HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-03-22 Regular Meeting I • .
CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS
GRAPEVINE CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
I BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
Thursday, March 22, 2001 - 11:30 am
WALLIS BUILDING
1111 ONE LIBERTY PARK PLAZA, GRAPEVINE, TEXAS
AGENDA
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. RECOGNITION
A. ROBERT THRAILKILL
B. BILL & KATHRINE BRINK
C. PHIL CLOUD
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III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM FEBRUARY 22, 2001 MEETING
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IV. SALES AND MARKETING REPORT
V. OLD BUSINESS
111 A. NEW YORK SALES MISSION UPDATE
B. NEW VINTAGE - SISTER CITY
C. TARANTULA UPDATE
VI. NEW BUSINESS
A. PRESENTATION BY STEVE TRENT - HYATT REGENCY WEST
VII. ADJOURNMENT
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STATE OF TEXAS
COUNTY OF TARRANT
tor CITY OF GRAPEVINE
MINUTES
The Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau Board of Directors met on Thursday, March 22,
2001 at the Wallis, Grapevine, Texas with the following persons in attendance:
Don Bigbie Chairman
Gary Blagg Board Member
Bill Brink Board Member
Philip Cloud Board Member
Paul Jennings Board Member
Kathee Livengood Board Member
Phil Parker Board Member
Robert Thrailkill Board Member
Darlene Freed Council Liaison
Pat Stinson Heritage Foundation
Aaron Compton Grapevine Chamber
Paul W. McCallum Executive Director
George Kakos Director of Marketing
(lw Absent: Steve Trent Board Member
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Bigbie called the meeting to order and recognized Roger Jones, a visitor, and Aaron
Compton, Chairman of the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion to approve the minutes from the February 22, 2001 meeting was made by Bill Brink
and seconded by Paul Jennings. Motion carried.
SALES AND MARKETING REPORT
Mr. Kakos reported that Grapevine has participated in Texas inserts in several assorted
national publications from which we expect 12,000 visitor requests. February saw 17 leads
representing 6,000 room nights, eight of those from the Chicago Sales Promotion and 2 from
the Religious Conference Management Association Trade Show. Mr. Kakos shared several
articles of press coverage including one from Tourismo, an industry publication from Mexico,
Meeting News, and Turistutampa. Mr. Thrailkill reported there was a nice article on
Grapevine in the new issue of Southern Living, which is not yet on the newsstands.
RECOGNITIONS
Robert Thrailkill
Mr. Bigbie recognized Robert Thrailkill for the Hilton Pride Award his property is receiving.
Mr. Thrailkill said their property was competing in the commercial division and that this was
an award their group had worked for. The formal presentation will be in April. His team also
picked up awards at the recent manager's meeting for highest team member scores and most
improved team member award.
Board of Directors Meeting
March 22, 2001
Page 2 of 3
RECOGNITIONS cont.
Bill and Kathrine Brink
Mr. Bigbie recognized the Brinks for having received the Don Ramey Community Spirit
Award, which was presented recently at the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce Awards
Banquet. Mr. Brink stated it was nice being recognized for doing something you enjoy doing.
Phil Cloud
Mr. Bigbie recognized and thanked Phil Cloud for all the long hours and hard work he gave as
he led the Chamber this past year. Mr. Cloud stated that he is confident that the increased
interaction with the CVB will continue under the leadership of Aaron Compton and the
following year under Sue Franks.
OLD BUSINESS
New York Sales Mission Update
Mr. Kakos reported that the sales team rallied 38 appointments and met with 34 meeting
planners. They brought back 3 leads for 2,500 room nights and potential additional 22 leads
for 9,000 room nights. Twelve planners and 8 guests attended the dinner.
Mr. McCallum said the seating arrangements of 6 or less at a table made it possible to talk
specific meeting needs with the planners. Representatives from the Hilton and Embassy Suites
joined the event. It is a potential that we may need to take 1-2 board members to the event to
be able to visit with all the attendees during the reception time. Staff will be in New York two
more times this year. Staff was able to meet with planners that they or the hotels had not seen
before.
Mr. Thrailkill stated that Gretchen England has requested to step down from Director of Sales
to Sales Manager for the Hilton and that a new Director of Sales will be on board by April 9th
.
New Vintage - Sister City
Mr. McCallum shared the New Vintage brochure and stated that some individual pieces are
being developed for some of the events. Packages have been created to drive weekend
business for our hotel partners. The Blessing of the Vines will take place on Wednesday, this
year. It will be at Delaneys and will be later in the day in an attempt to involve some live
feeds for the evening news. The folk dancers from Krems will perform and the Parras students
will be there in costume. Earlier that day, Winzer Krems and the Culinary Institute will also
be doing a press conference. Friday evening will see a new event, the Park Place Jazz Wine
Train. Cost is $50. per person and includes a reception before the train departs and a
reception in the Stockyards. The bands will shift cars for the return trip. Ms. Livengood
stated she had tickets available for the Great Taste of Grapevine, which is expected to be a
sellout. The Taste is on Thursday night and tickets are $20. each. The Saturday Wine and
Food Pairings Lunch has been expanded.
try Mr. McCallum reported that since last month's board meeting where the board approved the
Sister City Committee Guidelines, staff has moved forward and hired Anne Marie Kearney to
be the Sister City part-time coordinator. The committee, whose next meeting is this evening,
Board of Directors Meeting
March 22, 2001
Page 3 of 3
OLD BUSINESS cont.
New Vintage - Sister City cont.
is hard at work on the exchanges during New Vintage week. There will be 15 students
arriving from Parras on the morning of April 16th and approximately 68 participants from
Krems that afternoon. All of the Parras group and about 50 on the Krems group will be home
hosted. Mr. McCallum reviewed the itinerary for the groups. These exchanges will elevate
Grapevine in the eyes of the metroplex and the rest of Texas. They will raise the level of
awareness of Grapevine shopping, dining and activities.
Tarantula Update
Mr. McCallum reported that the tender, which has been separated from the engine, is once
again sitting alongside Main Street. The engine has been totally disassembled and various
parts have been shipped to machine shops for repair. There.have been some new rules
instituted for steam engines including one to ultrasound the entire firebox and boiler. Our
workers are exceptional mechanics and are working 10-hour days 7-days a week. This coming
weekend the engine will be raised off the driver wheels.
NEW BUSINESS
Presentation—Hyatt Regency West
The presentation on Hyatt Regency West has been rescheduled for the next meeting.
Mr. Bigbie recognized Pat Stinson who reported that the opening of the Palace has been
postponed until May. While the Palace will probably be ready in April, it was not possible to
guarantee it due to the many rain delays.
Ms. Freed reported briefly on the Senate Hearings held Tuesday in Austin on the Airport bills. It
was felt that the best result that could have happened for Grapevine did. Ms. Freed thanked
Roger Nelson, City Manager, Mayor Tate and John Boyle, City Attorney, for their testimony and
hard work on this issue. The bill will go before the House next week.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to bring before the Board, Phil Cloud made the motion to
adjourn, seconded by Robert Thrailkill.
ATTEST:
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