City of Lawrence

Lawrence Convention & Visitors Bureau Advisory Board

January 16, 2007 minutes

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

David Longhurst, David Johnston, Brad Kemp, Doug Holiday, Constance Wolfe, Derek Felch, Karen Christilles, Perry Martin and Tim VanLeer

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Maria Martin, Bob Schumm, Michael Moore and Lisa Patterson

STAFF PRESENT:

Judy Billings, Bob Sanner, Susan Henderson and Debbie White

PUBLIC PRESENT:

 

 

 

The meeting was called to order by Maria Martin. Longhurst moved, Holiday seconded to approve the minutes as presented.  Motion carried.

 

Financial Report

Billings reported that the Transient Guest Tax Collection for December is not in as yet.  But she estimated that for the 2006 year-end accrual accounting, the average of the last two years’ collections was $70,585.  However, this number will be adjusted when actual year end numbers are reported.  The 2007 year-end hotel occupancy is at 59% with an average daily rate of $76, up $2.28 over 2006 and revenue per available room is $44.73, up $3.47 over 2006.  These numbers are based on 70% of available rooms voluntarily reporting.  Billings notes that the year-end financial report will be available at the March meeting.

 

Old Business

Discussion continued from the previous board meeting regarding strategic planning for the National Heritage Area. Longhurst suggested that linking the CVB, Heritage Area and Watkins Museum would allow all entities to flourish because they would be  working in conjunction with one another. This would give the organizations to flourish. The Carnegie Building was suggested as a possible location for the Heritage Area headquarters, but Billings noted that currently there was no progress on the building.  In addition, the city has not decided on the future use of old Fire Station 4, that was once Grover’s Barn, and an Underground Railroad stop.

 

New Business

Board members received copies of the 2006 year-end numbers and situation analysis/ Market Overview.  Billings also reviewed the 2006 year end numbers. Wolfe asked about the photography line item, and Henderson explained the need to update photographs on a timely basis. Discussion began regarding the 2006 Estimated Direct Visitor Spending, and it was decided to leave the persons per room at $1.75.

 

Billings extended an invitation to the Board to attend the Douglas County Heritage Summit,  January 20, 8:00 a.m. – noon, City Commission Meeting Room, City Hall.

 

Get DT 2007

Billings noted that the Chamber was forming a Get Downtown committee, with Peggy Johnson as Chair. If any of the Board is interested in volunteering, they should contact the Chamber. The Board then discussed an appropriate time to stage the next Get Downtown event. Longhurst noted that he would like to see the event occur at a time when hotel rooms are not already sold out. It was also discussed that the event will not draw people to Lawrence until it is successful in its own right. Other suggestions included those from Wolfe and Christilles who would like to see the event filling hotel rooms and not on the same date as another big event. Billings also notes that Bob Sanner will not be as heavily involved this year as he was last.

 

Staff Updates of involvement

 

Bob Sanner

Sanner noted that he is still in the process of blocking rooms for AFA Softball in July, Collegiate Cycling in May and the Jr. Olympics Cross Country in December of 2007. He is also still actively working on the American College Theatre Festival, scheduled for December of 2009 with 600 rooms.

 

Susan Henderson

Henderson noted that she is working on the new Stay the Night campaign. In addition, there will be radio ads to run end of January. Other projects of note were the new Lure Brochure and format evaluation for the 2007/2008 Visitor Guide. Henderson also noted that the CVB is participating in a conversion study, performed by a researcher from K-State (recently at Temple) that will be conducted via email and regular mail. The CVB should have the results in May.

 

Debbie White

White noted that 2400 quarterly direct mail postcards had been mailed.

 

Judy Billings

In Heritage Area news, Billings noted that work is being done on an RFP for the Management Plan.

 

Other

KU vs MU Football is scheduled for the next 2 years at Arrowhead. Doug Holiday stated that he believed this would be a large loss of revenue for Lawrence businesses.  Discussion followed where it was agreed that the matter should be deferred to Chamber as it is perceived to be KU vs Lawrence businesses.

 

Meeting Adjourned

 

Future Meetings

 

No meeting in February. Next meeting will be Tuesday, March 27th at Biggs Barbeque.