HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_CVB_07.11.2008EST. 1S848
TEXA
GEORGETOWN
Convention & Visitors Bureau Board
Meeting Minutes — July 11, 2008
Comfort Suites Hotel, 11 Waters Edge Circle, Georgetown, TX.
Present: Nancy Benold, chair; Taunya Vessels, vice -chair; Janine Butler, secretary;
Betty Ann Sensabaugh; Randy Lesseps; Tina Owens
Absent: Michael Duck
City Staff: Carl Miller, Tourism Manager
Visitors: Sonja Asendorf, Palace Theatre; Mark Thomas, City of Georgetown; Amy
Madison, City of San Marcos
1. Call to Order
Nancy called meeting to order at 11:33 am
2. Minutes & Board Action
Minutes from June 6, 2008 were reviewed and no changes were made.
MOTION was made and seconded (Sensabaugh/Lesseps) to approve the June 6th
minutes. Vote called to approve minutes (Benold). Motion passed unanimously.
3. Follow-up report on HOT grant- Sonja Asendorf, Palace Theatre
Sonja detailed the advertising placed by the Palace Theatre in Feb and May. The
Palace Theatre has developed a national mailing list from lead generation. Many of
their leads have come from Texas Events and Highways. They have also placed
surveys in theatre patrons' surveys. They have not established a way to track
whether or not theatre visitors are staying in local hotels.
Nancy would like Palace to fill out a grant evaluation. CVB Board was in agreement
that it's unclear if this grant would put heads -in -beds.
4. Update on Conference Center/Hotel- Mark Thomas
The Summit at the Rivery is the new hotel/conference center still in the planning
stages. The Summit will have a Class A Hotel as big as 8 stories, medical condos,
office park and retail. The Summit at the Rivery is a $250 million development. The
City of Georgetown has approved the TIF for $25 million (half Georgetown/half
Williamson County). The next step in the development is for Williamson County to
approve the TIF.
5. Discussion and possible action regarding monthly task force progress reports - Task
Farce Chairs
a) New Markets - TinaiRandy- now combined with Shopping
b) Visitor CentersfCVB Operation - Betty Ann- Joint meeting was held with Hospitality. Array
and the new intern. Lacey are working on walking tours using MP3 players. Committee decided
against buying a new popcorn machine. Betty Ann is distributing the new Welcome Letters for
all the hotels.
c) Hospitality Program/Public Awareness - Taunya - See Visitor Center
d) Marketing Plan - Michael (absent)
e) Shopping - Janine- First meeting held July 3. Round Rock CVB and Salado CVB are no longer
interested in partnering with us for our holiday shopping guide. Shopping taskforce is
scheduling time Round Rock Premium Outlets leadership to build a partnership. In order to
bring more traffic into the Wolf Ranch Visitors Center, some type of holiday promotion will be
done utilizing the volunteers i.e. Free Donuts and Juice on Black Friday morning.
f} Convention Center -Michael (absent)
Task force chairs should be prepared to give a report each board meeting regarding
taskforce progress. New Markets and Shopping are now one committee. Marketing Plan
and Convention Center task forces have been cancelled.
7. Staff Report
• Advertising and Media Exposure:
- 6,034 leads from the See Texas First Spring Insert
- Texas Monthly named Georgetown's playscape Best in Texas.
This Old House listed Georgetown one of the Top 12 places in U.S. to buy
an old house.
- U.S. News and World Report named Georgetown one of the Top 10 Great
Retirement Spots for Golf Nuts.
• Wolf Ranch Report (Janine)- Smokey Mo's Barbeque is now open. New
stores coming soon include Starbucks, Fusion Med Spa, Mama Fu's, The
Blood Center of Central Texas, Souper Salad, Wolf Camera, Firehouse Subs
and The Vitamin Shoppe.
8. MOTION was made and seconded (Sensabaugh/Lesseps) to adjourn. Meeting
adjourned at 12:50 pm.
Approved and attested to by:
04(
Nancy Benold, 1ocd Chair Date
(-og
janin-utler, Board Secretary Date