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Home My WebLink AboutTDA Board Meeting January 30 2013 NEW HANOVER COUNTY TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS JANUARY 30, 2013 PRESENT: John Andrews, County Restaurant Commissioner Jonathan Barfield – New Hanover County Anne E. Brodsky, Motel Owner – Kure Beach David Cignotti, Mayor – Wrightsville Beach Anne Marie Hartman, Hotel – Wrightsville Beach Kim Hufham, President/CEO – NHC TDA Neal Johnson – County Vacation Rental Property Mike Keeler, Hotel – 150 (+) Wilmington Dean Lambeth, Mayor – Kure Beach Bob Lewis, Mayor – Carolina Beach Sabina Newman, Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce Angela Rhodes – County Restaurants Bill Saffo, Mayor – City of Wilmington Lisa Wurtzbacher, New Hanover County Finance Officer EXCUSED: Frank Jones, Carl Marshburn, Chuck Pennington STAFF: Jeanette Foster/Administrative Services Manager, Recording Secretary Shawn Braden, Executive Vice-President of Marketing Karla Thompson, Technology/Systems Manager Linda Brothers, NHC Financial Analyst GUESTS: George Durant, Brandon Agency Chairman John Andrews called the meeting of the New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority Board to order at 5:30 p.m. at the Hampton Inn University Area. Chairman Andrews welcomed our new TDA Board members: Mayor Bob Lewis of Carolina Beach and Angela Rhodes who will represent County Restaurants. Also recognized reappointments to the Board: Commissioner Jonathan Barfield of New Hanover County; Chuck Pennington representing County Bed and Breakfasts. ITEM #1 – EXCUSED Frank Jones, Carl Marshburn, Chuck Pennington. 1 ITEM #2 – MINUTES APPROVAL – OCTOBER 24, 2012 [Motion made by Anne Brodsky, seconded by Sabina Newman and unanimously accepted to approve the October 24, 2012 TDA Board minutes as read.] ITEM #3 – FINANCIALS/ROT REPORT – LISA WURTZBACHER New Hanover County Finance Officer Lisa Wurtzbacher reported that total expenditures for the first 3% (July 1 – December 31, 2012) was $593,723 for Sales and Marketing; Visitor Information Expenditures - $61,502; Administrative - $198,109. Total expenses = $853,334. nd 2 3% expenses for July 1 – December 31, 2012: Carolina Beach Promotions - $185,849 Kure Beach Promotions - $78,088 Wrightsville Beach Promotions - $276,539 Carolina Beach Activity - $122,881 Kure Beach Activity - $0 Wrightsville Beach Activity - $14,000 Convention Center - $160,569 Total expenditures through 12/31/12 = $1,691,261. Revenues (includes City of Wilmington) $2,071,167 which leaves 56% expected. ROT increase for first 3% for July – November, 2012 for same period of time over previous year =7.01%. Second 3% increases for July – November, 2012 for same period of time over previous year: Carolina Beach – 5.09%; Kure Beach – 6.13%; Wrightsville Beach – 2.92%. In addition, City of Wilmington saw a 11.51% increase; Convention Center a 7.82% increase. [Motion made by Anne Brodsky, seconded by Sabina Newman and unanimously approved to accept the Financials/ROT report as presented.] ITEM #4 – REQUESTS FOR FUNDING FOR KURE BEACH – KIM HUFHAM The Town of Kure Beach respectfully requests funding for expenditures for lifeguard services for the summer of 2012. The requested funds include 2 expenditures for two budget years, 2011-2012 and 2012-2013. The expenses to be reimbursed are calculated as follows: Total lifeguard expenses incurred FY 2011-2012 $148,524.73 Less lifeguard expenses included on 1/17/12 $ 86,923.02 Remaining to be reimbursed (2011-2012) $ 61,601.71 FY 2012-2013 lifeguard expenses incurred from 7/1/12-11/20/12 $ 90.248.03 Amount of Request $151,849.74 Previous Requests: Kure Beach requests for the lifeguard program have  been approved by the TDA Board since 3/28/06. The Town of Kure Beach respectfully requests funding for expenditures that were incurred for the 2012 Kure Beach Fantasy Christmas Show. The show, coordinated by the Kure Beach Volunteer Fire Department, consisted of three performances on thth December 7th, 8 and 9, 2012. Total being requested for FY 2012-2013 is $3,300.00. Previous Requests: Kure Beach requests for Kure Beach’s Christmas Show  have been approved by the TDA Board beginning 1/22/08. The Town of Kure Beach respectfully requests funding for expenditures that were incurred for the Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce Free Summer Concerts held during the summer of 2012 (FY 2012-2013). Total request is $8,000.00. Previous Requests: Kure Beach requests for PI Chamber of Commerce  Summer events have been approved by the TDA Board beginning in March, 2006. The total requested funding is $163,149.74 and funds are available. [Motion made by Mayor Bill Saffo, seconded by Dean Lambeth and unanimously accepted to approve funding for FY 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 for lifeguard services, Kure Beach Fantasy Christmas Show and Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce Free Summer Concerts.] ITEM #5 – 2013 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA – KIM HUFHAM President/CEO Kim Hufham stated that in the Marketing Plan which was presented in August, legislative issues were identified. Tourism is going to have a Legislative Day on February 11 in Raleigh. Kim will be attending and meeting with our local 3 delegation at which time she will present an actual fact sheet on tourism in New Hanover County. She also wants to include the legislative agenda items. The following ones were approved in the Marketing Plan and she is asking for the Board’s approval to present these to our delegation: Maintain current Wilmington and Beaches CVB tourism marketing budget.  Maintain current School Start calendar.  “Rent by Owner” occupancy tax remittance.  More defined definition of “tourism-related expenditures.”  Additional funding source for Beach Renourishment.  