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Home My WebLink AboutTDA Board Meeting September 13 2023 August meeting rescheduled NEW HANOVER COUNTY TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS September 13, 2023 PRESENT: Nicolas Montoya- Wrightsville Beach Hotel Jim Kitts – NHC Vacation Rentals Natalie English- Wilmington Chamber of Commerce Kim Hufham – President/CEO – NHC TDA Nicole Jones – Wilmington Hotel (150-) Lynn Barbee- Mayor – Town of Carolina Beach Zach Brigman – Wilmington Hotel (150+) Bill Saffo – Mayor- City of Wilmington Tom Ullring- Carolina Beach Hotel Eric Credle- NHC Chief Financial officer Angela Rhodes – NHC restaurants Craig Bloszinsky- Mayor- Town of Kure Beach EXCUSED: LeAnn Pierce- NHC County Commissioner Zeke Partin- Town of Wrightsville Beach Ross Pitman- NHC Bed & Breakfasts Hap Fatzinger- NHC attractions 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, Senior Financial Analyst, New Hanover County GUESTS: Wendy Parker, Mythic Rachel Cobb, Mythic Ellery Wilkins, Mythic Chairman Nicole Jones called the meeting of the New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority Board of Directors meeting to order at the NHC Government Center at 5 o’clock. 1 ITEM #1 EXCUSED MEMBERS Chairman Nicole Jones noted excused absences for Hap Fatzinger, Zeke Partin, Ross Pitman, LeAnn Pierce. ITEM #2 -RECOGNITION OF NEW BOARD MEMBERS- The Chairman recognized Nicolas Montoya as our newest NHC TDA Board Member representing Wrightsville Beach Hotel/Manager. ITEM #3 – APPROVAL OF BOARD MINUTES – May 31, 2023 & June 21, 2023 \[Motion made by Tom Ullring, seconded by Lynn Barbee and unanimously approved to accept May 31, 2023. TDA Board minutes as presented.\] \[Motion made by Lynn Barbee, seconded by Bill Saffo and unanimously approved to accept June 21, 2023, TDA Board minutes as presented.\] ITEM #4 – FINANCIALS/ROT REPORT –Eric Credle NHCTDA Treasurer Eric Credle presented the ROT collections report for the period through June 30, 2023. The revenues are currently down -9.9% compared to the budget. stst However, the 1 3% revenues are up 4.63% over FY21/22. The expenditures of the 1 3% 18.5% below budget expenditures. All the 2nd 3% collections are 12% below budgeted revenues but up 3% over the collections from fiscal year 2022. Budget Amendment 2024-01 BA#2024-01- To appropriate Purchase Order rollover for Audit Services and account for the payment of $ 4,875 against the Fiscal Year in which the expense is paid. To appropriate the Purchase Order rollover for a Ocean Rescue truck for Wrightsville Beach activity funds for the amount of $57,000, approved by the NHC Board November 30, 2022, and account for the payment against the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. \[Motion made by Natalie English and seconded by Angela Rhodes to unanimously accepted to approve Budget Amendment BA#2024-01 for $61,875 as presented.\] 2 Carolina Beach Economic Impact Study The NHC TDA has been approached by the Carolina Beach Inlet Association to fund the Economic Value of Carolina Beach Inlet Navigability Study. The purpose of the proposed study would update estimates of the economic impacts of Carolina Beach Inlet Navigability, including impacts on property values, commercial and recreational fishing, and private recreational boating. The methods used would follow those used in the Dumas and Whitehead (2014) and Dumas and Manley (2018) studies. The proposed cost $23,165.21 and funds are available in the 2023/2024 budget. ITEM# 5- EXPENDITURE REQUESTS- Kim Hufham KURE BEACH:  The Town of Kure Beach respectfully requests funds for expenditures that were incurred for the Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce Free Summer Concerts held during the summer of 2023 and the 2023 Cape Fear Kite Festival held in November 2023. The six free concerts, held at the Fort Fisher Military Recreation Area, and the kite festival held at the Fort Fisher Military Recreation Area attract tourists to Kure Beach by providing an enjoyable and affordable entertainment venue. The expenditures for the fiscal year 2023/2024 totaled $25,000.00 and are supported by documentation attached to this request. Total funds are available in the amount of $25,000. \[Motion made by Bill Saffo, seconded by Tom Ullring and unanimously approved the expenditure request by Kure Beach for $25,000 as presented.