HomeMy WebLinkAboutTDA Board Meeting May 26 2021
NEW HANOVER COUNTY TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
May 26, 2021
PRESENT: Mary Baggett- Wrightsville Beach Hotel/ Owner
Craig Bloszinksy- Mayor- Town of Kure Beach
Jason Bryant – Vacation Rentals
Ken Dull – Town of Wrightsville Beach
Natalie English- Wilmington Chamber of Commerce
Hap Fatzinger- NHC attractions
Deb Hays – NHC County of Commissioner
Kim Hufham – President/CEO – NHC TDA
Nicole Jones – Wilmington Hotel (150-)
LeAnn Pierce- Mayor – Town of Carolina Beach
Daniel Perkins – Wilmington Hotel (150+)
Angela Rhodes – NHC restaurants
Bill Saffo – Mayor- City of Wilmington
Tom Ullring- Carolina Beach Hotel
EXCUSED: Chuck Pennington, Bed & Breakfasts
STAFF: Kim Little, Administrative Services Manager/Recording Secretary
Karla Thompson, Systems Administrator
Shawn Braden, Executive VP Marketing
John Sneed, VP Sales
Connie Nelson, PR/Communications Director
Linda Brothers, Financial Analyst, New Hanover County
Chairman Jason Bryant called the meeting of the New Hanover County Tourism
Development Authority Board of Directors to order at 5:00 p.m. as a WebEx virtual
meeting at the NHC TDA offices.
ITEM #1 EXCUSED MEMBERS
Chairman Jason Bryant noted excused absence for Chuck Pennington, B &B.
1
ITEM #2 -RECOGNITION OF NEW & REAPPOINTED MEMBERS
Mary Baggett as the Wrightsville Beach accommodations
ITEM #3 – APPROVAL OF BOARD MINUTES – March 31, 2021
\[Motion made by Tom Ullring, seconded by Jason Bryant, and unanimously
approved to accept March 31, 2021, TDA Board minutes as presented.\]
ITEM #4 – FINANCIALS/ROT REPORT –LISA WURTZBACHER
NHCTDA Treasurer Lisa Wurtzbacher reported for July 1, 2020 – April 30, 2021.
\[Motion made by Ken Dull, seconded by Chuck Pennington to accept the
financial statements, as presented.\]
ITEM #5 BUDGET PRESENTATION- KIM HUFHAM
President/CEO Kim Hufham presented the budget for the FY 2021-2022.
Revenue Projections:
st
o 1 3% - up 36.45% - FY 20/21 down 33.92%
o Carolina Beach – up 89.88% - FY 20/21 Down 32.23%
o Kure Beach – up 105.8% - FY20/21 Down 35.92
o Wrightsville Beach – up 72.10 % - FY 20/21 Down 29.58%
o District U – up 119.87% - FY 20/21 Down 42.61%
Overall Expenses up by 25% over FY 20/21 – comparisons are also made to
19/20 to show expense increase to reach previous levels that were dropped due
COVID during FY 20/21 – Overall down 10.01% compared to FY 19/20
Fund Balance Request of $ 67,500
o Research – New audience & Brand awareness
o Personnel:
o Overall up 22.46% over FY 20/21 (Down 5.5% compared to FY
19/20)
o COVID has provided the opportunity to re-assess staffing needs and
duties. FY 20/21 saw a reduction in staffing both full time and part-
time, with the reduction of 3 full time positions and VIC staffing.
Working with DCG consultancy and CVB department heads, the
following staffing additions/changes are recommended:
Director of Marketing & Content (new position)
2
Visitor information specialist (FT – new position
Senior Sales Manager – added group markets (Salary increase)
Communications/PR Specialist – added responsibilities (Salary
Increase)
2.5% merit pool
1.3% Cost of living adjustment
CVB Salary Adjustment:
o Recommending 5% industry salary adjustment increase to staff to bring
current salaries closer in line with NC industry market averages. This will
also help offset the benefits reduction that were seen by the reduction in
retirement benefits during FY 20/21. .
Marketing:
o Continue with Unified Marketing Campaign with beaches
o Larger reach as one campaign & pooling funds
o Content and Video production
o Advertising – up 27%
District U:
o Working with DSA Sports consultants – presenting sports strategy for
upcoming years. Will define line items on sports marketing with
implementation of recommended strategies
o Leisure will continue to focus on outdoor attractions and opportunities
A copy of the FY 2021/2022 NHC TDA Budget is in Exhibit Book XIIII
\[There being no further discussion on the FY 2021/2022 NHC TDA Budget.
Daniel Perkins made a motion that the FY 2021/2022 Budget in the amount of
$7,761,414 be recommended for adoption and seconded by Nicole Jones. A copy of the
proposed budget is attached for record. The formal budget adoption and Public Hearing
is set for June 9, 2021 at 5:00 pm.\]
*Addendum: The 2021/2022 NHC TDA Budget Ordinance that will be adopted at
the June 9, 2021 Public Hearing & Budget Adoption meeting. The budget was presented
and reviewed in detail at the May 26, 2021, TDA Meeting. Please note that during
preparation of the ordinance, a correction was made to the revenue account due to an
nd
adjustment in the Administrative Revenue. The 2 3% Promotion revenue was reduced
by $ 13,311 and will be accounted for in the budget preparation for these accounts.
ITEM #6 –– CVB UPDATES & PRESIDENT’S COMMENTS – KIM HUFHAM
In Marketing, for the upcoming year, we will continue with the Unified
Campaign with the beach destinations. This approach has a larger reach as
one campaign & pooling funds. We have contracted with Destination
Analysts to conduct a new audience study to identify and profile travelers.
3
We are awaiting the final report from Destination Consultancy Group on
Sports Marketing and Convention Marketing to advise us how to better focus
our strategies for future development in these areas.
We are awaiting signs to direct visitors to the new location of the CVB
offices.
Natalie English praised the newly bricked paved walkway inviting visitors
from the Riverwalk to the front door of the lobby.
ITEM #7– CHAIRMAN’S COMMENTS – Jason Bryant
ITEM #8- OLD BUSINESS/NEW BUSINESS
Additional information located in Exhibit Book XIII.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the NHC TDA Board of Directors,
Motion to adjourn at 6:00 pm made by Hap Fatzinger and was seconded by Tom Ullring
and carried unanimously.
Next meeting – Public Hearing & Budget Adoption – June 9, 2021, at in the River
Room in the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce.
______________________________ __________________________
Kim Hufham, President/CEO Angela Rhodes, Secretary
Minutes located in TDA Board Minutes Book XIIII
4