HomeMy WebLinkAboutTDA Board Meeting May 30 2018
NEW HANOVER COUNTY TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
May 30, 2018
PRESENT: Bill Blair, Mayor – Town of Wrightsville Beach
Craig Bloszinsky, Mayor – Town of Kure Beach
Anne Brodsky, Hotel/Motel Owner – Kure Beach
Jason Bryant – Vacation Rental Properties
Kim Hufham, President/CEO – NHC TDA
Nicolas Montoya, Hotel Manager/Owner – (150+ rooms)
Daniel Perkins, Hotel Manager – (150+ rooms)
Patricia Kusek, Commissioner – New Hanover County
Angela Rhodes, County Restaurant
Bill Saffo, Mayor – City of Wilmington
Lisa Wurtzbacher – New Hanover County Finance Officer
EXCUSED: Natalie English, Peggy Sloan, TeDra George, Mayor Joe
Benson, Chuck Pennington
ABSENT: LeAnn Pierce
STAFF: Jeanette Foster, Administrative Services Manager/Recording
Secretary
Linda Brothers, Financial Analyst, New Hanover County
Connie Nelson, Communications/PR Director
Karla Thompson, Technology/Systems Manager
John Sneed, VP Sales
Shawn Braden, VP Marketing
Chairman Nicolas Montoya called the meeting of the New Hanover County Tourism
Development Authority Board of Directors to order at 5:30 p.m. in the Lucie
Harrell Conference Room at the New Hanover County Government Complex.
ITEM #1 – EXCUSED – NICOLAS MONTOYA
Natalie English, Peggy Sloan, TeDra George, Mayor Joe Benson, Chuck Pennington
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ITEM #2 – APPROVAL OF BOARD MINUTES FOR MARCH 28, 2018 –
NICOLAS MONTOYA
\[Motion made by Anne Brodsky, seconded by Jason Bryant and
unanimously accepted to approve the March 28, 2018 TDA Board minutes as read.\]
ITEM #3 – FINANCIALS/ROT REPORT – LISA WURTZBACHER
New Hanover County Finance Officer Lisa Wurtzbacher reported on the
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Financial/ROT Report for July 1, 2017 – April 30, 2018. 1 and 2 3% revenues
are at $3,931,792 collected for the months mentioned or 54% collected. As for
expenditures, $4,211,950 spent or 42%.
ROT collections (July – March) are mostly showing a healthy growth. First 3%
through March up 3.09%. Second 3% shows City is down 4.17%. Some properties
are doing renovations; we’ve had cold weather and only one movie crew in previous
year. Complete report can be found in Exhibit Book XIII.
ITEM #4 – EXPENDITURE REQUESTS – CAROLINA AND KURE BEACHES –
KIM HUFHAM
President/CEO Kim Hufham presented funding requests from the Towns of Carolina
and Kure Beaches.
CAROLINA BEACH:
The Town of Carolina Beach respectfully requests TDA funds in the amount
of $302,371.45 for Life Guard salaries and benefits as well as expenses for the
period of March 1 – August 31, 2017. Lifeguards are on duty 7 days a week
during the tourist season. (2003)
Total amount requested is $302,371.45 and funds are available.
\[Motion made by Anne Brodsky, seconded by Commissioner Pat Kusek
and unanimously accepted to approve the Town of Carolina Beach’s TDA funding
request in the amount of $302,371.45.\]
KURE BEACH:
The Town of Kure Beach respectfully requests TDA funds in the amount of
$4,925.84 for the December 8-10, 2017 Kure Beach Fantasy Christmas Show.
The show, coordinated by the Kure Beach Volunteer Fire Department
consisted of the three performances and the annual event provides family
entertainment for tourists visiting Kure Beach. The show includes singing,
dancing and holiday-related stories. (2008)
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The Town of Kure Beach respectfully requests funding for expenditures that
were incurred for entertainment provided at the Ocean Front Park during the
summer and fall of 2017. The entertainment includes concerts, story time, the
Kure Beach Market and other family-oriented activities which attract tourists
to Kure Beach by providing enjoyable and affordable entertainment. Total
amount of expenditures for concerts, story time, Kure Beach Market and
other family activities is $16,670.00. A breakdown of these expenses: Concerts
- $7,650.00; Family Activities - $3,930.00; Kure Beach Market - $5,090.00
(2013)
Total funds are available in the amount of $21,595.84.
\[Motion made by Anne Brodsky, seconded by Angela Rhodes and
unanimously accepted to approve the Town of Kure Beach’s TDA
funding requests in the amount of $21,595.84.\]
ITEM #5- BUDGET REVIEW – FISCAL YEAR 2018-2019 – KIM HUFHAM
President/CEO Kim Hufham presented points to summarize comparisons for FY
2018-2019 from prior year.
