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Home My WebLink About2007-07-19 Regular Meeting • CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS GRAPEVINE CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING Thursday, July 19, 2007 — 11:30 a.m. Wallis Building Grapevine, Texas AGENDA I. CALL TO ORDER II APPROVAL OF MINUTES III. INTRODUCTION OF STAFF IV. HOTELS/ATTRACTIONS REPORT V. GRAPEVINE VINTAGE RAILROAD REPORT VI. HERITAGE PROGRAMS AND PRESERVATION REPORT VII. SALES AND MARKETING REPORT A. SPRINGTIME IN THE PARK TRADE SHOW B. HELMS BRISCOE TRADE SHOW C. TRAVEL ALLIANCE PARTNERS D. WASHINGTON D.C. SALES MISSION E. EAST COAST— STATE CO-OP SALES MISSION F. SHREVEPORT SALES MISSION G. DFWATC SALES MISSION VIII. OLD BUSINESS A. SISTER CITY UPDATE IX. NEW BUSINESS B. SHUTTLE TRANSPORTATION X. REPORTS A. HERITAGE FOUNDATION LIAISON B. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LIAISON XI. ADJOURNMENT IP YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THIS SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING AND YOU 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 10TH DAY OF JULY 2007 AT 5:00 P.M. L Eloise Koehn Director of Finance and Administration State of Texas County of Tarrant City of Grapevine MINUTES The Grapevine Convention &Visitors Bureau Board of Directors met on Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 11:30 a.m. at the Wallis Building, Grapevine, Texas with the following persons in attendance: Don Bigbie Chairman Ev Barnes Board Member Bill Brink Board Member Philip Cloud Board Member John Imaizumi Board Member Kathee Livengood Board Member Paul Slechta Board Member Mark Wasiak Board Member Pat Stinson Heritage Foundation Liaison Paul W. McCallum Executive Director George Kakos Assistant Executive Director Ross Bannister Director of Heritage Programs & Preservation ABSENT Steve Stinson Board Member Darlene Freed Council Liaison Keith Temple Chamber Liaison Jennifer Hibbs Assistant City Manager CALL TO ORDER Chairman Bigbie called the meeting to order. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion to approve the minutes from the June 21st meeting was made by Ev Barnes and seconded by Phil Cloud. Motion carried. INTRODUCTIONS Mr. McCallum introduced two new staff members to the board: Frank Dale— Supervisor, Visitor Information Center and Rebeka Cook — Heritage Program Manager. HOTELS/ATTRACTIONS REPORT Mr. McCallum reported: • Hyatt will complete $44 million renovation end of this year • James Keaveny, Director of Sales at Hyatt, accepted a position at Hilton Anatole • Blackstone has purchased Hilton Hotels in a $26 billion acquisition • Ritz Carlton Hotels will open on August 15th at Victory Plaza. It will have 218 rooms, about 2000 s.f. ballroom space, spa, and a restaurant featuring Chef Dean Ferring. Board of Directors Meeting July.19, 2007 Page 2 of 4 HOTELS/ATTRACTIONS REPORT cont. • Doubletree will open a new hotel in Coppell at 635 and Beltline Road. It will have 260 guestrooms and about 8400 s.f. of meeting space. Expecting June 2009 opening. • Bear Fire Resort, a year-round ski resort, is considering a property in North Texas around the Alliance —Texas Motor Speedway area. Currently Spain is the only other location. • Horchow Collections opened at Grapevine Mills Mall next to Neiman Marcus. • The Denton Creek Schoolhouse, which was moved in the 40's to Austin Street and recently profiled in the Faith Christian demolition — will be moved into the complex at Church St. & Hudgins St. This move was approved by the city council on July 17th • The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee - non-profit organization U.S. Tourism Destination. • DFW approved $5 million promotion of Dallas-Ft. Worth — commissioned by the gas fund •' Farmer's Branch city council is replicating Grapevine's programs to set their goals —which are similar goals to what we had 15-20 years ago • The new issue of Grapevine Today has been distributed • The Gaylord SummerFest is in full swing • HDGA Summer Nights has been very successful. Participation is up 10-fold from last year. The surveys are showing that 48% of attendees are from outside of a 10-mile radius • Money Magazine has named Grapevine One of the Top 100 Best Small Communities to Live GRAPEVINE VINTAGE RAILROAD George Kakos reported that the railroad carried 5,536 passengers during June including 16 groups. There were 2 special promotion trains — a school field trip for 300 and a Father's Day train. Exterior restoration is completed on coach 206 — leaving only 2 remaining coaches