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Home My WebLink AboutTDA Board Meeting March 22 2017 NEW HANOVER COUNTY TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS MARCH 22, 2017 PRESENT: Jason Bryant, Vacation Rental Properties Kim Hufham, President/CEO – NHC TDA Patricia Kusek, Commissioner – New Hanover County Nicolas Montoya, Hotel – (150+) Wrightsville Beach Chuck Pennington, County Bed and Breakfast Daniel Perkins, Hotel – (150+) Wilmington LeAnn Pierce, Hotel – Carolina Beach Angela Rhodes, County Restaurant Peggy Sloan, Tourist Attraction Emilie Swearingen, Mayor – Town of Kure Beach Bill Saffo, Mayor – City of Wilmington Dan Wilcox, Mayor – Town of Carolina Beach EXCUSED: Lisa Wurtzbacher, Mayor Bill Blair, Anne E. Brodsky 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 GUESTS: Natalie English, CEO – Wilmington Chamber of Commerce Chairman Nicolas Montoya called the meeting of the New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority Board of Directors to order at 5:30 p.m. at the New Hanover County Government Complex in the Lucy B. Harrell Conference Room. He said he is delighted to be Chairman of the Board this year and looks forward to serving. Welcomed those who are now on the TDA Board and could not be in attendance in January. They include Peggy Sloan with the Aquarium. New Hanover County Commissioner Pat Kusek; in addition Anne Brodsky of Kure Beach has been reappointed and Natalie English with the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce will be officially on the Board in May. 1 ITEM #1 – EXCUSED – NICOLAS MONTOYA Mayor Bill Blair, Lisa Wurtzbacher, Anne E. Brodsky ITEM #2 – APPROVAL OF JANUARY 25, 2017 BOARD MINUTES – NICOLAS MONTOYA \[Motion made by Mayor Dan Wilcox, seconded by Angela Rhodes and unanimously accepted to approve the January 25, 2017 Board minutes as read.\] ITEM #3 – FINANCIALS/ROT REPORT – LINDA BROTHERS st Total Expenses – July 1, 2016 – February 28, 2017 – total expenses for 1 3% - 58% nd spent for first 8 months of the FY; 2 3% for beaches promo/activity, District U promo/activity – total of 32% for July 1, 2016 – February 28, 2017. Convention Center has spent total of 71% for this same period of time due to expense of paying ahead for trade shows and other travel expense, etc. Grand total expenses 43% (well above due to beaches not being paid yet.) Revenues – based on 8 months of collections – total income of 54% collected or actual amount of $3,450,835. ROT Collections: st 1 3% for July, 2016 – January, 2017 – 11.48% increase compared to last Fiscal Year: 6.07% increase based on Calendar Year for January, 2017. nd 2 3% Fiscal Year of July, 2016 – January, 2017 and Calendar Year January, 2017: Carolina Beach: 15.45% increase FY; 26.34% increase CY Kure Beach: 6.43% increase FY; 29.19% CY Wrightsville Beach 6.95 increase FY; 8.41% CY nd 2 3% collections compared to last Fiscal Year of July, 2016 through January, 2017 and Calendar Year, January, 2017 for City of Wilmington, Convention Center and District U: City of Wilmington: 16.34% increase FY; -0.93% decrease CY Convention Center 3.30% increase FY; 11.92% increase CY District U: increase of 11.73% FY; 39.30% increase CY 2 ITEM #4 – EXPENDITURE REQUESTS – KURE BEACH – KIM HUFHAM President/CEO Kim Hufham presented funding requests from the Town of Kure Beach: The Town of Kure Beach respectfully requests funding for expenditures for lifeguard services for the summer of 2016. The requested funds include expenditures for two budget years 2015-2016 and 2016-2017. The expenses to be reimbursed are calculated as follows: Total Lifeguard expenses incurred FY 2015/2016 $185,314.65 Less Lifeguard expenses included on 1/19/16 TDA request $102,280.47 FY 2015/2016 Remaining to be reimbursed $ 83.034.18 FY 2016/2017 Lifeguard Expenses incurred from 7/1/16-12/3/16 $ 81,253.90 Amount of this request $164,288.08 This program is directly related to tourism to protect vacationers and visitors as they swim and enjoy the beach strand. Visitors are attracted to areas offering life- guard services, especially those with young children and older adults. (2006) The Town of Kure Beach requests funds for expenditures that were incurred for the Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce Free Summer Concerts held during the Summer of 2016 (FY 2016-2017). The six free summer concerts, held at the Fort Fisher Military Recreation area, attract tourists to Kure Beach by providing an enjoyable and affordable venue. The expenditures for FY 2016/2017 total $8,800. (2006) Total funds in the amount of $173,088.08 are requested and available. The TDA Board members should be prepared to determine the requests (projects/expenditures) correlation to travel and tourism and its merits as a project or activity designed to enhance this beach community as a travel destination for discussion and action. \[Motion made by Mayor Dan Wilcox, seconded by Chuck Pennington and unanimously accepted to approve the expenditure requests from the Town of Kure Beach in the amount of $173,088.08.