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Home My WebLink AboutTDA Board Work session November 30 2022 NEW HANOVER COUNTY TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS- WORK SESSION November 30, 2022 PRESENT: Craig Bloszinsky, Mayor – Town of Kure Beach Kim Hufham, President/CEO – NHC TDA Nicole Jones, Wilmington Hotel (150 -) Eric Credle, NHC Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer Hap Fatzinger, NHC Attractions Ross Pitman, NHC Bed & Breakfasts Jim Kitts- NHC Vacation Rental Properties Mary Baggett- Wrightsville Beach Hotel (150+) Lynn Barbee, Mayor – Carolina Beach Bill Saffo, Mayor – City of Wilmington Angela Rhodes-NHC restaurants Zach Brigman, Wilmington Hotel (150+) Zeke Partin- Wrightsville Beach Board of Alderman EXCUSED: Tom Ullring, Carolina Beach Hotel Deb Hays, NHC County Commissioner STAFF: Kim Little, Administrative Services Manager/Recording Secretary Connie Nelson, Communications/PR Director Karla Thompson, Technology/Systems Administrator Shawn Braden, VP Marketing John Sneed, VP Sales Chad McEwen, City of Wilmington Liaison Chairman Nicole Jones called the work session of the New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority Board of Directors to order at 5:00pm. The meeting was held in the River Room at the offices of the CVB. ITEM #1 – CALL TO ORDER- NICOLE JONES 1 ITEM #2 - EXCUSED – Tom Ullring, Deb Hays ITEM#3- WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH EXPENDITURE REQUEST- KIM HUFHAM  The Wrightsville Beach Board of Alderman respectfully request TDA funding in the amount of $70,000 to help support the cleaning of the beach bathhouses and sanitation pick up on the oceanfront and other tourist related areas from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023. The Town currently pays $13,330 per month to Cape Fear Janitorial for this function. The reimbursement requested will assist the Town in its goal to provide clean and safe for its guests,  The Wrightsville Beach Board of Alderman respectfully request TDA funding in the amount $55,000 to support the Beach Patrol Officer function during the FY22. This service provides two dedicated officers to patrol nearly four miles of beach strand and attend the enforcement of ordinances and policies related to the use of parks and beaches by both residents and visitors to the beaches, parks, and local public facilities that support the tourism industry. The Beach Patrol Officers provide an integral part of the overall Beach Safety and Ocean Rescue Program and have full police enforcement authority.  The Wrightsville Beach Board of Alderman respectfully request TDA funding in the amount of $57,000. The Lifeguard and Ocean Rescue for visitors during the summer months and on a limited basis year-round. The Town will be purchasing a replacement vehicle for the Ocean Rescue Director in FY22/23. This vehicle will be critical to the Town’s mission of protecting visitors and residents.  The Wrightsville Beach Board of Alderman respectfully request TDA funding in the amount of $8,800. The Town of Wrightsville Beach is a tourist destination offering free Concerts in the Park as an added attraction for visitors. The Town is requesting assistance from the TDA funds to cover the cost of audio services, concert performers, parking attendant services, and portable toilet facilities.  The Wrightsville Beach Board of Alderman respectfully request TDA funding in the amount of $484,200 to be favorably considered to support the Ocean Rescue Program (Beach Strand Lifeguards) during FY 2023. This service provides comprehensive ocean rescue coverage for the nearly four miles of beach strand and expanded manning for thirteen (13) lifeguard stations as well as mobile coverage. The service is staffed by thirty (30) fully qualified personnel. The mission of the Wrightsville Beach Rescue Program is to provide water lifesaving services, emergency life support, water safely education, and enforcement of local water related ordinances. Operation of the service is a critical element in providing a 2 safe and hospitable environment for beach visitors. The sum of the salaries and associated operational costs for the Wrightsville Beach Ocean Rescue and incorporates the salaries for the Ocean Rescue Director and Lifeguard Captain. Total amount of the requests: $675,000 \[Motion made by Mayor Bill Saffo, seconded by Craig Bloszinsky and unanimously accepted to approve the Wrightsville Beach funding request in the amount of $675,000.