WACVB BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
Abbey Resort, Lake Geneva
September 16, 2010
Attendees: Christine Rebout/Janesville, Sara Brish/Stevens Point, Darien Schaefer/Wausau-Central WI, Romy Snyder/Wisconsin Dells, George Hennerley/Lake Geneva, Dave Clements/La Crosse, Kathleen Galas/Manitowoc, Brad Toll/Green Bay, Deb Archer/Madison, Paul Upchurch/Visit Milwaukee, Jack Moneypenny/Door County, Nancy Justman/Brookfield, Dave Blank/Racine, Wendy Hielsberg/Oshkosh, Linda John/Eau Claire, Deb Fredriksen/Beloit
Absent:, Chris Hanson/Tomah, Bob Duffy/Oconomowoc, Sharon Kirn/Marshfield, Tammy Tritz/Waukesha-Pewaukee, AJ Frels/Wisconsin Rapids, Cari Obst/Bayfield, Lynn Peters/Fox Cities
WACVB BUSINESS
I. Call to Order
Chair Darien Schaefer called the meeting to order at 2:30 p m.
II. Consent Agenda
Wendy Hielsberg made a motion to approve the minutes with a second from Dave Clements. Minutes were approved. Romy Snyder reviewed the financials and reported that fall convention income is starting to come in, though sponsorship and exhibitors are coming in slowly. If sponsorships aren’t coming in, Julia Hertel will send sponsor list to members so they can look over sponsors and help solicit or suggest other options. Dave Blank made a motion to approve the financials with a second from Christine Rebout and the financials were approved.
III. Corporate Partner presentations
Susan Rose of AAA Living magazine announced that AAA now has a trip tix mobile app and social media sites. Tourism businesses can be listed on the apps if they offer the AAA discount. Discount partnership program is growing with 85% of members reporting that it is their main reason for renewing. AAA is reporting that 39% of all paid overnights in the US come from AAA members. Rose said AAA Living has updated the WI coop program including 25% advertorial this year. There will be WI editorial in every issue. Digital edition is monthly and 110,000 email addresses. Dan Notter and Mary Eileen Weber from Tribune Media Group summarized the many traditional and online advertising options. TMG is growing its print and digital products.
IV. TEAM REPORTS
a. Government Affairs Team – Blank reported that the Tourism Federation of WI organized a Doyle appreciation event for September 1st. Hertel updated the group on a TFW PR campaign designed to push for a $15 million annual tourism budget in the next biennium. Clements made a motion to direct the exec committee to contribute up to $2500 towards the TFW PR if TFW requests donations. Snyder said WI Dells VCB is voting next week on making a donation. Blank seconded the motion. Schaefer asked if the Department of Tourism had a plan for how the additional dollars would be used. Snyder and Hertel said it would be for additional marketing, not administration but there is not a specific plan. Schaefer suggested that TFW and the Department of Tourism has a more detailed plan to answer that question than just “additional marketing.” Hertel and Snyder said they will bring forward that suggestion to TFW. Motion carried.
b. PR Team – Brad Toll displayed the new WACVB tradeshow banner. WACVB will have a booth at the League of Wisconsin Municipalities Convention tradeshow on October 14th. Deb Archer, Hertel and perhaps Rebout will staff the booth.
c. Education Team – Hertel is working on Fall Convention. The Education Team is working on January CEO Forum. Rebout said that a successful UMCVB conference just concluded this week. Brookfield is hosting next year’s UMCVB conference. Hertel suggested that WACVB consider sponsoring a silent auction at the event like it did when we hosted last time.
d. M&C Team – Hertel asked if any additional bureaus are going to Holiday Showcase. Rebout said Janesville is considering it.
e. Membership – Nancy Justman said that the team is reviewing pamphlets and member benefits. AJ Frels would like to collect some testimonials from members as to why is WACVB is valuable to them. Please share ideas with him. This winter, the team is planning on doing a membership drive in Southwest Wisconsin. Members of the team and the WACVB officers met with Jack Moneypenny in late July to discuss membership dues. More discussion on this topic will occur during the strategic planning session.
f. Sports Marketing Team – Linda John reported that the Ready, Set, Go Grant Program has been revamped with a new committee, deadlines and review process. Hertel said she is on the new committee with Trisha Pugal/WH&LA, the WIAA Executive Director, the WI Park & Rec Executive Director and the Harley Museum Director (representing the Gov. Council on Tourism). Travelwisconsin.com will have a “landing page” to promote sports and link to sportswisconsin.com. WSDC no longer receives a sole source contract. Badger State Games is looking to revamp its organization.
g. WI Dept. of Tourism Taskforce – Romy Snyder said the WACVB survey was constructive and the Department of Tourism Consultants, now referred to as Economic Development Specialists (EDS) have been given direction to service the industry. A Tourism Business Journal will be sent out monthly. The Industry Web Site will have advertising campaigns posted prior to release to the general public. The EDS were instructed to have conference calls to WACVB members. All members reported that they participated in a call. Similar communication will go to smaller chambers/non WACVB members soon. Clements asked if WACVB members can be notified when the campaigns are posted. Snyder said she would suggest to the Department that they put it in the business journal. Snyder said Travel Green is going through an RFP process and most of the program will be brought in house. She reported that the Department, through the ad agency, has contracted with Longwoods International for a Marketing Campaign Return on Investment study. The Department is looking at the Davidson Peterson study to determine if it is still valid. Geiger & Associates, a national PR firm, is organizing media FAM tours for the Department starting with the Great River Road then Northern Wisconsin and then perhaps a Harvest Tour. Hertel asked if there is any opportunity for a “marketplace” type event with WACVB members during the FAM tours. The Department is releasing an I-phone app and is considering one for the Droid. It was suggested they look into a mobile Web site instead that goes across all smart phone platforms. They are also shooting new digital b-roll. Members wondered if the Department has asked DMOs if they already have high-quality digital video.
h. Visitor Center Taskforce – Christine Rebout reported that the taskforce will be working on a discount proposal to present to Gateway Visitor Information Centers. She said she has a draft survey ready and will talk to Hertel for distribution. January 1, 2011 is the deadline for the next grant round. Toll is on the committee and offered some feedback. There was no scoring sheet, 35 applications came in and 15 grants received $80,000. Some asked why two grant rounds, makes more sense to have it tied to the summer months when there are the most exceptions. Some of the criteria is vague. Gateway 10 is meeting again next week and will determine processes for next year. Jack Moneypenny asked why DMOs can’t pick and choose which visitor centers they want to send publications to and not fund centers that are not busy enough to distribute guides. DMOS should be allowed to pay visitor centers that work for them. Snyder said her bureau is budgeting now and needs to know the Gateway 10’s direction for next year. Clements knows that some things didn’t work well this year and it was an experiment. He will take the feedback to the Gateway 10’s meeting.
V. OLD/NEW BUSINESS: On behalf of the nominating team, Lynn Peters presented the 2011-12 slate of officers: Wendy Hielsberg/President, Dave Blank/Vice Chair, Romy Snyder/Secretary, and Brad Toll/Treasurer. The board will vote on the slate at the November board meeting.
VI. ADJOURNMENT: Paul Upchurch made a motion to adjourn and it was seconded by Kathleen Galas and approved. |
