City of Lawrence

Lawrence Convention & Visitors Bureau Advisory Board

Tuesday, April 25, 2006 minutes

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

David Longhurst, Bob Schumm, David Johnston, Karen Christilles, Derek Felch and Brad Kemp

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Doug Holiday, Michael Moore, Maria Martin, Kate Kelly and Constance Wolfe

 

STAFF PRESENT:

Judy Billings, Bob Sanner, Debbie White and Ashlee Roll-Gregory

 

CITY LIASON PRESENT

Lisa Patterson

PUBLIC PRESENT:

None

The meeting was called to order by Judy Billings. Longhurst moved, Kemp seconded to approve the minutes as presented.  Motion carried.

 

Financial Report

This month, Billings reported that the CVB collected a past due bill for $2,200, in addition, the CVB has also continued to sell 2006-2007 Visitor Guide advertisements. The CVB also collected $136,507 from 1st quarter reflecting last quarter of 2005 business.

 

Billings noted that the hotel occupation is down from last year and the fact that the Holidome is not running at full capacity might be affecting the numbers.  Billings also noted that national reports are communicating that people (baby boomers) are traveling differently than in the past by choosing cruises, etc… instead of more conventional travel.

 

The 2006/07 visitor guide is in production. Although some advertisers have dropped, Julie Mettenberg is out selling, trying to get new businesses in the area to sign up.

 

In Heritage Area news, the Black Jack park will be located 3 miles east of Baldwin City. The area, which is 40 acres, was privately owned for years and it was recently purchased by a local non-profit group, the Black Jack Trust.  An $88,000 Congressional  earmark is being used to contract  for archeological and battlefield study and a natural and cultural resources study.  The NPS American Battlefield Protection Program has provided guidance in contracting for the studies. In addition, the CVB has been instrumental in planning an event that will be held on June 2 and 3 commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Jack Black.

 

Old Business

          i.        Website enhancements currently in process include an event calendar to be mailed to the on-line client 10 days prior to the visit as well as a post visit survey thanking them for the visit and asking just a few questions about the satisfaction of the visit.

 

                  

New Business

 

i.        There was discussion on ideas that were generated at a CVB Advisory Board retreat held in 2003.  Jayhawks on Parade came out of this retreat.  While Jayhawks on Parade was very successful, many on the board agree that it might be time to try another type of event. However, the event should be something that Lawrence is known for, like a Reading or Film Festival. Kemp suggested that the event somehow be tied into the Heritage Area, since that is a direction that Lawrence is already headed.

 

Other ideas included Renovating the Kansas River Bridge, since the identity of Lawrence has little to compete with the University, some kind of physical notoriety that isn’t related to KU would be best. If something like the KS River Bridge Renovation was done in conjunction with the Heritage Area perhaps the project could receive some Federal money.

 

Along the lines of Jayhawks on Parade, if there were a permanent Jayhawk  sculpture on 9th and Massachusetts that people could go and see, or a series of Jayhawk status that show the transformation of the Jayhawk, it could attract people.

 

Staff Updates of Involvement

 

Bob Sanner updated the Board on the Collegiate Cycling Event slated for May 12th & 13th. Notification letters of street closure have been sent to Downtown business and tenants as well as Southwest Traffic way tenants. In addition to the cycling event, Sanner met with the Kansas Postmasters in Topeka regarding their convention and presented a power point presentation on Lawrence.  Sanner noted that he should hear a response within two weeks concerning their decision. In addition, the Fraternal Order of Police, about 125 people,  will be in Lawrence May 5th – 7th.

 

Judy Billings reported that the Heritage bill is now facing an unexpected delay. A congressman in Southwest Missouri has made a demand in writing that the name of the Bleeding Kansas Heritage area be changed to Freedom’s Frontier. Billings said that a compromise is likely but a name change is doubtful.  The bill was expected to pass out of the house this week, but with this new development it is unlikely.

         

Ashlee Roll-Gregory reported that monthly users on visitlawrence.com had increased 169%from 4/05, and in addition daily use had increased 169% from 4/05. The number of reservations made on the online booking site had decreased 60% from 4/05, and the number of reservations stayed increased 124% from April of last year. 

 

Meeting Adjourned

 

Future Meetings

         

Tuesday June 27th -  To Be Announced