\] ITEM#3- ADVOCACY PRESENTATION & DISCUSSION- KIM HUFHAM Legislative Issues facing the Travel & Tourism Industry: School Calendar Law Occupancy Taxes Beach Renourishment Inlet Dredging Environmental Issues Workforce Shortage COVID Relief funding The lobbyists are keeping a close eye on these top topics: Workforce Development, Preserve Summer, and Occupancy Tax. North Carolina Travel & Tourism coalition are monitoring the counties that have decided to blatantly break the school calendar law. A coalition has been formed between: NCTIA, NC T&T & Hospitality Alliance of North Carolina to help litigation, strategy and recommendations. There is some discussion of a proposed bill to start after Labor Day and dismiss by Memorial Day. The topic of Weaponization of Tourism Social issues are being monitored as to the impact of tourism. Such hot topics as: abortion, LGBTQ, gun laws, etc. In addition, NCTIA is working to increase Workforce Development, Preserve Summer and Occupancy Tax. In the NC House of Representatives there is an Occupancy Tax Subcommittee and guidelines. The NC Senate only has guidelines. Workplace Development: Address hospitality industry workforce shortages and workforce development/training): Seek out and participate in professional development offerings on workforce topics:  NCRLA Workforce Development Town Hall discussions (August) 3 o Industry-specific webinars/workshops (NCTIA, NCRLA, Visit NC, EDPNC, STS, US Travel, Destinations International) Local webinars/workshops/panel discussions(Chamber, UNCW, CFCC, WAHA) o Engage with local public and private educational institution career centers:  Serve on SEATech Hospitality Academy advisory board (Com/PR Director) (NOTE we have served on this committee for 4 years)  Serve on UNCW Recreation, Sport Leadership & Tourism Management curriculum advisory committee (have been on this committee for 10 years but they have not met recently)  Distribute Hospitality Career brochure to New Hanover County Public High School principals/career counselors; CFCC Career Academy and career center; SEATech career fairs; private high schools (ongoing)  Guest speaker for college and high school hospitality/tourism/business classes (ongoing)  Explore ways to partner with local college hospitality/tourism programs Update and reprint student-oriented Hospitality Career brochure (as needed) o Provide opportunities for hospitality partners and stakeholders to participate in workforce development initiatives:  Invite partners to participate in NCRLA Workforce Development Town Hall (August)  Provide details about workforce development programs offered by state and local organizations (ongoing)  Feature workforce experts as speakers and panelists at CVB industry events (travel rally, GM roundtables, industry presentations)  Provide resources to industry partners (brochures, contacts, links to industry resources)  Inform partners, TDA Board, elected officials, community stakeholders of workforce development and hospitality industry challenges (Navigator newsletter, industry updates, speaking engagements) Kim Hufham highlighted The Road to Recovery, “Rebuilding a Re-Imagined Hotel Industry: Regional Pilot Program. The pilot program has been started in Charlotte, NC. 4 There are three key steps: recruit, train, encourage. Below is the summation of the program.  The Tourism Education Foundation of North Carolina represents the entire state of North Carolina with a primary goal of providing employment opportunities for North Carolina students. This pilot program in the Charlotte metro area will reach the largest consolidated inventory of hotel rooms 1 2 (27,000)in the State, representing 20% of all North Carolina hotel rooms. Our goal is to establish a successful pilot program and then establish the same playbook in other metro areas of the State. \[ A copy of the Advocacy PowerPoint presentation can be found in the NHC TDA Exhibit Book XIIII\] ITEM #4 ADJOURN As there was no further business the meeting was adjourned at 6:00 p.m. Next Meeting Date: Tuesday, January 31, 2023 ______________________________ __________________________ Kim Hufham, President/CEO Tom Ullring, Secretary \[Minutes located in TDA Board Minutes Book XIIII\] 5