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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-11-14 Regular MeetingCity of Grapevine, Texas Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau Board of Directors Meeting Thursday, November 14, 2019 — 8:00 a.m. CVB Headquarters — Board Room 636 S. Main Street Grapevine, Texas Agenda 1. Call to Order 2. Citizen Comments Any person who is not scheduled on the agenda may address the Convention & Visitors Bureau Board (CVBB) under Citizen Comments or on any other agenda item by completing a Citizen Appearance Request form with staff. A member of the public may address the CVBB regarding an item on the agenda either before or during the Board's consideration of the item, upon being recognized by the Board Chair or upon consent of the CVBB. In accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, the CVBB is restricted in discussing or taking action during Citizen Comments. 3. New Employee Introductions 4. Approval of Minutes 5. Liaison Updates A. Heritage Foundation Activities B. Chamber of Commerce Activities 6. Sales & Marketing Report A. Connect Texas / Grapevine B. Connect Tech & Pharma / Dallas C. Connect Faith / Grand Rapids 7. Old Business A. Don Bigbie Award Nominations 8. New Business A. Grants In Aid Request i. Melange Musical 9. Hotels / Attractions / Activities 10.Adjournment If you plan to attend this special public meeting and have a disability that requires special arrangements at the meeting, please contact the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau at (817) 410-3185 at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting. Reasonable accommodations will be made to assist your needs. In accordance with Texas Government Code, Chapter 551.001 et seq, Acts of the 1993 Texas Legislature, the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau Advisory Board Meeting agenda was prepared and posted on this the 8th day of November, 2019 BY 5:00 p.m. indy Bell Assistant to 1he Executive Director State of Texas County of Tarrant City of Grapevine MINUTES The Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau Board of Directors met in Regular Session on Thursday, November 14, 2019 at 8:00 a.m. at the Grapevine Convention and Visitors Bureau, 636 S. Main Street, Grapevine, Texas with the following persons in attendance: Joe Szymaszek Mark Terpening Sharron Rogers Cynthia Blankenship Dan Weinberger Chuck Pacioni Board Chair Board Vice Chair Council Liaison Board Member Board Member Board Member Constituting a quorum, with the following liaisons and staff members present: Becky Hummer Heritage Foundation Liaison Steve Brown Chamber of Commerce Liaison Paul W. McCallum Executive Director Lindy Bell Assistant to the Executive Director Absent: lain Scouller— Board Member Debi Meek — Board Member Brady Closson — Deputy Executive Director CALL TO ORDER Board Chair Joe Szymaszek, called the meeting to order at 8:01 a.m. NEW EMPLOYEE INTRODUCTIONS Mr. McCallum introduced two new employees. Kelly Galizio, Accountant II, and Tony Adamo, Marketing and Special Promotions Manager. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Dan Weinberger, seconded by Mark Terpening approved the minutes from the October 17, 2019 meeting and prevailed by the following vote: Ayes: Szymaszek, Terpening, Weinberger, Blankenship and Pacioni. Nays: None Board of Directors Meeting November 14, 2019 Page 2 of 5 LIAISON UPDATES Heritage Foundation Activities Heritage Foundation Liaison Becky Hummer reported that the Foundation's Annual Meeting was held Thursday, November 14. Due to extreme cold weather, members met inside the Nash Farm house and were treated to a delicious dinner served with Nash Farm hospitality. Chairman Ratliff and Board members reported on events from the previous year highlighting the successful bringing together of the depot and museums yielding an increase in attendance. A successful combining of Nash Farm and the Italian CarFest was also recognized. The 2019 Nash Farm Special Recognition award was presented to Willhoite's restaurant for its year round support of events. Eric Parker accepted the award on behalf of Willhoite's. Nash Farm and Heritage Museums Ms. Hummer reported that Bewitched by the Barn had a tremendous turn out of 250 guests while Settlement to City Museums Trick or Treat evening had 222 costumed visitors. Christmas on the Farm will be held throughout December and will consist of Victorian Christmas traditions which include cookie baking and ornament making activities. Decorating the Farmhouse will be held for the First Friday event December 6th while Saturday, December 14th, guests will be invited to join farmhands for a family celebration of the season. A Christmas Parlor Sociable will be held December 12th with coffee, tea, sweets, parlor games and conversation. Chamber of Commerce Grapevine Chamber liaison Steve Brown reported that the final fund raising event for the new office space was held Thursday, November 7th. Fund raising will continue with the goal of $1.1 million almost obtained. Project completion date of December 9th is on schedule but may be earlier thanks to the excellent work of Trinity Construction. SALES AND MARKETING REPORT In the absence of Brady Closson, Mr. McCallum reported that for November the Convention and Leisure Sales team had 132 sales leads with 23 definite bookings representing 24,786 room nights and an economic impact of almost $10 million. Sales team participated in 9 site inspections. The sales team participated in three missions: Codi Missimo with Connect Texas in Grapevine, Ellie George with Connect Faith in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Connect Tech & Pharma held in Dallas with Connie Ash participating. Connect Texas held in early October had 28 one-on-one appointments realized. Six targeted meeting planners were hosted on the open night during the event. These efforts resulted in four request for proposals. Connect Faith held the end of October realized 39 scheduled appointments resulting in two requests for proposal with Board of Directors Meeting November 14, 2019 Page 3 of 5 additional requests for proposal, four interested FAM attendees and a future lead generation of 12. Connect Med/Tech saw 35 one-on-one appointments resulting in four requests for proposal. Additional breakfast appointments were held and six meeting planners hosted. The Visitor Information Center welcomed almost 2,500 visitors, with brochure distribution for the month of October over 34,800 pieces. Destination Services assisted 10 groups representing almost 10,000 delegates with potential economic impact over $16 million. The Convention Center, Palace Arts Center and Concourse hosted a combined 72 events with 11,880 in attendance. 35 future events were booked during the month anticipating 5,400 attendees. Grapevine Vintage Railroad conducted 18 excursions for the month. The website welcomed approximately 92,470 unique visitors in October with a total website visitation over 135,000. Online Trade (GROUP) received more than 160,000 total impressions with two insertions. Print Trade (GROUP) had 1 insertion with a circulation of more than 10,000. Print consumer publications had 27 insertions with a circulation of over half a million. On-line Consumer Advertising exceeded 3 million impressions with 4 insertions. Included were Shop Across Texas, Simpleview, Tax -Free Shopping and TourTexas.com. Four media releases were distributed. Print and online ad value for October totaled a circulation of almost 3 million. There were two TV segments: A Texas Wine Experience on KXAS-DAL on NBC, a GrapeFest follow up and KTXA-DAL CBS -digital covering Halloween at Sea Life Aquarium with a 142-second spot. A very postive on-line Southern Living article was discussed with hard copies of the magazine scheduled to hit newsstands November 15th. Additional Christmas Capital of Texas of articles will be coming in Texas Parks & Wildlife and Country Living. The Country Living article ranks Grapevine as number four nationally for Christmas destinations. No action was taken by the Board. Board of Directors Meeting November 14, 2019 Page 4 of 5 OLD BUSINESS Don Bigbie Award Mr. McCallum discussed the Don Bigbie Legends of Tourism award being particular to the Convention & Visitors Bureau to recognize those who have made significant contributions to the tourism industry in Grapevine. Following a brief discussion, Vice Chair Mark Terpening nominated Dr. Curtis Ratliff as the 2020 award recipient. Cynthia Blankenship seconded the motion. Mr. McCallum will inform the Board as soon as Dr. Ratliff is notified. Ayes: Szymaszek, Terpening, Pacioni, Weinberger and Blankenship NEW BUSINESS Grants In Aid Request Mr. McCallum presented the request from Melange Musical for a Grants In Aid funding request of $7,100. After discussion, Cynthia Blankenship proposed funding the grant in the amount of $5,000 for two concerts with the caveat there be an increase in attendance to be considered for any add�itional future funding. The Board further stipulated that a suggestion be made to Melange Musical to obtain a sponsor for the events and obtain a partner such as Bingham Family Vineyards who shares an interest in music to conduct a wine and cheese tasting event in tandem with the concert. Motion was seconded by Dan Weinberger. Ayes: Szymaszek, Terpening, Pacioni, Weinberger and Blankenship Nays: None HOTELS/ATTRACTIONS & ACTIVITIES Mr. McCallum reported that American Airlines is beginning two new non-stop international flights to Auckland, New Zealand and Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan. Chair Szymaszek reported that the Kate Spade store is open at Grapevine Mills and doing well. Chair Szymaszek further reported that Grapevine Mills has a 95% occupancy rate with a major entertainment announcement coming by year end. Gaylord General Manager Chuck Pacioni reported that ICE! was opening Friday, November 15th with expected attendance of 360,000. Board of Directors Meeting November 14, 2019 Page 4 of 5 Board of Directors Meeting November 14, 2019 Page 5 of 5 American Way magazine, produced by American Airlines, has a two -page spread on Grapevine in the current issue. The editorial also contains good background information regarding Grapevine. Kubota was mentioned as having its North American headquarters in Grapevine. Mr. McCallum reported there will be more activities in the North Pole neighborhood on non -train days. The Christmas Capital of Texas brochure is currently at the printer and expected any time and will be immediately distributed. There being no further business to come before the Board a motion by Mark Terpening, seconded by Cynthia Blankenship to adjourn the meeting at 9:15 a.m. prevailed by the following vote: Ayes: Szymaszek, Terpening, Weinberger, Pacioni and Blankenship. Nays: None PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE GRAPEVINE CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS ON THIS 10th DAY OF DECEMBER, 2019. J5e Szymas#k Chairman ATTEST: Lindy Bell Assistant to the Executive Director