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Home My WebLink About2022-10-27 Regular MeetingCITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS GRAPEVINE CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING Thursday, October 27 , 2022 - 8 :00 a.m. CVB Headquarters 636 S. Main Street Grapevine, Texas AGENDA 1. Call to Order 2 . Citizen Comments 3. 4. 5. 6 . 7. 8. Any person who is not scheduled on the agenda may address the Conv ention & Visitors Bureau Board 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. New Employee Introduction Approval of Minutes Sales & Marketing Report Ongoing Business New Business Hotels / Attractions / Activities Adjournment ' If you plan to attend this special public meeting and hav e a disability that requires special arrangements at the meeting, please contact the Grapevine Conv ention & 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 24th day of October, 2022 by S.00 p.tB. l l: lO'l-m. «~ d"eol, ,m ~ co i3eU2/)-iJo6ewCWJ Becky Roberson Executive Assistant State of Texas County of Tarrant City of Grapevine MINUTES The Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau Board of Directors met in Regular Session on Thursday, October 27, 2022 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 Corinna Wenks Dan Weinberger Cynthia Blankenship Sharron Rogers Chuck Pacioni Debi Meek Mike Oakley Board Chair Board Member Board Member Board Member Board Member Board Member Alternate Board Member Alternate Board Member Constituting a quorum, with the following liaisons and staff members present: Paul W. McCallum Executive Director Becky Roberson Executive Assistant Absent: Mark Terpening, Chuck Pacioni and lain Scouller CALL TO ORDER Board Chairman, Joe Szymaszek called the meeting to order at 8:02 a.m. PERSONNEL UPDATE Paul W. McCallum, Executive Director of the CVB, shared that positions are being filled throughout the CVB. Latonjia Williams, who came to the CVB as a contract employee, has signed on as the Controller and the Accountant II position will soon be filled. He went on to explain that the CVB has needed more support in building out the volunteer base and it is now believed that the ideal candidate has been found and will fill the Volunteer Programs Supervisor position. The interview process is underway for the Superintendent of Railroad Operations and a promising candidate has been located. CVB staff has focused on hiring both part-time and full-time shuttle drivers with the hope to be fully staffed prior to the kickoff of Christmas Capital of Texas (CCOT). The position of Managing Director of Sales, Marketing and Communications has filled by Leigh Lyons and she will start on November 14. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Cynthia Blankenship and seconded by Corinna Wenks, the minutes from the September 22, 2022 meeting were approved. SALES AND MARKETING REPORT Mr. McCallum, Executive Director of the CVB, shared that the Sales team sent two managers to IMEX America, a meeting planner event. Between the two team members, they had 51 one on one appointments and 9 Request for Proposals. Staff also took part in Brand USA Travel Week that highlighted the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. Since partnering with Oklahoma and adding programs such as Cowboys, Indians and All That Jazz, we have experienced a significant increase with international tourists. Grapevine is now profiled as the Gateway to Oklahoma. Whereas prior to this relationship, Grapevine might get a one-night stay but now is experiencing two to three -night stays. Staff is preparing for upcoming missions Connect DC, Northstar Meetings, US Sports Congress and the New York Meeting Professionals. GrapeFest Familiarization Tours proved to be quite successful. Staff hosted twelve US based meeting planners and six international tour operators and media personnel. Mr. McCallum reported that the media coverage was already boasting results. Mr. McCallum shared that Heather Egan, the Director of Leisure and International Sales, was continuing to foster a relationship with Qantus Airlines. He reported that the Qantus staff was spending time in Grapevine and excited to encourage flyers to visit. The occupancy rate for September was 68.9 % opposed to 59.9% in September 2021. The average daily rate for hotel rooms was up almost $20 this September compared to last. GrapeFest 2022 data shows that there were 135 million impressions. The earned media rate from television, radio and print totaled 2.2 million. A compilation of television spots highlighting GrapeFest was shared. ONGOING BUSINESS Mr. Paul McCallum announced that Meow Wolf hired two more to their Executive Team. Kelly Schwartz was named as the General Manager and a Grapevinian was hired as the Human Resources Manager. Both Ladies have a long history in Grapevine. The plan is to hire 28 full- time employees and 110 part-time employees. The planned minimum wage for part-time staff will be $18 an hour. There are now 30 Texas artists working to make the space come alive. Meow Wolf has made a commitment to first reach out to Grapevine businesses for any needs and only widen the search if a local business cannot provide the service or good. The organization is also committed to finding causes within the community to get involved with, partner alongside and support. MCA is a PR firm that was contracted to help boost the media for GrapeFest and has now been contracted to publicize Christmas Capital of Texas (CCOT) with the current focus being the Peace Plaza Ice Rink. Mr. McCallum shared that North Pole Express ticket holders will receive priority in booking tickets for the ice rink, with the public at large following soon thereafter. NEW BUSINESS Chairman, Joe Szymaszek, shared that Mayor Tate had reappointed him as Chairman and that he had accepted. He also shared that he had affirmed Mark Terpening as Vice Chair for another term. Chairman Szymaszek shared the proposed calendar of board meetings for 2023. He asked the board members to take the upcoming weeks to check their personal schedules and a vote on the proposed schedule would be taken at the November meeting. HOTELSIATTRACTIONS/ACTIVITI ES Executive Director, Paul W. McCallum, shared that the Third Rail of Hotel Vin would be transformed to the Holly Jolly Bar for the timeframe of the Peace Plaza Ice Rink. This will be the third Miracle Bar in DFW. Board member, Corinna Wenks, shared her experience with Miracle Bars and better explained the detail and premise behind the transformation. The Junction at Hotel Vin has been moved to the downstairs of the hotel due to so many private events upstairs. It has been renamed as the Wine Yard Grille & Bar. Tout Goods, a family operated business, has recently opened on Main Street and boasts men's clothing. Buzzed Bull Creamery is now open. Black Tie Guns has officially opened at the far end of Main Street. The street continues to bring new businesses. Mr. McCallum also announced that Chick N' Pickle has announced their Grand Opening Event for January 17, 2023. Motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:52 a.m. Motion: Dan Weinberger Second: Cynthia Blankenship Ayes: Wenks, Rogers, Meek, and Oakley Nays: None Approved 6-0 ATTEST: Becky Roberson Executive Assistant APPROVED: Mark Terpening Vice Chairman