TDA Board Meeting January 25 2017
NEW HANOVER COUNTY TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
JANUARY 25, 2017
PRESENT: Jason Bryant, Vacation Rental Properties
Anne Brodsky, Hotel/Motel – Kure Beach
Kim Hufham, President/CEO – NHC TDA
Daniel Perkins, Hotel – (150+) Wilmington
LeAnn Pierce, Hotel – Carolina Beach
Angela Rhodes, County Restaurant
Emilie Swearingen, Mayor – Town of Kure Beach
Bill Saffo, Mayor – City of Wilmington
Lisa Wurtzbacher – Authority Finance Officer
EXCUSED: Nicolas Montoya, Commissioner Patricia Kusek, Mayor Bill
Blair, Chuck Pennington, Peggy Sloan, Doreen Turgeon,
Mayor Dan Wilcox
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
GUESTS: Past TDA Board members New Hanover County
Commissioner Jonathan Barfield and Captain Carl
Marshburn of Cape Fear Riverboats
Secretary Angela Rhodes called the meeting of the New Hanover County Tourism
Development Authority Board of Directors to order at 5:35 p.m. at the New
Hanover County Government Complex in the Lucy B. Harrell Conference Room.
ITEM #1 – EXCUSED - Angela Rhodes
Nicholas Montoya, NHC Commissioner Patricia Kusek, Mayor Bill Blair, Chuck
Pennington, Peggy Sloan, Doreen Turgeon, Mayor Dan Wilcox
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ITEM #2 – RECOGNITION OF FORMER MEMBERS – Kim Hufham
President/CEO Kim Hufham recognized past TDA Board members NHC
Commissioner Jonathan Barfield and Captain Carl Marshburn of the Cape Fear
Riverboats with a plaque for their many years of service and commended all they
have done during their time on the Board to promote tourism and further its growth
in New Hanover County.
ITEM #3 – RECOGNITION OF NEW BOARD MEMBERS – Kim Hufham
Kim recognized new members appointed to the Board by the New Hanover County
Commissioners. Unfortunately several could not be in attendance as they had
already made other commitments prior to their appointments. They are NHC
Commissioner Pat Kusek; Peggy Sloan (Attractions); Doreen Turgeon (Wilmington
Hotels). Jason Bryant is here this evening and represents Vacation Rentals. Want
to welcome our new appointees and look forward to working with them.
ITEM #4 – APPROVAL OF OCTOBER 26, 2017 BOARD MINUTES – Angela
Rhodes
\[Motion made by Anne Brodsky, seconded by Mayor Bill Saffo and
unanimously accepted to approve the October 26, 2016 Board minutes as
read.\]
ITEM #5 – FINANCIALS/ROT REPORT – LISA WURTZBACHER
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Total Expenses – July 1, 2016 – December 31, 2016 – total expenses for 1 3% - 41%
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spent for first half of the year; 2 3% for beaches promo/activity, District U
promo/activity – total of 24% for July 1 – December 31, 2016. Convention Center
has spent total of 33% for this same period of time.
Revenues – based on 4 months of collections – total income of 54% collected or
actual amount of $2,895,287.
ROT Collections:
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1 3% for July – November, 2016 – 9.81% increase compared to last Fiscal Year:
10.34%% increase based on Calendar Year (January – November, 2016 ).
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2 3% Fiscal Year of July – November, 2016 and Calendar Year January –
November, 2016:
Carolina Beach: 12.60% increase FY; 12.66% increase CY
Kure Beach: 5.27% increase FY; 4.35% CY
Wrightsville Beach 6.26% increase FY; 5.58% CY
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2 3% collections compared to last Fiscal Year of July – November, 2016 and
Calendar Year, January – November, 2016 for City of Wilmington, Convention
Center and District U:
City of Wilmington: 14.41% increase FY; 14.44% increase CY
Convention Center 2.96% increase FY; 7.33% increase CY
District U: increase of 10.05% FY; 11.44% increase CY
ITEM #6 – EXPENDITURE REQUESTS: Wrightsville Beach – KIM HUFHAM
President/CEO Kim Hufham presented funding requests from the Town of
Wrightsville Beach:
The Wrightsville Beach Board of Aldermen respectfully request TDA funding in the
amount of $29,000 to be favorably considered to help fund fireworks, advertising,
public relations and media support associated with the planning and presentation of
the 2017 North Carolina Holiday Flotilla. These funds are used exclusively to pay
for a fireworks display ($12,000) and other expenses to promote the annual event
($17,000). Funds are only disbursed to the Holiday Flotilla by the Town of
Wrightsville Beach on reimbursement after a review of the paid invoices. Event is
presented during the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend and is one of the premier
tourist attractions of the year for the Beach and the entire southeastern Carolina
Region. Project activity is July 1, 2016 – December 31, 2017. (2004.)
The Wrightsville Beach Board of Aldermen respectfully request TDA funding in the
amount of $12,000 to help support the necessity to maintain a public restroom in the
hub of the Wrightsville Beach business area, commonly known as the Trolley Stop.
The area is a vocal point for visitors to Wrightsville Beach. It is the only public
restroom in the central business area. The annual lease cost for the section of the
building housing the bathroom is $12,000 and is critical to supporting the local
tourism industry as well as serving the beach strand and Wynn Plaza Park. (2005.)
