10-28-20091
NEW HANOVER COUNTY TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OCTOBER 28, 2009
PRESENT: John Andrews, County Restaurant
Scott Cromartie, Wilmington Chamber of Commerce
Chris Green, Ho tel - +150 Wilmington
Anne Marie Hartman, Ho tel – 150+ Wrightsville Beach
Kim Hufham, President/CEO – NHC TDA
Frank Jones, Hotel – (-)150 Wilmington
Bob McKoy, NH County Vacation Rentals
Chuck Pennington, County Bed and Breakfast
Ronnie Pernell, Hotel – Kure Beach
Avril Pinder, NHC Authority Finance Officer
Jimmy Pope, Hotel – Carolina Beach
Steve Whalen, Mayor – Wrightsville Beach
EXCUSED: New Hanover County Commissioner Bill Caster; Mac
Montgomery, Mayor of Kure Beach; Bill Saffo, Mayor of City
of Wilmington; Donna Moffi tt, County Attraction; Joel
Macon, Mayor of Carolina Beach
ABSENT:
STAFF: Jeanette Foster, Administra tive Services Manager/Recording
Secretary
Mikie Wall, Vice-President Sales and Services
Connie Nelson, PR/Communications Director
Jette’ Ferrell, NHC Finance
GUESTS: Kemmy Goodson, Goodson and Taylor Auditors
Michelle James, Kure Beach Town Administrator
Chairman Ronnie Pernell called the meet ing of the New Hanover County Tourism
Development Authority Board to order at 5:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn, 5032
Market Street.
2
ITEM #1 – EXCUSED ABSENCES
Commissioner Bill Caster, Donna Moffitt, Mayor Joel Macon, Mayor Mac
Montgomery, Mayor Bill Saffo.
ITEM #2 – MINUTES APPROVAL – AUGUST 26, 2009
[Motion made by Frank Jones, seconde d by Chris Green and unanimously
carried that the minutes of Au gust 26, 2009 be approved as read.]
ITEM #3 – FINANCIALS AND ROT REPORT – AVRIL PINDER
Avril Pinder presented current financia ls through October 27, 2009. Income
statement looks pretty good and expenditu res are well within line. With the
economy being what it is, we have stayed within budget.
Pertaining to ROT repor ts through August, 2009, 1 st 3% for fiscal year to date, we
are down 4.62% with calendar year being down 9.26%. 2 nd 3% shows Carolina
Beach down only -0.51% fiscal year to date and -3.67% calendar year (January-
August); Kure Beach – is up 2.29% over last fiscal year and 1.51% calendar year of
January through August; Wrightsville Beach down 8.13% fiscal year to date with
13.58% down for the calendar year.
Kim noted that Brunswick Co unty was down 8% in July and 9% in August so we
are running about the same as they are.
[Motion made by Scott Cromar tie, seconded by Bob McKoy and
unanimously approved to accept the financial report as presented.]
ITEM #4– PRESENTATION OF FY 2008-2009 AUDIT – KEMMY GOODSON
Chairman Ronnie Pernell introduced Kemm y Goodson of Goodson and Taylor to
present the audit to the full TDA Board. He noted the Executive Committee met on
October 15 and approved bringing the audit before the Board.
Mr. Goodson stated that the audit is di vided into four sections – Independent
Auditor’s Report which shows the TDA, d/b/a the Wilmington/Cape Fear Coast
Convention & Visitors Bureau has been gi ven an unqualified report (no deficiencies,
no concerns, etc.) He indicated that p age one of the report gives the auditor’s
opinion; page two through six contain th e Management Discussion and Analysis
giving financial highlights for 2008-2009; pages seven through twenty show Basic
Financial Statements containing net assets , statement of activities, fund financial
3
statements, balance sheet, statement of revenues, etc., reconciliation of the statement
of revenues, expenditures, changes in fund balance, etc. Pages twenty-one through
twenty-three contain the Supplementary Fi nancial Information which is the
schedule of revenue, expenditu res and changes in fund balance (budget and actual.)
