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Home My WebLink AboutTDA Board Meeting TMP work session December 11 2024 NEW HANOVER COUNTY TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS TOURISM MASTER PLAN WORK SESSION December 11, 2024 PRESENT: Hap Fatzinger- NHC Attractions Lynn Barbee – CB Mayor Dan Tollens – KB Hotel/Motels Kim Hufham, President/CEO – NHC TDA Bill Saffo, Mayor – City of Wilmington Angela Rhodes – NHC Restaurants Eric Credle – New Hanover County Chief Finance Officer Tom Ullring – Carolina Beach Hotel Manager, (150+rooms) Ross Pittman – NHC Bed& Breakfast Allen Oliver – KB Mayor EXCUSED: Nicolas Montoya – WB Hotel Zach Brigman- Wilmington Hotel Manager (150+) Zeke Partin- Wrightsville Beach Board of Alderman Natalie English – Wilmington Chamber of Commerce LeAnn Pierce – NHC Commissioner Nicole Jones- Wilmington Hotel Manager (150-) STAFF: Kim Little, Admin Services Manager, Recording Secretary Linda Brothers, Senior Financial Analyst, NHC Connie Nelson, Communications/PR Director Lee Davis, Director of Website John Sneed, VP Sales & Services Shawn Braden, Executive VP Marketing & Strategy GUESTS: David Holder, Clarity of Place ITEM# 1 – CALL TO ORDER 1 Chairman Tom Ullring called the meeting of the New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority Board of Directors to order at 5:00 pm. The meeting was held at the Wilmington and Beaches CVB offices.  Pledge of Allegiance ITEM #2 – EXCUSED – Nicolas Montoya, Zach Brigman, Zeke Partin, Natalie English, LeAnn Pierce, Nicole Jones ITEM #3 – ADOPTION OF WCC RESOLUTION- KIM HUFHAM Kim Hufham requested that the TDA Board consider adopting a resolution in support of a feasibility study by the City of Wilmington for expansion of the Wilmington Convention Center. Kim met with the city and shared with them the need for more space to accommodate larger conventions. A resolution was provided for adoption \[Motion made by Ross Pitman, seconded by Hap Fatzinger and unanimously accepted to approve the WCC Resolution to support a feasibility study by the City of Wilmington for expansion of the Wilmington Convention Center.\] A copy of the WCC Resolution can be found in the Exhibit Book XIIII ITEM #4- TOURISM MASTER PLAN- DAVID HOLDER Tourism Master Plan Steps:  Destination Assessment  Interviews & Input Sessions  Community Alignment  Stakeholder & Resident Sentiment Surveys David suggests that the results from the above data show our area is coasting. Coasting means travel on land along a coast or along the shore or proceeding easily without special application of effort or concern. “Nothing is broken, but coasting forward erodes competitiveness.” Positive signs for tourism growth in the over 1 billion travel spending and population growth by 6%. We are surrounded by faster growing counties such as Pender County and Brunswick County. These counties are slowly taking more of the market share. 2 The top three strengths of this destination seen by the Stakeholders are beaches, culinary offering (including restaurants, breweries) and events and festivals. The obstacles that the Stakeholders see as inhibiting attracting more visitors are parking, congestion and the infrastructure and reliance on personal automobiles, and public transportation optional. The top three outcomes the Stakeholders would like to see come out of the Tourism Master Plan is that improve transportation networks which would improve the visitor’s accessibility to our communities. Next, advocate for policies and practices that preserve our area’s environment. These policies and practices would sustain the destination so future generations can enjoy it. Lastly, support the enhancement of the area’s hospitality infrastructure Input update: Resident Sentiment Study- 1,541 responses (as of October 28, 2024) The direction trends include a Strategic Paradox: Acknowledging a Destination on the Rise versus Envisioning a Destination on the Rise. Visionary concepts that will drive destination development: 1. Parks & trails a) Eagle Island Nature Park b) Connected walking and biking trails c) Marina and boating access 2. Venues a) Convention center expansion b) Full-service convention hotel 3. Leisure Demand Drivers a) Film Center b) North Carolina Submarine Museum c) Fort Fisher State Historic Site d) Project Grace e) Sports entertainment f) Riverwalk g) NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher David Holder stated that the next steps in the TMP process will be finalizing the results and prepare the core strategies for the destination. These will be presented at the January 29, 2025, TDA Board Meeting. 3 As there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m. Next NHC TDA Board Meeting on January 29, 2025 _____________________________ _____________________________ Kim Hufham, President/CEO Lynn Barbee, Secretary Minutes located in TDA Board Minutes Book XIII 4