Lawrence Convention & Visitors Bureau Advisory Board

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

 

Attending Board Members: Karen Christilles, Derek Felch, Kate Kelly, Constance Wolfe, David Johnston & Michael Moore

 

City Liaison: Lisa Patterson

 

Attending Staff:  Judy Billings, Bob Sanner, Susan Henderson, & Kate Eichten

 

Not attending: Doug Holiday, Bob Schumm, Brad Kemp & David Longhurst

 

 


The meeting was called to order by Derek Felch, Chair.  Felch moved, Kelly seconded to approve the minutes as presented.  Motion carried.

 

Financials

Billings reported that she would have the 2008 budget by next month for the next board meeting.  The CVB is still in the process of reconciling the budget with the Chamber.  The CVB has adapted a new accounting/tracking system that allows more accurate reporting. 

 

Old Business

The move to the new office space is complete, and most issues have been worked out.

 

Year End Report

Billings gave the 2007 year end staff report narrative.  She stated that the 2008 Marketing Plan should be complete before the February meeting, as staff is still compiling some year-end numbers.  She asked the board to give input on the marketing plan, asking for considerations as to what the CVB should continue doing versus what the CVB should omit for the year.

 

Susan Henderson presented a draft 2007 Estimated Direct Visitor Spending Report was also presented and discussed.  The numbers in the report are based upon actual 2007 bed tax collections and use the same formula the LCVB has used in previous years to determine the amount of visitor spending on lodging, using the occupancy numbers provided by hotels through self-reporting to the LCVB.  The numbers will be reviewed again then provided to the City Commission and media next month.

 

 

New Business

Billings updated board on DMI status; currently there is one opening on the board, and the appointed board member must be a current CVB board member, as well as a Chamber member.  So far, two meetings have taken place with DMI regarding budget, and Billings is establishing a 501c6 status for DMI.  All DMI meetings are public, held at city hall, and anyone is welcome to attend.  The next meeting will be on 2.05.08 at 4pm at City Hall and  will focus on the City/DMI contract.

 

Henderson reported on the Kansas Tourism Initiative (KTI) and explained the rationale behind KTI.  A call to action was announced to visit thekti.net and sign the petition to support the VISIT KANSAS plan developed by KTI/TIAK.  Currently, the Kansas tourism department is housed under the Commerce department, and the KTI is introducing a bill that would separate tourism and create its own organization that would receive funding from public and private sources.  The current state budget for travel and tourism ranks 44th in the nation, and is at the bottom of the list when compared to fellow “Midwestern” states.  The KTI is trying to increase funding from roughly $4 million to $15 million.  The groundwork has been set by TIAK lobbyists, and the bill will be introduced into the Senate this legislative session.  The Board was asked to visit the website, sign the petition, and urge others to do the same.

 

Discussion began, led by Henderson, on the future of the Visitor Guide.  She asked for feedback and opinions about what the board, and advertisers, liked and disliked about the current Visitor Guide and what they’d like to see for future publications.  Because of budget challenges, and perhaps also marketplace trends, the discussion about the format of the guide has been brought to attention.  The last six years, the format of the guide has been magazine size; 81/2 x 11 and glossy.  Typically the marketing piece has been a financial break-even project. Henderson would like to see the production simplified.  Considerations include omitting advertising and making the guide smaller and more simple changing the entire format.  Henderson asked current advertising board members how they would feel if the advertising opportunity were taken away; whether they would be relieved, or if they would miss the opportunity.  Discussion followed; no decision made to date.

 

Meeting Adjourned

Meeting adjourned due to time.