1 ITEM #2 – MINUTES APPROVAL – AUGUST 24, 2011 [Motion made by Frank Jones, seconded by Sabina Newman and unanimously accepted to approve the August 24, 2011 TDA Board minutes as read.] ITEM #3 – AUDIT PRESENTATION – KEMMY GOODSON (Copies of audit distributed.) Kemmy Goodson of Goodson and Taylor, CPA’s, indicated that an unqualified opinion has been issued in the financial statement; there were no reservations, problems, concerns, mismanagements of funds and everything is fairly stated within the financial statement. This is the highest opinion you can get. Mr. Goodson said that page one of the report gives the auditor’s opinion, pages two through six contains the Management Discussion and Analysis giving financial highlights for 2010-2011; pages seven through twenty show Basic Financial statements containing net assets, Statements of Activities, Fund Financial Statements, Balance Sheet, Statement of Revenues, etc., Reconciliation of the Statement of Revenues, Expenditures, Changes in Fund Balance, etc. Pages twenty- one through twenty-three contain the Supplementary Financial Information which is the schedule of revenue, expenditures and changes in fund balance (budget and actual which are totaled by category.) Kemmy explained several of the above pages with figures and explanations as needed and/or requested by the TDA Board members. A summary report from the audited financial statements of the Authority gave a quick review of the more pertinent facts from the statements. In addition to the first 3%, the second 3% and what the beaches had spent was discussed as well as a convention center breakdown. Kemmy advised we have substantial fund balance although we have a decrease in net revenues. The TDA remains in good shape. ITEM #4 – FINANCIALS AND ROT REPORT – AVRIL PINDER Avril Pinder, New Hanover County Finance Director, presented the TDA Financial Statement for July-September 2011. She advised that this year the Income Statement shows encumbrances. Indicated we are actually doing well on revenues. Tracking right along on expenses. st For first two months of new Fiscal Year (2011-2012), 1 3% of NHC ROT collections showed 6.37% increase; August was a little down at 2.30% and this can partially be blamed on Hurricane Irene who hit our coast the last weekend in August, but showing an overall increase of 2.69%. 2 nd In review of beach ROT reports (2 3%), Carolina Beach had an increase for July and slight decrease for August but still showing overall increase of 0.75%; Kure Beach had an increase of 12.06% for July and only down 2.04% for August, and showing an overall increase for the two months of 5.94%; Wrightsville Beach had a big increase in July of 10.60% and decrease of 3.42% in August, but shows an overall increase for the two months of 4.77%. [Motion made by NHC Commissioner Chairman Jonathan Barfield, seconded by Frank Jones and unanimously approved to accept the 2010-2011 audit report as presented by Kemmy Goodson and the Financial Report as presented by Avril Pinder.] ITEM #5 – BRANDON AGENCY UPDATE – GEORGE DURANT George Durant of the Brandon Agency said the Agency had enjoyed the first 3 month of preparation and looking forward to the next 3 months that will take up from launching pad when everything is together and established. By the January 25, 2012 Board meeting, they will be able to give the Board snapshot reports of a lot of qualitative things (those things that look good, feel good and things to be comfortable with.) Will put in things that will help us such as a tracking system. Staff is diligently working making sure digital assets are placed where leads can be generated and distributed and done in a manner which is very important. January’s meeting will be very important to sit down with a report card and keep score. George said the second item is in regard to marketing. A bold decision was made to go ahead with a branding that geographically locates this area in a way we feel very strongly about. George wanted to make a simple formal recommendation to the Board that the name of our organization, the Convention & Visitors Bureau, to coincide with the Bureau’s new URL and marketing which reflects who we are now, be renamed the “Wilmington and Beaches CVB.” This helps to imprint our external marketing. It was noted that any collateral pieces such as letterhead, etc., will be used up before reprinting to reflect our new name. [Motion made by Chuck Pennington, seconded by Frank Jones and unanimously carried to approve the CVB name change from Wilmington/ Cape Fear Coast CVB to Wilmington and Beaches CVB.] George said the final item he wishes to discuss was that Wendi Burrell has been at the forefront trade marking our name. It takes up to six months to get trade mark back (depends on amount of research needed.) Was filed August 19. The Board approved funds for the trade mark at the August Board meeting. 3 ITEM #6 – PRESIDENT’S COMMENTS – KIM HUFHAM  President/CEO Kim Hufham did an ROT comparison chart – compared to peak Fiscal Year and calendar year looking at the past 5 years. The peak FY was 2007-2008. 2010-2011 down only by 3.3%. Good news is that May, 2011 and July, 2011 were the largest May and July on record.  The September Smith Travel Report shows that occupancy was up 2.8%; ADR up 8.3%; Rev Par up 11.3% and revenue up 13.1%. We are looking forward to a good September Chuck Pennington asked about getting figures of room inventory from 2007 until current. Kim said this information would be made available to him and any other who might be interested. Frank Jones asked about tracking of rental properties versus hotels from 2007-present. Kim said she would also get this information prepared.  Convention Center bookings – Fedcon, who was just here, had the highest attendance on record for a meeting here in October and already booked another smaller meeting for the spring of next year.  Kim and Connie attended UNCW Economic Summit on Tourism and it was indicated that tourism is one of the positive outlooks for both county, region and state. This was good to hear.  The industry presentation of our Marketing Plan for 2011-2012 and new branding was held in September. It was well received by our constituents and was carried on the New Hanover County government channel.  Our new brand information has been sent out to the industry.  Hosted a UK media fam tour (Connie and staff) to 5 journalists and UK rep. They had a great interest in the area. Top publications represented were the Daily Mirror with over 1 million in circulation; National Geographic Kids – UK; Daily Star Sunday with a circulation of 704,000; Travel Mail website nd (77.3 million browsers which is only 2 to the NY Times;) and the Manchester Evening News. stnd  The 1 and 2 weeks in November will have 2 American Cruise Line ships port at Market Street.  Awarded host city for the 2013 Governor’s Conference on Tourism in March, 2013. This is very good news.  Kim said we’re already working on the January, 2012 Board meeting. Very excited about what will be presented. 4 ITEM # 7 – OLD BUSINESS/NEW BUSINESS Sabina Newman inquired about the Character Campaign. Kim indicated several TDA members had requested that this item be tabled until January. Brandon Agency has agreed to go with this unless someone approaches them and we would then be given first right of refusal. A special meeting would have to be held prior to January should this occur. Sabina also inquired about Iron Man III being filmed here. Kim/Connie advised this had not been made official. The CVB will follow up and release information as appropriate. Avril Pinder introduced the new TDA Financial Analyst for New Hanover County Finance – Linda Brothers. Kim informed the Board that she would like to move the slate of officers nominations to January instead of March. Our By-Laws only state it must be done in the first quarter and she would like the current Chairman Bob McKoy involved in this as his term would be up prior to March. Frank Jones asked about the Convention Center hotel. President/CEO Hufham stated it was her understanding a letter of intent will hopefully be presented to the st City by November 1 so this issue can move forward. Some discussion on large cruise ships and reasons they cannot make trip into Wilmington ports. ITEM #8 – CHAIRMAN’S COMMENTS – VICE –CHAIRMAN JOHN ANDREWS N/A [Motion to adjourn made by Sabina Newman, seconded by Chuck Pennington and unanimously carried.] Adjourn at 6:15 p.m. ______________________________ __________________________ Kim Hufham, President/CEO Chuck Pennington, Secretary Minutes located in TDA Board Minutes Book X 5 6