HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-03-20 Regular MeetingCITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS
GRAPEVINE CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
Thursday, March 20, 2014 — 8:00 a.m.
CVB Headquarters
636 S. Main Street
Grapevine, Texas
AGENDA
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
III. INTRODUCTION OF STAFF
IV. LIAISON UPDATES
A. HERITAGE FOUNDATION ACTIVITIES
B. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ACTIVITIES
V. SALES & MARKETING REPORT
VI. OLD BUSINESS
A. NEW YORK ST. PAT'S SALES MISSION REPORT
B. CHINA MISSION
VII. NEW BUSINESS
A. GRANTS-IN-AID REQUEST
B. ROLLING STOCK / CONCESSION CARS
VIII. HOTELS / ATTRACTIONS ACTIVITIES
IX. ADJOURNMENT
IF 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 12TH DAY OF MARCH, 2014 AT 5:00
P.M.
x67,a
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 in Regular Session
on Thursday, March 20, 2014 at 8:00 a.m. at the Grapevine Convention & Visitors
Bureau Headquarters, 636 S. Main Street, Grapevine, Texas with the following persons
in attendance:
Paul Slechta Chairman
Tom Cherry Board Member
John Imaizumi Board Member
Mark Terpening Board Member
Dan Weinberger Board Member
Debi Meek Alternate Board Member
Constituting a quorum, with the following liaisons and staff members present:
Sharron Spencer
Pat Stinson
Michael Woody
Eloise Koehn
Shawna Barnes
Absent: Lance Marrin
Joe Szymaszek
C. W. Higgins
Jennifer Hibbs
Paul W. McCallum
Council Liaison
Heritage Foundation Liaison
Assistant Executive Director
Director of Finance & Administration
Assistant to the Executive Director
Board Member
Board Member
Chamber Liaison
Assistant City Manager
Executive Director
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Slechta called the meeting to order at 8:04 a.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion by Dan Weinberger, seconded by Tom Cherry to approve the minutes from the
February 20, 2014 meeting prevailed by the following vote:
Ayes: Slechta, Cherry, Imaizumi, Terpening, Weinberger, Meek
Nays: None
LIAISON UPDATES
Heritage Foundation Activities
Pat Stinson reported that the Heritage Foundation Board met yesterday to follow up on
their membership development program. The Farmhouse on the Grape Vine Prairie
program for students in the 3rd through 7th grades is in place at Nash Farm.
Board of Directors Meeting
March 20, 2014
Page 2 of 5
LIAISON UPDATES cont.
Heritage Foundation Activities cont.
Upcoming movies at the Palace include: 0 Brother, Where Art Thou on March 21st, The
Natural on March 28th and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory on April 4th
The Foundation is also accepting nominations for Preservation Advocacy Awards.
No action taken by the Board
Chamber of Commerce Activities
Chairman Slechta reported that the Chamber Luncheon is today at 11:30 with Robert
Earley as the guest speaker. Last Tuesday night the Grapevine YEA! (Young
Entrepreneurs Academy) program concluded with a presentation at the Palace.
The Chamber Board of Directors is forming a legislative council and they are looking for
committee members. He shared the mission statement of the committee.
No action taken by the Board
SALES AND MARKETING REPORT
Mr. Woody reported that convention sales had 53 Leads with 52,660 potential room
nights with an economic impact of $33 plus million. They assisted with six definites
representing 4,500 room nights, four of which were for 2014, with a potential economic
impact of five million plus. The sales team conducted 43 sales calls, hosted five site
inspections and participated in Religious Conference Management Association (RCMA),
hosted a local meeting planner reception at Su Vino, hosted a faith -based meeting
planner luncheon at Great Wolf Lodge and hosted the MPI Luncheon. Tourism sales
and service produced eight leads with an economic impact of $197,000. They
conducted 51 sales appointments and participated in eight trade / consumer / leisure
shows including: Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio Home and Garden Shows, NTA
Marketplace, North American Journeys Go West Summit, Kaleo Tours and DFWATC
marketplace. They distributed 73,650 brochures, sold 2,605 tickets and welcomed over
4,200 guests to the Visitor Information Center. Destination Services assisted eight
groups with over 8,000 delegates and a potential economic impact of a little over seven
million. The visitor shuttles carried 4,868 passengers, a 33% increase over last year.
The Convention Center booked 20 future groups representing 12,860 attendees and
had $56,963 in sales for the month. The Palace Arts Center booked 34 future groups
representing 4,000 attendees and had total sales for the month of $38,345. The
Concourse booked seven future groups representing 815 attendees and had $8,418 in
sales. The Grapevine Vintage Railroad operated for the last half of February and had
total ridership of 1,774. The web site had 70,000 unique visitors with 15,000 reaching
us through a mobile device. Visitors spent an average of 9.4 minutes on the site. For
Board of Directors Meeting
March 20, 2014
Page 3 of 5
SALES AND MARKETING REPORT cont.
marketing there were nine print trade insertions, 105,000 online impressions, 29 print
consumer publications insertions, 28 TV and radio insertions and 696,000 online
advertising impressions. Public relations print value was $590,442 and electronic was
$14,760 for a total of $605,760.
