HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-08-16 Regular Meeting CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS
GRAPEVINE CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
Thursday, August 16, 2018 — 8:00 a.m.
CVB Headquarters
636 S. Main Street
Grapevine, Texas
AGENDA
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. OATH OF OFFICE
3. INTRODUCTION OF NEW EMPLOYEES
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
5. LIAISON UPDATES
A. HERITAGE FOUNDATION ACTIVITIES
B. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ACTIVITIES
6. SALES & MARKETING REPORT
7. OLD BUSINESS
A. APPROVAL 2018/2019 MEETING SCHEDULE
B. MARKETING COMMITTEE UPDATE
C. GVRR LOCOMOTIVES UPDATE
D. SISTER CITY MISSIONS REPORT
8. NEW BUSINESS
A. GRANTS IN AID REQUEST
i. OH LOOK PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
SPONSORSHIP GRANT
ii. KL MEMORIAL FUND
9. HOTELS /ATTRACTIONS I ACTIVITIES
10.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 10TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2018 BY
5:00 P.M.
Li Bell
Assistant to the xecutive 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, August 16, 2018 at 8:00 a.m. at the Grapevine Convention and Visitors
Bureau, 636 South Main Street, Grapevine, Texas with the following persons in
attendance:
Joe Szymaszek
Mark Terpening
Cynthia Blankenship
Dan Weinberger
Keith Spinden
Iain Scouller
Debi Meek
Sharron Spencer
Board Member - Chair
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Alternate Board Member
Council Liaison
Constituting a quorum, with the following liaisons and staff members present:
Sue Franks
Theresa Mason
Paul W. McCallum
Paula Newman
Brady Closson
Lindy Bell
Absent: None
Heritage Foundation Liaison
Chamber of Commerce Liaison
Executive Director
Managing Director, Administration/Operations
Managing Director, Sales/Marketing
Assistant to the Executive Director
CALL TO ORDER
Board Chair, Joe Szymaszek, called the meeting to order at 8:01 a.m.
OATH OF OFFICE
Lindy Bell, Assistant to the Executive Director, successfully administered the Oath of
Office to four returning Board members: Cynthia Blankenship, Mark Terpening, Debi
Meek and Joe Szymaszek.
NEW EMPLOYEE INTRODUCTION
Mr. McCallum introduced three new staff members to the Board: Elizabeth Mullis,
National Sales Manager, Bill Young, Digital Marketing Manager and Derrick Moss,
Convention Center Set Up Worker.
Board of Directors Meeting
August 16, 2018
Page 2 of 6
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion was made by Mark Terpening, seconded by Dan Weinberger to approve
minutes from the June 21, 2018 meeting. Motion prevailed by the following vote:
Ayes: Szymaszek, Terpening, Weinberger, Blankenship, Spinden, Scouller, Meek
Nays: None
LIAISON UPDATES
Heritage Foundation Activities
Sue Franks reported that the Heritage Foundation is working on the upcoming 2018
Candlelight Tour of Homes scheduled for Saturday, November 3. Several Foundation
members have been working to save a Township home important to Grapevine's
heritage related to Mayor Wall and Robert Stark's Ham Radio communication with
Pitcairn Islanders
Nash Farm
Nash Farm is participating in Summer Blast Grapevine Rails encouraging guests to visit
the Summer Blast Grapevine Rails exhibit in the downstairs gallery, on to "Cotton Belt
Railroad history" and over to Nash Farm to learn of travel by rail including a special
Railroad Route handbook.
Nash Farm recently hosted an Ice Cream Social for a group staying at the Gaylord
Texan. An Ice Cream Social open to the community was held July 14 with an
attendance of 350 guests.
Coming at Nash Farm is the ItalianCarFest Saturday, September 8, 2018, and the Barn
Dance on October 12.
Chamber of Commerce
Theresa Mason reported that the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce's annual Casino
Night will be held Friday, August 24, at Austin Ranch. Tickets are $50 each. The
monthly Membership Luncheon will be Thursday, August 23, with a speaker from the
Texas Bullet Train. A ribbon cutting at BoomerJack's on August 7 had an RSVP count
of over 1,000. The Chamber will make a presentation to the Grapevine City Council on
Tuesday, September 4, 2018. Progress is being made on the addition to the Chamber
building to accommodate larger groups.
Board of Directors Meeting
August 16, 2018
Page 3 of 6
SALES & MARKETING REPORT
Mr. Closson reported that for July, the convention and leisure sales team had 84 sales
leads sourced to Stakeholder hotels with 114,997 potential room nights and a potential
economic impact of $43 million. 17 groups have been booked representing 38,000
room nights with an economic impact of $16 million. There were 8 site inspections
representing approximately 14,000 potential room nights and $6.5 million potential
economic impact.
The Visitor Information Center, Settlement to City and Depot welcomed 17,745 guests
in July. Approximately 36,170 brochures were distributed locally, statewide and
nationally.
Destination Services assisted 13 groups representing 12,400 attendees with an
economic impact of over $10.6 million.
Grapevine visitor shuttle ridership for July was approximately 4,800 riders. Shuttle
ridership revenue was $10,178, flat versus July 2017.
The Convention Center, Palace Arts Center and Concourse hosted a combined 69
events with 9,100 in attendance with an anticipated economic impact of almost
$320,000.
The Grapevine Vintage Railroad had 16 excursions in July with a total ridership of
approximately 2,900.