Total budget presented is $6,838,417 compared to previous year budget of
$6,003,284. New Fiscal Year total budget represents a 13.9% increase over
prior year’s budget.
Revenues are based on 2017/2018 actual collections as well as historical
revenue growth. The first 9 months of the current budget is running at a
3.09% increase. Revenues continue to show steady growth over the previous
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record setting 6 years. We are currently on target to set our 7 consecutive
benchmark year in room occupancy collections.
First 3% budget shows 4% increase in expenditures.
First 3% budget continues to focus on marketing and promotion representing
78% of budget. Our marketing and advertising programs will continue to be
based on strategic direction recommendations working with our agency as well
as visitor research available through VISITNC. Recommendations in the
Strategic Vision Plan will be incorporated as timelines and budgets allow.
Areas of Note:
Salaries and Benefits
Merit Pool based on average of 2.5%.
Insurance and Benefits represent a 7% average increase with an overall
increase of 3.6%.
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Administration
Adjustments are based on actual costs.
Visitor Services
Hours are being increased for brochure assistance.
Will be Visitor Center improvements (City of Wilmington upgrades to
include carpet and paint.)
Marketing and Promotion
Contract Services –
MINT implementation and interface with Simpleview.
Research as recommended by Strategic Plan.
Photography and Video
Continue video production for multi-media campaigns.
Sales/PR Video.
Advertising
Continue with aggressive paid social spend as a result of its
effectiveness in driving engagement and leads.
Continue to leverage destination spend to expand the OOH billboard
program to secure year long placements in high traffic areas in key in-
state markets.
Utilize 360-degree imagery on Facebook to generate interest in the
destination and continue to drive traffic to the SkyNav section of the
website.
Education
Simpleview Summit – One additional staff member to attend.
Staff Development opportunities.
Promotions
MINT Database.
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Dawson’s Creek 20 Anniversary FAM tour.
Visit365 Media Pre-FAM tour.
Visit365 Conference sponsorship – 2019 in ILM.
Trade Shows
2 Additional Shows consisting of Travel South USA and TravMedia
Marketplace.
Capital Expenditures
Scheduled replacement of pcs and monitors.
Office furniture replacement.
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$2,500.00 contingency.
District U
Advertising
Sports Advertising and Creative.
Leisure Advertising.
Sports Marketing
Increase in Sales Calls.
Additional Shows based on recommendations of our Director of
Sports Development.
An overview of Kim’s presentation which contained a more indepth review of the
2018-2019 budget can be found in Exhibit Book XIII.
ITEM #6 – PRESIDENT’S COMMENTS – KIM HUFHAM
Strategic Planning workshop will be held at the Blockade Runner on
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Tuesday, June 5 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
U.S. Congressman Rouzer’s Water Resources Act passed for renourishment.
Since Halloween falls on Wednesday, October 31 when we had our Board
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meeting planned, will move it to Thursday, November 1 as requested by
some Board members.
ITEM #7 – OLD BUSINESS/NEW BUSINESS
N/A
ITEM #8 – CHAIRMAN’S COMMENTS – NICOLAS MONTOYA
Chairman Montoya mentioned the MINT Database which will help track
possible clients.
Is excited about the Strategic Planning Program.
Indicated a meeting held by Brunswick Community College on outdoor
recreation; pushing to have more involvement with tourism-related activities
with surrounding counties.
As there was no further business, meeting adjourned at 6:15 p.m.
Next meeting – June 13, 2018
______________________________ __________________________
Kim Hufham, President/CEO Daniel Perkins, Secretary
Minutes located in TDA Board Minutes Book XIII
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