After some discussion, [Motion made by Sabina Newman, seconded by Anne Brodsky and unanimously approved to have President/CEO Kim Hufham present our 2013 Legislative Agenda items to our delegation in Raleigh on February 11.] ITEM #6 – MID-YEAR UPDATE – KIM HUFHAM President/CEO Kim Hufham, CVB staff and The Brandon Agency, presented a mid-year up-date (July-December, 2012) on where we are not only with our marketing campaign, but also with our group sales, advocacy and other areas of the CVB. President Hufham noted ROT receipts for first 3% (July – November) are up 7.01% nd over last FY for same period of time; 2 3% collections for the beaches are up as well as Wilmington and the Convention Center District. Kim reported that the Smith Travel Report not only showed that 2011 had positive growth in occupancy, but 2012 is looking even better. Percentage change from calendar year to date in occupancy is 9.5%. In competitive set comparison which we receive on a monthly basis, we are up above state averages in occupancy and revenue. For the 14 counties used in comparison, we rank second highest in room revenue and occupancy level percentage increase. George Durant of the Brandon Agency gave an overview of the marketing campaign for July – November. Images were shown of those still being used. Continue to use the “Heed the Call to the Water” ad campaign. George said measurability is very important and gave an insight into how the campaign is being tracked and measured. Tracking metrics include: Paid ad impressions, Ad URL inquiries, Media frequency and reach, Facebook fans and user interaction, Twitter followers and retweets and Website traffic/inquiries. $133,450 spent on media between July 1 and November 30, 2012 with 50% of this being online. There were a total of 16,440,264 total impressions between July 1 and November 30 and we are on par with last Fiscal Year. 4 George also indicated that between July 1 and November 30, 2012, total inquiries totaled 74,979 with the highest inquires coming from eSpecials (38%); 25% from Online; 24% from Pay Per Click and 15% from Print advertising. This, too, is on pace with last year. George said our next steps will include ongoing updating and tweaking of PPC campaigns, continued analysis of Fall campaign results and Spring/Summer Visitor Profile research. Karla Thompson, Technology/Systems Manager for the CVB disseminated handouts to the Board of the monthly Website Performance Report for Wilmington andBeaches.com She went over the report and how the website works with conversion rates, referral rates, geographic references, etc. A copy of this report can be found in Exhibit Book X. Karla also advised that Google remains at the top of the domain; that the total inquiries direct to Industry Partners from February-December was 295,000 with the main option being to get people to the individual properties. North Carolina was the top Geographic Referral followed by Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Maryland and California. President/CEO Kim Hufham presented a brief summary of Convention and Group Sales efforts. For July-December, 2012, we are on pace with last year. Leads have produced 13 bookings; 7 lost business and 40 are still pending. For the booked business, 7 were Associations. Of the pending groups, 14 are Associations and 10 are reunions and 5 are social (weddings, etc.) Advocacy: Goals are to protect our current tourism marketing budget; continue to be involved in issues at both a state and local level; meet with local legislative delegation to deliver TDA Legislative Agenda and closely monitor all issues that could affect tourism. ITEM #7 – PRESIDENT’S COMMENTS – KIM HUFHAM President/CEO Kim Hufham presented several items coming up to include: As already briefly discussed, NC Tourism Day in Raleigh on February 11  which will include an industry dinner on Monday evening; meeting with our local delegation; Legislative reception Tuesday evening with all legislators; NC Travel and Tourism Board meeting on Tuesday. The new Secretary of Commerce, Sharon Decker will be in attendance at this meeting. Governor’s Conference to be held here March 10-12. Opening reception on  th Sunday evening, March 10 (all invited); opening session on Monday, the 11 5 – Kim indicated she has 6 registrations for those who wish to attend. In addition, will be doing a Media FAM on Monday in conjunction with conference. Working with UNCW on tourism partnerships.  Met with UNCW concerning an impact study of film industry. Will be  meeting with Johnny Griffin of the Wilmington Regional Film office in near future concerning this. Will be organizing a customer service seminar with CFCC/Brunswick and  Pender Counties tourism offices and WAHA. To be held in May. Working on budgets, strategic plans for destination, convention marketing  and beaches. There is one open TDA Board position for Carolina Beach (hotel/motel).  This person to be appointed by the NHC Commissioners at their next meeting. October – December, 2012 CVB Activity Report completed. Copy can be  found in Exhibit Book X.) ITEM #8 – OLD BUSINESS/NEW BUSINESS N/A ITEM #9 – CHAIRMAN’S COMMENTS – JOHN ANDREWS Chairman Andrews advised the Nominating Committee had met to present a Slate of Officers for 2013 to the full Board. They are as follows: Chairman: Carl Marshburn Vice-Chairman: Frank Jones Secretary: Chuck Pennington Treasurer: Lisa Wurtzbacher Immediate Past Chairman/ At Large: Anne Marie Hartman Chairman Andrews called for any additional nominations from the floor. There being none: [Motion made by Anne Brodsky, seconded by Sabina Newman to accept the nominations as presented by the Nominating Committee and approved unanimously.] President/CEO thanked John Andrews for his many years of service on the Board and presented him with a plaque. 6 Adjourn at 6:45 p.m. Next Meeting Date: Wednesday, March 27, 2013. ______________________________ __________________________ Kim Hufham, President/CEO Jeanette Foster, Recording Secretary Minutes located in TDA Board Minutes Book XI 7