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HomeMy Public PortalAbout02-01-2016 Minutes Tourism Board MeetingPage 1 of 4 TOURISM BOARD February 1, 2016 Town Barn 6:30pm MINUTES Present: Chair Erik Myers, Vice Chair Libbie Hough, Sean Garrett, Kate Carroll, Kathleen Ferguson, Mary Catherine McKee, Carolyn Twesten, Kim Tesoro, Steven Burke Staff: Shannan Campbell (Town of Hillsborough), Sarah DeGennaro (Alliance for Historic Hillsborough) I. Call Meeting to Order Chair Myers called the meeting to order at 6:33 p.m. II. Agenda Adoption Motion: Member Ferguson moved to adopt the agenda. Second: Vice Chair McKee seconded. Vote: Unanimous III. Consideration of Minutes of January 4, 2016 Motion: Member Hough moved to approve the minutes as corrected. Second: Vice Chair McKee seconded. Vote: Unanimous. IV. General Public Comment There were none. V. Monthly Reports a. Alliance Director’s Report and Visitor’s Center Communications Report Sarah DeGennaro explained that there were no tours or heritage programming done in January, but that the Alliance was working on its upcoming Revolutionary War Living History Day that would be held February 20th. She explained that there would be re- enactors, history tours, and artillery demonstrations. She also said that the Visitor’s Center was working with the Arts Council to display ‘Mikes Art Truck’ Folk Art for the Art Walk 2016 season at the Alexander Dickson House. Ms. DeGennaro went through the communications report also. Highlights included a 559% increase in post engagement on Facebook as well as the communications plan for the publicity for the Revolutionary War Living History Day. Also, Riverwalk was featured on UNC-TV. Page 2 of 4 Member Ferguson asked if the Visitor’s Center staff had any interactions with Taste Carolina Tours. She explained that they do food/restaurant tasting tours in Raleigh and Durham. She asked if that organization was involved in the recent Farm Fare in Hillsborough now. She said that it could have a tourism draw. Ms. Campbell said that she would look into this with Visitor Center Staff. b. Updated/Adjusted Alliance Budget and 2nd Quarter Financial Report Bill Crowther, Alliance Treasurer, gave the 2nd Quarter Report and indicated that the Alliance budget needed to be adjusted in two particular line items- ‘Personnel Health Insurance’ increased from $12,000 to $17,000 and also the ‘Board Members Retreat’ line item was budgeted for $400 to $5,000. He explained that the Health Insurance line item was unexpected but that the Board retreat was necessary to determine the direction that the Alliance was headed in. c. Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitor’s Bureau Update Ms. Campbell said that she would give this update. She explained that the Alliance had appointed Jeff Strickler of UNC Hospital as the Alliance appointee to the Chapel Hill/Orange County. She said that another representation update was that Mike Gerring was replaced with Mark Bell as the Town Board representative to the Chapel Hill/OC Visitor’s Bureau. She explained that the highlights included the Visitor’s Bureau working on trying to get more high school tournaments in the area, but that they are having some problems with field rentals and reservations through Chapel Hill City Schools. She said that they were working on resolving this so that there could potentially be a boost in late summer hotel/motel stays. She said that there was also some discussion regarding moving the IFC Community Kitchen from its current location over to the other IFC functions in Carrboro and possibly rehabbing the building on Rosemary and having the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitor Center move into that building. There was also some discussion on doing a small Chapel Hill/University of North Carolina museum in the same space. She said that the RFP’s for the market analysis/feasibility study for a conference center in Chapel Hill/Orange County had come back and were available for review. VI. New Business Items a. Colonial Inn Update and Tourism Board stance Ms. Campbell said that the full details of the Colonial Inn property were available on the Town’s website and gave the URL. She explained that there was a long history but that the current status was that the owner needed to stabilize the roof in order to make the building safe for real estate appraisers to enter it and make an appraisal of fair market value. She said that the owner was supposed to have the roof stabilized by March 15th. She said that the Town is moving forward and the owner is being cooperative at this time. Page 3 of 4 Member Burke said that the Tourism Board should support the efforts of the Town. Vice Chair McKee said she would like to have a blanket statement the Tourism Board members use when asked about the property. Member Burke suggested the following, “The Tourism Board is ever mindful of the important historical and cultural value of the Colonial Inn and supports the Town’s forward motion of the project and positive work in its restoration and in bringing it back into use”. He said that the Tourism Board does not presume to set policy for the Town but that the Tourism Board is supportive. Vice Chair McKee said that sounded like a good statement. The board members agreed that they would review the statement and tweak it if necessary at their next meeting. b. Review and comment on draft logo designs for website/marketing materials The board members reviewed the seven logo concepts presented and provided the following comments and suggestions: - Too strong of use of the clock tower icon. Need something to set Tourism Logo apart from the Town’s logo. - Clock tower resembles a light house in some depictions. Especially combined with water feature. - Like the outline of the state but it may not stand test of time. - Would like to see some additional more artistic and creative designs that demonstrate Hillsborough’s artsy and eclectic side. Would maybe like to see something abstract. - Would be nice to see some kind of a main street architectural concept. - Would like to see a concept that includes more of the overall Tourism draws for Hillsborough all represented together (ie. Eno river/recreation, food and beverage, main street/shopping, historic sites, etc) - Designs feel too municipal and boring and should be more fun and exciting. - Like the icon concept with the clock tower in it as one of many icons possibly highlighting other things the town has to offer for tourism. Ms. Campbell said that she would call the graphic designer to explain some of the concerns and see if the concepts could be re-imagined. c. Make nominations/recommendation to Town Board for Tourism Development Authority appointment - Town Board appoints 2/8- TDA should meet soon after Page 4 of 4 Ms. Campbell said that Mr. Anjan Desai and Ms. Mary Catherine McKee both expressed interest in being re-appointed to the TDA. She said that the Town Board has already appointed Ms. Kathleen Ferguson to the Town Board seat. Motion: Vice Chair Hough nominated both Ms. McKee and Mr. Desai for reappointment. Second: Chair Myers seconded the nomination. Vote: Unanimous. VII. Old Business Items a. Special Work Session Re-Schedule: Sunday February 7th at 1pm in the Town Barn Ms. Campbell said that this date/time was determined to be the one with the most availability via polling of the members. Motion: Vice Chair McKee motioned to have the rescheduled meeting on February 7th at 1pm. Second: Member Tesoro seconded the motion. Vote: Unanimous. VIII. Staff/Board Comments and Discussion Items Ms. Campbell said that the Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce had met with some of the former members of the now inactive ‘Downtown Merchants’ group and had offered to pull the merchants into the Chamber as the ‘Hillsborough Merchants’ group. She said that it sounded like the Chamber had a very good response on this item. She also said that at a previous meeting it was suggested by a Board member that the Tourism Board go to see the Visitor’s Center to get a better idea of the tourist resources available. She said that she was looking at the possibility of holding one of the regular upcoming meetings there but that she had to coordinate with Sarah DeGennaro. She said that it would need to be a meeting with a limited agenda so that would be scheduled soon. IX. Adjourn Motion: Chair Myers moved to adjourn at 8:00 p.m. Second: Member Ferguson seconded. Vote: Unanimous.