HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_CVB_11.22.2013Minutes of Meeting of the
Convention & Visitor Bureau Board
City of Georgetown, Texas
November 22, 2013
The Convention & Visitor Bureau Board met on Friday, November 22 at 8:30 am at Convention
and Visitors Bureau Office, located at 103 W. 7th Street, Georgetown, Texas.
Members Present:
Members Absent:
Staff Present:
Don McCullough, Georgene Richaud, Bob Villarreal, Stephanie Blanck,
Steven Harris and Shelly Patel
Nancy Benold
Cari Miller
1. Welcome/Call to order
The meeting was called to order by Chair Georgene Richaud at 8:32 am
2. Discussion and possible action regarding approval of the October 4, 2013 minutes
Motion by Don McCullough, second by Bob Villarreal to approve the minutes from the
October 4, 2013 meeting. Approved 6-0
3. Discussion and possible action regarding HOT grant application process
Discussion centered around the application and grant approval process. After a lengthy
discussion, it was agreed that 3 years will be the maximum number of years to be awarded a
HOT grant but the Board will have discretion to extend that number if the event is unique
and good for Georgetown and only with continued CVB support would the event be held
annually.
Motion by Bob Villarreal, second by Don McCullough to change the Hotel Occupancy
Reimbursement Grant Application to add the following - HOT Grants are intended to
assist with start-up events/projects. HOT Grants will be awarded for a maximum of 3
years. The CVB Board will have the discretion to extend that number if deemed appropriate.
Approved 6-0.
Motion by Bob Villarreal, second by Steven Harris to consider Hotel Occupancy
Reimbursement Grant Applications twice per year. Approved 6-0.
4. Update on Tourism Research Study
Cari Miller informed the CVB Board that she is having a difficult time getting the
information from the hotels and tourist sites. Due to this, the information will not be
available for the January City Council meeting. Will consider alternative ways to stress the
importance of this study to the hotels and sites.
5. Discussion and possible action regarding CVB Goals & Objectives
Goal: "Signature Destination" - The results of the study will assist with marketing that
Georgetown is more than just the Square. An RFQ will go out to hire someone from outside
to start advertising our identity statewide with all offerings
Goal: Partner with key entities/participants to create alignment in the understanding of an
approach to the signature destination - This process has not yet begun; Stephanie Blanck
compared it to the Georgetown Project which is a unifying force for all programs and
services that relate to healthy students and communities. This advisory group meets monthly
for a program, strategic planning, filling in the gaps, and sharing information. It is a
successful social collaborative.
No action was taken.
6. Discussion and possible action regarding advertising and media exposure and dates of
upcoming events
CVB ��Monthly Report is attached. The Board agreed to move the January meeting
to January 10, 2014.
7. Adjourn
Georgene Richaud adjourned the meeting at 10:05 am.
Ggene Richaud, Chair
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Stephanie Blanck, Secretary
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Cari Miller, Tourism Manager
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Date
Downtown & Community Services
Convention & Visitors Bureau
Monthly Review - October 2013
Georgetown Tourism by Numbers
$44,445 Total amount of HOT collected in September (2012 =$30,818)
3,013 Visitors to the Visitor Information Center for the month of October
13,896 Visitgeorgetown.com website hits (2012 = 7,868)
3,507 Visitor guides mailed to advertising leads
2,125 Mobile App Users
Advertising/Website/Social Media
GEORGETOWN
TEXAS
• Posted to Live and Play in Georgetown, Texas facebook and twitter.com/funingeorgetown
• Sent mobile app push notifications promoting Boo Bash, Ghost Tours, Haunted House, Art in the Square, Market
Days, SU Football and Gallery Georgetown
• Produced tear -off map and quarterly calendar to be distributed at local hotels and Visitor Center
• Began working with Avai to produce iOS7 and Universal updates for our Explore Georgetown app
• Delivered iPad kiosk to second Georgetown hotel, Holiday Inn Express
• Worked with Google Representative to produce virtual tour of Georgetown Visitor Center, which pushed our SEO to
#1 page rank
• Designed ad for 2014 Texas State Travel Guide (1,225,000 copies distributed)
Administration
• Continued working with Mind Ecology to conduct Tourism Research Study
• Assisted with 2013 Art in the Square
• Continued planning the 4th Annual Georgetown AirFest
• Continued planning 2013 Christmas Stroll Parade
• Continued coordinating Holiday Marketing Campaign and Annual Lighting of the Square
• Continued the process for selection of the official 2014 Red Poppy Festival artwork
• Presented at Quarterly Downtown Low -Down Meeting
• Distributed over 3,000 poppy seed packets to Georgetown residents
• Booked headliner entertainment for 2013 Red Poppy Festival:
Saturday night — Bellamy Brothers
• Sent weekly Georgetown Happenings! email
• Posted and interviewed CVB Intern
Upcoming Events
• Peter Pan at the Palace Theatre, showing November 15 through December 29
• Annual Lighting of the Square, November 29 at 5:30 p.m.
• Pictures with Santa in the Courthouse, November 29 after Lighting of the Square
• Christmas Stroll, December 6 & 7
• Patsy Cline Dinner Theatre at the Palace Education Center, showing November 30
• Buddy Holly Dinner Theatre at the Palace Education Center, showing November 29, Dec. 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15
• Sun City Holiday Home Tour, December 6, 7, 8
• Lois Perkins Candlelight Services, December 5 & 6
• Hands on History at The Williamson Museum — December 14
• Heritage Society Holiday Home Tour, December 14 & 15
• Heritage Society Pancake and Pajamas Breakfast at Burger University, December 14
• Breakfast with Santa at the Community Center, December 14