No action taken by the Board
OLD BUSINESS
New York St. Pat's Sales Mission Report
Mr. Woody reported that for the 26th Annual St. Patrick's Day New York City Sales
Mission the Grapevine CVB hosted a luncheon at Le Bernardin Restaurant with 17 in
attendance. Some of the companies represented at the luncheon included AXA
Financial, Major League Baseball, New York Life Insurance and Thomson Reuters. The
CVB also hosted an evening reception with 51 in attendance at The Campbell
Apartment located in Grand Central Station. Some of the companies represented at the
reception included ABC Television, ConferenceDirect, Creative Meetings & Events,
HelmsBriscoe, MetLife, National Kidney Foundation, Public Relations Society of
America and Thomson Reuters.
The sales team also held five sales appointments and made three sales presentations
to meeting planners. Gaylord Hotels, Gaylord Texan and Embassy Suites Outdoor
World participated in the sales mission.
Active America — China
Mr. Woody reported that North American Journeys' (NAJ) Active America China Summit
was held in Richmond, Vancouver, British Columbia on March 11 — 14, 2014. American
Airlines will begin daily non-stop service with Shanghai and Hong Kong out of DIFW on
June 11th. These flights will bring approximately 180,000 passengers annually into
North Texas. Texas is a relatively new market for China and staff is working with San
Antonio and Houston to create a Texas Triangle itinerary for the leisure traveler.
A total of 65 buyers and 115 suppliers attended the Active America — China event. Staff
had appointments with 16 Chinese companies, most based in Shanghai.
NAJ is working with DFW Airport to host the 2015 conference in the Metroplex.
No Action taken by the Board.
NEW BUSINESS
Grants -In -Aid Request
Chairman Slechta presented the Grants -In -Aid request from The Tarrant Area Guild of
Storytellers in the amount of $1,800. The storytellers have been a part of Grapevine
activities for many years.
Board of Directors Meeting
March 20, 2014
Page 4 of 5
NEW BUSINESS cont.
Grants -In -Aid Request cont.
Motion by Tom Cherry, seconded by John Imaizumi to approve the Grants -In -Aid
request from The Tarrant Area Guild of Storytellers in the amount of $1,800 be
approved prevailed by the following vote:
Ayes: Slechta, Cherry, Imaizumi, Terpening, Weinberger, Meek
Nays: None
Rolling Stock / Concession Cars
Mr. Woody reported that the CVB has identified two baggage cars to be used as
concession cars. Adding a concession car to the consist will allow this space to be
used for catering, special events and servicing. At present we have to take a passenger
coach out of service and repurpose it to a catering car. The Kansas City Southern 80
car is 70' long and has the same roof line as our current consist. It will be painted to
match our present equipment. The Missouri Pacific 273 baggage car is also 70' long
and will become part of the saloon car consist. One of the cars will be transported by
rail and one by truck. We plan to have them in service by the fall.
No action taken by the Board.
HOTELS 1 ATTRACTIONS ACTIVITIES
Hotel Updates
• Courtyard/Townplace Suites will host a Grand Opening Celebration on April 3rd.
Restaurant / Winery Updates
• Council approved a new winery, Sloan and Williams Winery. They will open this
summer in the former Mustang Graphics building on East Texas Street.
Attractions
• Grapevine parks and park facilities have been designated electronic cigarette free
zones.
• Grapevine Mills opened several new stores in 2013 including: Michael Kors, Crocs,
Jamie and Jack, Puma, Styled for Less, Justice and Brothers, Windsor, Vitamin
World, Bachrach, King Jr. Barbershop, I -Tech, Shoe Gallery, WildBerry Yogurt and
Magic Maze Emporium. Remodels at the mall include: Saks Fifth Avenue, Coach,
Osh Kosh, Nike, Hot Topic, Haggar, Famous Footwear, Foot locker, Chili's Two,
Body Central, Zales, Gamestop and MasterCuts.
• Stores coming soon to Grapevine Mills include: Express, Buckle, Adidas,
Francescas, Luggage Factory, WAX, O'Neil
• The Mills is in the process of refurbishing and renovating the parking lot, restrooms,
landscaping, exterior lighting and the AMC courtyard. They are also de-theming
throughout the mall, resizing retail footprints and relocating some retail to more
appropriate neighborhoods.
Board of Directors Meeting
March 20, 2014
Page 5 of 5
HOTELS / ATTRACTIONS ACTIVITIES cont.
In the Area
• Virgin America is seeking two gates at Dallas Love Field for non-stop service to New
York, Washington D.C., Los Angeles and San Francisco to launch in October
following the expiration of the Wright Amendment.
New Brochures
• Blessing of the Vines & New Vintage Wine and Gallery Trail
• Grapevine Market / Grapevine Farmers Market
Other items
• The Jazz Wine Trains for this weekend are sold out.
• Day Out With Thomas is March 28-30 and April 4-6
• 10th Annual Chocolate Fest is April 4-5
• Epic Earth Day is April 5th at the Gazebo
• April 9th is a concierge reception at the Hi Railers Model Train Display
• The CVB has signed an agreement with AJL to provide the transportation for our
festivals, events, FAM tours, site inspections and other activities.
No action taken by the Board.
ADJOURNMENT
Chairman Slechta recognized John Imaizumi who is retiring from the Gaylord Texan on
March 28th. He thanked John for his service to the board. There being no further
business to come before the board a motion by John Imaizumi, seconded by Tom
Cherry to adjourn the meeting at 9:18 a.m. prevailed by the following vote:
Ayes: Slechta, Cherry, Imaizumi, Terpening, Weinberger, Meek
Nays: None
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE GRAPEVINE CONVENTION & VISITORS
BUREAU BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS ON THIS
THE 17th DAY OF APRIL, 2014.
ATTEST:
APPROVED:
Paul Slechta
Chairman
Eloise Koehn
Director of Finance & Administration