The website welcomed approximately 173,000 total visitors in July with 124,000 unique
visitors. Top pages visited were Fourth of July Fireworks with 25,776 visits and
Grapevine Vintage Railroad with 14,727 sessions.
There were two print trade publication insertions including American Society of
Association Executives and the Texas Tour and Meeting Guide. There were 16 print
consumer publication insertions with a total print circulation of 3.6 million
Online consumer advertising generated 4.6 million impressions. On-line trade
advertising generated 40,000 impressions including CVENT and Association Forum.
There were 985 spots representing 8 hours and 13 minutes of TV and radio promoting
SummerBlast in both core and outer markets.
Communications produced three press releases.
No action was taken by the Board.
Board of Directors Meeting
August 16, 2018
Page 4 of 6
OLD BUSINESS
2018/2019 Meeting Schedule
The proposed 2018/2019 Board meeting schedule was accepted.
Marketing Committee Up -Date
Cynthia Blankenship, 2019 Marketing Committee Chair, gave a Marketing Committee
status up -date. The first Marketing meeting was Wednesday, July 25, 2018 with 12
stakeholders, members of the CVB Board of Directors and CVB staff present. A
presentation was made of the 2019 Marketing plan along with discussion of the SWOT
analysis, strategic initiatives and development of the entertainment districts in the
surrounding cities with the need for Grapevine to continue to expand its offerings. A
follow up meeting on August 15 completed the reports and information presented.
Congratulations was offered to staff by Chair Blankenship for the well-developed plan
that leveraged available resources.
GVRR Locomotive Up -Date
Mr. McCallum provided a report regarding the successful obtainment of two FL -9
locomotives from New Haven, Connecticut for less than the amount of funds previously
allocated by the Board for the purchase. Arrangements are underway for the
locomotives to be transported to Grapevine as soon as the purchase process is
complete.
Mr. McCallum also reported that TEXRail will begin revenue service on January 5'h
Testing will be ongoing during the dates of North Pole Express.
Sister City Missions Report
Mr. McCallum reported on two recent Sister City missions, the first to West Lothian,
Scotland and the second to Parras, Mexico. Councilmember Rogers and Sister City
Coordinator, Naomi Saenz, led the delegation of 11 students, teachers and chaperones
to Scotland along with eight delegates from the Grapevine community. The drama
theater students from Grapevine Colleyville ISD were outstanding ambassadors during
the mission. The 10 -year signing of the Sister City accords was commemorated and
various historic and cultural sites were toured. Several delegates were hosted by
Scottish representatives while the students stayed on the Oakridge college campus.
Upon returning from West Lothian, Naomi Saenz led a delegation of 20 to Parras,
Mexico. The delegation included Councilmember Duff O'Dell and Convention and
Visitors Bureau Board member Mark Terpening. Delegates were welcomed by the
Alcalde at City Hall and toured several locations supported by Grapevine fundraisers.
Both missions were productive and several strategic objectives accomplished in both
locations.
Board of Directors Meeting
August 16, 2018
Page 5 of 6
Debi Meek and Theresa Mason left the meeting at 9:15 a.m.
NEW BUSINESS
Grants In Aid Request
Mr. McCallum presented on a Grants In Aid request from Oh Look Performing Arts
Theater. The request of $25,000 was discussed among Board members, and it was
determined to award Oh Look $25,000 with $5,000 of that amount earmarked
specifically for scholarships for needy students. The Oh Look treasurer will submit
names of students requiring scholarships of $365 each to cover the Student
Participation Tuition charged to participants. A check for the tuition covering the
appropriate amount of students will be prepared and mailed to the Oh Look Treasurer.
A motion was made by Iain Scouller and seconded by Cynthia Blankenship in favor.
Motion prevailed by the following vote:
Ayes: Szymaszek, Terpening, Weinberger, Blankenship, Spinden and Scouller
Nays: None
Mr. McCallum presented a request for a $1500 sponsorship for a Kathee Livengood
Memorial Scholarship. After discussion by the Board, motion was made by Iain Scouller
and seconded by Keith Spinden to provide the funds on a one-time basis with no
recognition of the Convention and Visitors Bureau Board.
Ayes: Szymaszek, Terpening, Weinberger, Blankenship, Spinden and Scouller
Nays: None
Cynthia Blankenship and Sue Franks leave the meeting at 9:40 a.m.
HOTELS/ATTRACTIONS ACTIVITIES
Mr. McCallum reported that Chuck Pacioni will be the new General Manager of the
Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center effective October 1, 2018. Mr. Pacioni
has most recently been General Manager of the San Francisco Marriott Marquis.
No action was taken by the Board
Board member Keith Spinden requested Board reports be sent via e-mail versus hard
copy. Board members agreed to receive Board packets electronically.
Board of Directors Meeting
August 16, 2018
Page 6 of 6
ADJOURNMENT
Next meeting of the Board will be September 20, 2019. There being no further business
to come before the Board, a motion was made by Mark Terpening and seconded by
Keith Spinden to adjourn the meeting at 9:44 a.m. Motion prevailed by the following
vote:
Ayes: Szymaszek, Terpening, Weinberger, Scouller and Spinden
Nays: None
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE GRAPEVINE CONVENTION & VISITORS
BUREAU BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS ON THIS
20TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2018.
AP OVED:
J Sz masze
oar ember -Chair
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Lindy Bell
Assistant to the Executive Director