Kemmy Goodson gave an explanation of each of the above areas with figures and
explanations as needed and/or requested by the Executive Committee. A summary
report was distributed to give a quick overvie w of his explanations. In addition to
the first 3%, the second 3% and what the beaches had spent was discussed as well as
the convention center breakdown. He note d that overall, even though revenues are
down, really did not do that bad. He indicated the Authority had done a good job in
watching expenses with the decline of inco me. He feels everyt hing still looks good,
but will have to see what happens this year and how revenues come in.
Following comments from the Board,
[Motion made by Scott Cromarti e, seconded by Frank Jones and
unanimously carried to accept the Fiscal Year Audit for 2008-2009 as
presented by Kemmy Goodson.]
ITEM #5 – PRESENTATION OF BEACH EXPENDITURE PROJECTS – KIM
HUFHAM
President Hufham noted a request had been made by the Board at the last TDA
meeting to have each municipality do pho tos of funding requests which have been
completed or are still ongoing so the Boar d could see what has been accomplished
with the 2 nd 3% ROT expenditures.
A presentation was presented for the Board’s review of those accomplishments.
Both Carolina Beach and Wrightsville Beach had sent in various photos to be
presented. (Kure Beach indica ted theirs are forthcoming.)
President Hufham indicated a request woul d be made of each Beach approximately
twice a year to submit photos to bring the Board up to date on where the funding is
being utilized.
ITEM #6 – PRESIDENT’S COMMENTS – KIM HUFHAM
Kim showed a power point on the Promot ion of Ocean Rescue Programs. Wanted
to show the Board how this is being promot ed through our web site, Visitors Guide,
etc., to make tourists aware of our safe beaches.
Kim also showed a rough draft of th e covers of our 2010 Visitors Guide
(Wilmington/Cape Fear Coast CVB, Carolin a, Kure and Wrightsville Beaches) and
4
showed how each section will mention our safe beaches and Ocean Rescue
Programs, etc.
In addition, LKM (NC’s ad agency) shot a video of Wrightsville Beach’s ocean
rescue efforts as seen on You Tube. Other beaches were done focusing on other
areas of interest – Carolina Beach on their Boardwalk and Kure Beach on their
turtle patrol. (Video was shown of th e ocean rescue segment.) This, too, will be
added to our web site.
Annual Reports handed out. These will be sent to all local and state representatives.
For those who are not aware, Chris G reen, General Manager of the Hilton
Wilmington Riverside has been promoted to the Vice President of Operations for
MHI and will be leaving November 16 th . This will be his last meeting with us. Kim
advised him he would definitely be missed here and wished him well in his new
endeavors.
Sales department has been very busy with trade shows and getting ready for more
during the months of November and December.
In our social media area which we had i ndicated would be given more attention,
Connie Nelson indicates we now have 1993 Fa ce Book fans and 600+ Twitter fans on
our destination web page.
Following our last Board meeting, we follo wed up with a letter of support on the
convention center hotel to Mayor Saffo and Wilmington’s City Council. Have been
following up very closely with them in th eir efforts to see a new hotel forthcoming.
Attractions are having a banner year this year and gave figures of how much each
attraction is up over last year. Currently running over 12% in comparison with last
year.
ITEM #7 – OLD BUSINESS/NEW BUSINESS
Nothing to report.
ITEM #8 – CHAIRMAN’S CO MMENTS – RONNIE PERNELL
Chairman Pernell indicated overall we w ere having a good year in spite of the
economy. Curious as to where the school start date situation will go. We need to
stay on top of this. Kim noted she is the incoming President for NCTIA and that is
one of the main topics they will be pursuin g with tourism partners, representatives,
etc.
5
Next meeting will be on January 27 th (no November or December meeting.)
[Motion made to adjourn at 6:05 p.m.]
______________________________ __________________________
Kim Hufham, President/CEO Ronnie Pernell, Chairman