The Wrightsville Beach Board of Aldermen respectfully request TDA funding in the
amount of $377,101 to be considered to support their Ocean Rescue Program
(Beach Strand Lifeguards) during FY 2017. This service provides comprehensive
ocean rescue coverage for nearly four miles of beach strand and expanded manning
of 13 lifeguard stations as well as mobile coverage. This service is staffed by 30 fully
qualified personnel. The above sum includes salaries and associated operational
costs for this program and incorporates the salaries for the Ocean Rescue Director
and Lifeguard Captain. (2004.)
The Wrightsville Beach Board of Aldermen respectfully request TDA funding in the
amount of $100,000 to support their Beach Patrol Office function during FY 2017.
This service provides two dedicated Patrol Officers to patrol nearly four miles of
beach strand and attends to the enforcement of ordinances and policies related to
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the use of parks and beaches for both residents and visitors to the beaches, parks
and local public facilities that support the tourism industry. (2004.)
The Wrightsville Beach Board of Aldermen respectfully request TDA funding in the
amount of $35,000 to help support the cleaning of beach bathrooms and sanitation
pick up on the oceanfront and other tourists related areas from July 1, 2016 through
June 30, 2017. At least 1,600 hours are spent performing these functions. The
amount requested includes salaries and benefits for this time period. (2007.)
Total funds in the amount of $553,101.00 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.
\[Motion made by Anne Brodsky, seconded by Mayor Emilie Swearingen and
unanimously accepted to approve the expenditure requests from the Town of
Wrightsville Beach in the amount of $553,101.00.\]
ITEM #7 - PRESIDENT’S COMMENTS: Kim Hufham
President/CEO Kim Hufham presented a Mid-Year Update for 2016-2017.
Rooms occupancy tax through November, 2016: First 3% is up 9.81% countywide
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while the 2 3% at the beaches, City of Wilmington, Convention Center and
District U continue to see steady increases based on this same time last year.
Kim advised it is going to be a busy legislative session this year and some key issues
we will be watching include:
The School Calendar Law; ROT Remittance – VRBOs; Beach renourishment and
inlet dredging sustainable funding; film grants and sales tax redistribution.
Relative to Convention and Group Sales, have created 86 leads, 50 definite, 42 lost;
group sales activities include 18 site visits; 20+ industry events; 174 sales calls and
12 trade shows.
Kim reviewed our 16/17 Campaign ads with $125,813 spent on media (75% of this
online and 22% on print ads.
To date received a total of 151,460 inquiries with 64% online and 35% e-specials.
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Kim discussed our online media mix, total inquires by channel and engagement
metrics as well as website performance indicators, social media (total of 129,228
social subscribers.)
Pertaining to Communications/Public Relations – Press Release Distributions = 21;
individual journalist site visits = 26; traditional media contacts = 332; discussed
earned media/editorial and non-media inquiries.
Activities/Events discussed as well as press releases, story angle pitches and 34
earned placements.
Upcoming events include new website launch in February, NC Legislative Tourism
Day February 21-22, Visit 365 Conference in March, General Manager’s
Roundtable in April, 17/18 Strategic Planning and Budgets, National Tourism Week
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2nd week in May and the Wells Fargo Championship May 1-7.
Wells Fargo Championship Update:
To highlight briefly: Will be featured on their homepage –
WellsFargoChampionship.com.
Social Media/Public Relations to include International media coverage including
CBS and the Golf Channel; media reception, story pitches and media assistance.
Advertising – Digital Ad Geofencing, program guide (20,000 copies), spectator guide
(35,000 copies), WFC mobile app banner advertising.
Visitors Services:
10x20 Expo tent – shared with Wilmington Chamber of Commerce to promote both
tourism and economic development; communicate with industry partners; online
community toolkit.
ITEM #8 – OLD BUSINESS/NEW BUSINESS
N/A
ITEM #9 – SECRETARY’S COMMENTS – Angela Rhodes
N/A
ITEM #10 – ELECTION OF OFFICERS FOR 2017
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President/CEO Kim Hufham passed around a Slate of Officers which the Executive
Committee is suggesting be approved by the TDA Board for the upcoming year of
2017.
Secretary Angela Rhodes read the names as follows:
Chairman – Nicholas Montoya
Vice-Chairman – Angela Rhodes
Secretary – Daniel Perkins
Treasurer – Lisa Wurtzbacher
Kim advised upon approval of the Slate of Officers, the new Chairman will appoint
one additional member to the Executive Committee.
Angela asked for a motion to approve the suggested list by the Executive
Committee.
\[Motion made by Anne Brodsky, seconded by Mayor Bill Saffo and
unanimously accepted to approve the Slate of Officers for 2017 as
recommended by the Executive Committee.\]
There being no further business to come before the TDA Board of Directors, the
Meeting was adjourned at 6:35 P.M.
Next Meeting Date: Wednesday, March 22, 2017
______________________________ __________________________
Kim Hufham, President/CEO Jeanette Foster, Recording
Secretary/Angela Rhodes,
Secretary
Minutes located in TDA Board Minutes Book XII
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