BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
March 6, 2011
Kalahari Resort, Wisconsin Dells
Attendees: Christine Rebout/Janesville, Sara Brish/Stevens Point, Darien Schaefer/Wausau-Central WI, Romy Snyder/Wisconsin Dells, Dave Blank/Racine, Wendy Hielsberg/Oshkosh, Linda John/Visit Eau Claire, Dave Clements/La Crosse, Kathleen Galas/Manitowoc, Jack Moneypenny/Door County, Nancy Justman/Brookfield, Tammy Tritz/Waukesha-Pewaukee, AJ Frels/Wisconsin Rapids, Deb Archer/Madison, Deb Fredriksen/Beloit, Brad Toll/Green Bay, George Hennerley/Lake Geneva, Paul Upchurch/Milwaukee, Craig Molitor/Fond du Lac, Mary McPhetridge/Ashland, Elaine Motl/Washington County, Cari Obst/Bayfield
Absent: Lynn Peters/Fox Cities, Chris Hanson/Tomah, Bob Duffy/Oconomowoc, Sharon Kirn/Marshfield, Dennis DuChene/Kenosha,
Guests: Associate members; Kathy Seeberg/Walworth County, Kathleen Eickhoff/Elkhart Lake, Connie Heeg/Eagle River, Robert Moses/Prairie du Chien; Amy Boyer/Hamilton Consulting
I. WACVB BUSINESS
a. Call to Order
Chair Wendy Hielsberg called the meeting to order at 4 pm.
Consent Agenda
Brad Toll made a motion to approve the minutes, seconded by Linda John. Motion was approved. George Hennerley made a motion to approve the 2011 budget as presented and it was seconded by Nancy Justman. Motion was approved.
II. TEAM REPORTS
a. Government Affairs Team – WACVB lobbyist Amy Boyer reported that the governor’s has introduced the budget. It is a very different legislature now due to the Governor’s extremely controversial collective bargaining proposal and budget cutting measures. The Joint Finance Committee will schedule public hearings but not sure where and how many because it mostly contains cuts and not popular. The budget does close the state’s $3.6 billion deficit. Tourism budget has an increase, one of the very few. Arts board will be under tourism secretary, not an attached board. Film incentive program under tourism. Not quite clear how the money works. Earmarks are still in the budget. There is a $1.19 million increase in the first fiscal year from tribal gaming dollars and another $2.3 Increase in the second year from GPR. It was suggested that we should know from the department how the money will be spent. Government affairs will start crafting messages. We will be in the “protect mode” when lobbying. Amy said she has never been more uncertain about how government will operate given the current polarization. Government Affairs team chair Tammy Tritz reported that since our last meeting, WACVB took a position against the Marcus room tax proposal because it would provide a discount to municipalites based on how they allocate room tax dollars. She also reported that WI Hotel & Lodging Association presented to room tax reform plan to some members of TFW, including WACVB. The Gov. Affairs team has reviewed and recommended approval of the plan that would 1.) Require communities spending less that 70% on tourism promotion & development to go up to 70%, 2.) Create a room tax enforcement mechanism, 3.) Allow lodging to retain 3% of the room tax transactions for lodging credit card fees, and 4.) require that room tax funding for tourism promotion and development goes to a tourism entity or a commission (municipalities could not spend it directly, per current law). Romy made motion to approve the plan as presented. George H. seconded the motion. Discussion centered on the 3% credit card fee retention by lodging properties. It would mean less funding for DMOs, and less funding for tourism promotion and development. After discussion, Romy withdrew her motion. Jack made a motion to approve the document with the removal of the 3% credit card fee retention provision. Linda seconded the motion. Julia will report the position to WHLA. Tammy said we will be sending out a buddy message, but need to determine the best time to send it. Amy said we need to nail down a date for our legislative day. Tammy gave a TFW update. Dept of tourism Secretary Dave Fantle told TFW that he wanted member to report job news to the Department.
b. PR Team – Brad reported that April 13 and May 11 are the possible dates for the WACVB lobby day. Tourism week survey showed support for a WACVB event. The board decided on April 13th for the event. Brad said we are booth #25 for the WIGCOT marketplace booth.
c. Education Team - Nancy said there is an education team meeting soon and the group will be planning an HR forum and possibly a sales forum.
d. M&C Team – Deb reported that since the last meeting, the M& C team and Dept. taskforce met. Taskforce has a draft of the Department of Tourism Meetings & convention matching grant program guidelines. She will email the guidelines to Julia for distribution. M&C team members have forwarded proposals to the Department for a stand-alone or sponsored Wisconsin event. Department has a campaign message, shared today at the Gov. Council on Tourism meeting.
e. Membership Team – AJ said the team is meeting tomorrow.
f. Sports team – Sara Brish reported on new sports marketing goals for WACVB, most focus on improving communication with the Department of Tourism. She said 11 DMOs are attending NASC Symposium. The group decided to send out a sports Wisconsin post-event gift to top prospects, and the exec team agreed that the group could use $500 from WACVB’s budget to cover some of the cost. Linda John followed up on her discussion with the Department of Tourism about the RSG grant guidelines that state events already booked not being eligible for grants. Dawn said don’t let that guideline deter them from applying. Linda and taskforce will still bring it up to Dawn. Sara said we would like a few more people on the WACVB sports team. There were volunteers.
g. Visitor Center Taskforce – Christine Rebout is compiling a list of all the publication distribution options, Interior, Adlit, HMA and Gateway Visitor Information Centers. Wendy says GVIC are not responding to requests. It was suggested that a DMO must mail 5 guides to them before the process starts.
h. WI Dept. of Tourism Taskforce – Romy Snyder said there were 17 respondents to the recent WACVB communication survey. She already spoke briefly about the survey with Sarah Klavas, new Bureau of industry services bureau. She asked input on what the taskforce’s main communication priorities should be. One is receiving a flow chart for department media campaigns six months out and another is seeing creative before it is launched, not for input but to know what the creative is. Marketing committee is meeting Mar. 22 with Laughlin Constable. Deb asked if the Gov. Council on Tourism’s marketing committee will be helping direct the creative for the M&C and Sports Markets. Romy said she envisioned that those niche marketing committees will set the strategic direction but the oversight marketing committee will just have input that the creative has brand consistency. Jack said Door County Visitors Bureau has received a quote of $18,000 to $20,000 from Davidson Peterson (DP) to do a 2011 economic impact survey. The Department has ended their contract with DP, but has not reported on what the replacement product will be. Other bureaus expressed interest in continuing with DP, depending on price. Romy said she will discuss a coop research concept with Marsha Wood at DP to determine costs if several bureaus join in.
III. Executive Team – no report.
IV. OLD/NEW BUSINESS: none
V. ADJOURNMENT: Romy made a motion to adjourn and it was seconded by George and approved. |