\] ITEM #6- PRESENTATION OF 2021/2022 Program of Work – Kim Hufham President/CEO Kim Hufham presented the Program of Work/ Strategic Plan for 2023/2024. A full presentation was presented to our Industry Partners on September 13, 2023. Kim Hufham presented the State of Tourism to the NHC TDA Board:  2022 Tourism Expenditures of $1,059.42 (Over $1 Billion) – 13.9% increase  NHC tourism generated $74.8 million in local/state taxes.  More than 6,676 employed in travel & tourism related jobs –$276.6 million in payroll.  Each NHC resident’s taxes were offset $317.76. 3 Kim Hufham touched on the NHC TDA advocacy issues faces us, as well as challenges.  Normalization of Travel  Occupancy Taxes  Economic Concerns o Sticker Shock o Reduced In-Destination Spending  Workforce Shortages  School Calendar Law  Beach Renourishment  Budget  Crime & Safety  Environmental Issues  Infrastructure Needs FY 23-24 Advocacy Objectives:  Support Advocacy issues that are identified in Destination 3-year Strategic Plan  Support Advocacy issues as identified with NCTIA, NCRLA & NCT&T Coalition  Maintain strong relationships with elected officials – State & Local  Strengthen and emphasize TDA’s relevancy to local community.  Strengthen TDA Board of Director’s advocacy efforts at state and local levels.  Champion those issues that are relevant to our local tourism industry  Advocate for long-term sustainable funding for beach renourishment & inlet dredging Kim Hufham gave an update on the Tourism Master Plan. The RFP process has been initiated for a firm to guide development of a 10-year Tourism Master Plan for New Hanover County that will include these phases: research, analysis of infrastructure, assets and town master plans, industry and stakeholder engagement and plan development. 4 PR/Communications 2022/2023 Recap:  Press Trips  Editorial Highlights  Other Activities 2023/2024 Strategies:  Support Marketing Initiatives  Media Outreach  Local Awareness  Multicultural Sales & Services 2022/2023 Recap:  Leads: up 42%  Booked: up 51%  Lost: up 41% 2023/2024 Strategies:  2023/2024- Group Sales Strategies  2023/2024- Sport Sales Strategies  2023/2024- Visitors Services Strategies Mythic made a presentation of the FY23/24 NHC TDA Marketing Plan:  FY22-23 Results from Unified  F22-23 Results from Out-of-State  Destination Analyst results  FY23-24 Core Marketing Strategies  Summary & Next Steps The data from Adara and Arrivalist are providing us with valuable insights to the travelers that come into our marketing areas. They give us hints about their interests, the length of their stays, where they stay, where the visitor travels from. 5 They highlighted the FY23-24 marketing strategies which included: extend seasonality, higher income targeting, educate out-of-state, in-state (western focus for longer stays) and hybrid plan. For the Unified Campaign for Wilmington and Beaches CVB, there will be a shift in strategies, promoting the city & beach combo and highlighting the area attractions and products. \[The FY23-24 Program of Work Presentation can be found in the NHC TDA Exhibit Book XIIII\] ITEM #7 -PRESIDENT’S COMMENTS – Kim Hufham NHC TDA October Board Meeting will include:  ILM Airport presentation  2022/2023 Audit Presentation  Update on the Riverwalk Assessment ITEM #8 – CHAIRMAN’S COMMENTS – Nicole Jones ITEM #9- OLD BUSINESS/NEW BUSINESS- ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the NHC TDA Board of Directors, Motion to adjourn at 6:30 pm made by Nicole Jones and was seconded by Lynn Barbee and carried unanimously. Next meeting – October 25, 2023 ______________________________ __________________________ Kim Hufham, President/CEO Angela Rhodes, Secretary Minutes located in TDA Board Minutes Book XIIII 6