\] 3 ITEM #5 - PRESIDENT’S COMMENTS: KIM HUFHAM President/CEO Kim Hufham gave an update on Wells Fargo (May 1-7). In the Marketing aspect, programs are in motion, social media posts are being done and we are confirmed in the Spectator Guide and the Program Guide for the event. Visitor Services: A rooms inventory list has begun; there are still some rooms available and the list will be continually updated. There will be an Expo Tent which will be staffed Monday – Sunday. We will have 79 shifts to fill, which is being shared with the Chamber of Commerce and the Players Services Desk which we will be staffing as well. A tookit is being put together by the Marketing Department which will be going out to our tourism partners soon. A Wells Fargo Media Reception to be held on May 3. Hope to have approximately 150 media participants. The TDA Board will also be invited to this. Legislative Update: School Calendar Law has 53 bills filed to date. Basis of bills is for flexibility and local control. A PED (Program Evaluation Division Study) is available to send to any of the Board wishing to have same. Two bills of note are HB 375 by Representative Chuck McGrady who wants to align with the Community College Calendar; definitely wants seat at table when presented as does not want school calendar changed. HB 389 by Representative Harry Warren wants to focus on 20 counties only at this time (low performance schools.) Chairman Montoya offered some input on also keeping the school law as it currently stands. Kim said that on HB2, both sides are still working on a solution, but are currently at an impasse. Stated that on Tuesday, SB332 was filed; says NCRLA is an advocate to encourage dialogue and resolution and currently 15 other states are considering passing similar legislation. Issue of the Film Grant, would definitely like to see it back as before. There are currently two bills on having a meals tax (Caswell and Brunswick Counties). The NC Restaurant Association against a new tax. Has not been one in many years. Current Happenings/Events at the CVB: Had good sessions at the Visit 365 conference in Greenville. Looking at possibility of hosting here in 2019 or 2020. 4 Successful NC Tourism Legislative Day in February in Raleigh. Nicolas also attended the reception and had the opportunity to meet with two of our local delegation. National Tourism Week is May 7-14. Details on this to be firmed up in the next couple of weeks. The quarterly General Manager’s Roundtable will be held in April. Marketing: Starting to work on budgets, website was launched in late February and River District Plan is underway. Communications/PR Department: Hosting a French Media Fam in April; participating in Canadian Media Mission and New York Media Mission in April. Potential DC Media Mission in May. Travel Writer season has begun. Sales Department: On the road with sales calls and trade shows. ITEM #6 – OLD BUSINESS/NEW BUSINESS Mayor Dan Wilcox says the new boardwalk extension is now complete and will be having a grand opening soon. John Sneed, VP of Sales, said he hopes to have a FAM coming end of April or first part of May and show case the new Courtyard and Hampton Inn properties at Carolina Beach and use the boardwalk as a reception area. Mayor Swearingen at Kure Beach says they are having a Public Safety Day this coming Saturday and invites everyone to come see everything connected with safety, etc. Also, on April 21-23 is the Seafood Blues and Jazz Festival and on the 28-29, th kick off of their 70 anniversary. ITEM #7 – CHAIRMAN’S COMMENTS – NICOLAS MONTOYA Chairman Montoya says the new website is great and invites those who have not looked at it to do so. Discussed the enormous growth the County has experienced and how important it is for us to remember that we should try to be more active with a big push with the City and Chamber of Commerce in growth along with other counties. We must remember it is due to tourism and we must play a proper role in how it all comes along. Nicolas looks forward to being part of it all. Date Change – Will have our next TDA meeting the last Wednesday of May which is st the 31. 5 There being no further business to come before the TDA Board of Directors, \[Motion made by Chuck Pennington, seconded by Angela Rhodes and unanimously approved to adjourn at 6:20 p.m.\] Next Meeting Date: Wednesday, May 31, 2017 ______________________________ __________________________ Kim Hufham, President/CEO Daniel Perkins, Secretary Minutes located in TDA Board Minutes Book XII 6