for restoration. HERITAGE PROGRAMS AND PRESERVATION REPORT Ross Bannister reported: • Media notes — Denton Creek Schoolhouse had a story in the Ft. Worth Star Telegram and Farmer Flanagan was in today's Metro section of the Dallas Morning News • Nash Farmhouse: Rain has subsided enough and all concrete footings and piers have been poured. Rough-in wiring is complete; mockup of Nash Farm window has been crafted; looking for a match for the original brick; framing crews will begin once the roof is removed over the rear wing • To date the capital campaign is now at approximately $700,000. Board of Directors Meeting July 19, 2007 Page 3 of 4 HERITAGE PROGRAMS AND PRESERVATION REPORT cont. • Crop report: corn came and went; cantaloupes are massive; tomatoes and cucumbers are plentiful; cotton is high • Porch parties are scheduled: July 27th, August 24th, September 28th, October • 26th • Twelve grant applications received for 2006-2007 grant years are approved. Letters were sent out to the applicants. 5 of the 12 have completed their projects and submitted the required documentation. • Elspeth McDonald has resigned SALES AND MARKETING REPORT Mr. Kakos reported for the month of June that the convention sales division produced 24 leads representing 19,419 potential room nights. The team assisted with 3 definite groups representing 1,053 room nights. Staff conducted one site inspection. Tourism sales staff produced 16 leads representing 367 potential room nights and 698 attendees. Staff assisted in 12 definite groups representing 291 room nights and 513 attendees. Staff conducted 2 site inspections and hosted 2 DFW Airport Ambassador FAM Groups. (vor Destination Services staff provided registration and information services to 11 groups representing 14,530 attendees. 156,260 brochures were distributed during the month and 13,392 visitors were welcomed at the Visitor Information Center. The ,Convention and Palace Arts Centers booked 42 groups, 15 at the Convention Center and 27 at the Palace Arts Center, representing 8,626 attendees. Renovation of the center is well underway — painting, new lighting and flooring currently being completed. First bathroom updates and counters will be installed. Expect completion by mid-August. The Grapevine Vintage Railroad website had 24,923 unique visitors and the general site had 73,833 unique visitors — compared to 80,000 in June 2006. Public Relations generated $48,407 in print media and $4,944 in electronic media for a total of $53,351 in media coverage. OLD BUSINESS Sister City Missions • Mr. McCallum reported that there will be a small delegation going to Parras August 9th-13th • There will be a delegation going to Krems in June 2008. It's been 3 years since our last mission to Krems. This mission will include a Grapevine Concert and a Grapevine Volunteer Day — painting a small home or a project at a school, etc. Since our last visit, they have built and opened a university and have acquired the oldest building in town for 1 million Euro — circa 1268. Board of Directors Meeting July 19, 2007 Page 4 of 4 OLD BUSINESS cont. Sister City Missions cont. • There will be large delegation from Krems coming for GrapeFest 2008. • Student Exchange in 2008. In June, a group from Grapevine will go to Krems and in September Krems will have a group come to Grapevine that will also do a documentary. • Very successful mission to Linlithgow. They will send a delegation here for GrapeFest 2007. Mr. McCallum shared literature and details of his mission. NEW BUSINESS Shuttle Transportation Mr. McCallum reported that to address the short term urgent needs — proposal of (2) 14- passenger vans with raised roof to operate between DFW airport-Grapevine Mills- Hotels to historic and restaurant district either a 7-day or 4-day week from 11:00 a.m. — 9:00 p.m. Would be better to contract the service if only for one year; 3 years — more viable to own and operate. Discussions followed. REPORTS r Heritage Foundation Pat Stinson reported on the Palace schedule — Dinner and a Movie $2.50 discount with a Grapevine restaurant receipt. The membership drive had an 11% return on the letter drive with a total of$10,000. Chamber of Commerce Kathee Livengood reported the Women's Division Senior Fest is August 14th at the Convention Center and the Women's Division Great Taste Event will be held at the Hilton in 2008 since they have outgrown the Convention Center. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the board, Ev Barnes made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Paul Slechta. ATTEST: DATE: