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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-19-2007* _ ~K CITY OF UB~N WASHINGTON Meeting Notes AUBURN TOURISM BOARD Best Western April 19, 2007 Peppertree Inn 1:30-3:30 p.m. Members Present: Board: Mayor Pro Tem Sue Singer, Chair of Auburn Tourism Board (ATB), David Kwok, Nancy Wyatt, Jeffrey Sabree, Khara Nixon, Debbie Luce, Jamelle Garcia, Bruce Goldsberry, Ronnie Roberts and Bob Dunn; City Staff: Kirsten Reynolds, Duanna Richards, Jeremy Chevalier, Patricia Cosgrove, Kristy Pachciarz; Consultants: Jane Baxter Lynn, JBL Public Relations Strategies Opening: Chair Sue Singer called the Auburn Tourism Board (ATB) meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. on April 19, 2007, at the Best Western Peppertree Inn. 1. Housekeeping • Approval of Minutes from March 22, 2007 o No corrections or additions were necessary on the March minutes. All were in favor to accept the minutes as presented. 2. Update on local community outreach: • Presentations - As part of the local community education process the following presentations were booked: o April 9 Auburn Arts Commission o April 11 Optimists o April 17 Lions Club o May 2 Rotary Club o May 3 Auburn Kiwanis o May 16 Vistara Homeowners Association There was a large community event held in the Lakeland Hills community. Community Relations Manager Duanna Richards attended the community meeting and took tourism materials with her. The 25 minute presentation includes the ATB Vision, Mission, statistics and strategies. Marketing materials were also presented i.e. new map, website and local Hotel information. Chair Singer and Consultant Jane Baxter Lynn set up a meeting with a major restaurant consultant; their purpose will be to explore options to have more restaurants in Auburn. Jane Baxter Lynn and ATB Chair Singer reported on a Sound Transit meeting that took place with their Marketing Department. The meeting resulted in allowing the ATB to link to the Sound- Transit website. Atrip-planning program was also discussed for the future. Sound Transit will be distributing postcards featuring Auburn's station. The Sound Transit's representatives were invited to an ATB meeting to share plans and discuss more joint opportunities. Other follow up meetings will be happening for potential partnering and promotions. 3. Media outreach: • Comcast Local Edition -April 19tH • Seattle Times • Auburn Reporter Comcast's Local Edition channel will be airing Mayor Pro Tem Sue Singers' interview on April 26tH to May 3. The show will be aired on CNN five minutes before the hour. The interview should run on TV 21 also. Discussion took place among the members about creating an ATB marketing postcard. Duanna Richards mentioned these postcards would be useful in economic development packets the City gives out. Hotels could also have them available at the counter for guests. Ronnie Roberts, from Gosanko Chocolate suggested the postcards be sent to local travel agents to help promote the area. Karen Johnson with the Seattle Times was contacted; she writes in the South East (SE) Living section in the PI. There could be a possible story on tourism efforts in Auburn. Auburn Airport currently has packets with information they hand out to customers arriving here in Auburn. 4. Map brochure design discussion and approval Multimedia Manager Jeremy Chevalier presented the next steps of the ATB map. The convenient rack size brochure focuses on activities and venues for out-of-town visitors. This map will be available at local outlets such as the Visitor Center (Chamber office), various hotels, major attractions i.e. Emerald Downs and the Sound Transit station. It will also be distributed to outlets like Sound Transit stations, SeaTac airport, WA Convention Center, the Concierge Association and other visitor information outlets in key markets. The postcards previously discussed could also be used by the City's Parks Department for mailing to organizations holding major tournaments and/or events in Auburn; for media outreach, and in response to visitor requests for information. The goal is to use this map for tourism related events for the next two years. The map boundaries are as follows: North boundary = 37tH Street (above Emerald Downs), South boundary =White River Trail, there are indicators showing other area attractions such as White River Amphitheater and Pacific Raceways. Things included in this regional map are the ATB website and contact information, a map of the downtown area with an index; inside is the main map with five major attractions. Suggestions were made for more pictures and/or images to be placed on the map. Other items that would be useful on the map are major eateries and directional signage towards Mt. Rainer. The group expressed listing locations of public art as not a high priority, but having an insert with local restaurants was. 5. Website update: The website outline has been revised and should be ready to go live by the end of April. The timeline was discussed; a stronger effort will be made to go live before the Comcast interview is aired. 6. Discussion and approval of revised goals and strategies The current Vision statement is "To be The Entertainment and Arts Destination of South King and North Pierce Counties." A recommendation was to change it to: "To establish Auburn as Washington State's entertainment and arts destination south of Seattle." After discussion the group decided to adopt the newly recommended Vision Statement. A recommended Mission Statement came forward as: "To increase Auburn's tourism by working together as a cohesive group, capitalizing on strategic partnerships and implementing cost effective creative marketing and communications programs." After discussion the group decided to adopt the newly recommended Mission Statement. The theme line, located at the top of the webpage, originally had the City of Auburn on the main text line, but was altered to say Auburn Tourism -more than you imagined! The group was in agreement to adopt this new theme line on the website. The group discussed and reviewed the revised GOALS (internal and external) and the supporting strategies. 7. Auburn Arts Festival proposed July 1-15, 2007 An idea was presented to package all the activities happening in Auburn during July 1St- 15t" and then market them as a two-week community festival. The responsibilities of the ATB would include brainstorming a common theme and creating some marketing materials. Everyone would need to incorporate the same name in to their event for the festival. A couple of dates were discussed to host the community festival; one was the Latino Festival, which was a huge success last year. Bruce Goldsberry, a representative from the Supermall, talked about the possibilities of joining efforts of this festival. The Latin Festival will take place on July 20, 21, 22 in the Supermall's parking lot. The group discussed capitalizing on local events already happening in the community. The group agreed that there needs to be more of a joint effort to consolidate and capture more than one event for promotional reasons. Asub-committee will meet to discuss local events and making linkages. Brainstorming will happen via e-mailing and at the next ATB meeting in May. Other Business: Jane Baxter Lynn reported the ATB's auction package was the hit of the auction night. The ATB package became the main ticket item and was a great success. The next meeting will be held on May 31St at the City of Auburn's Senior Center: 808 9t" Street SE from 1:30-3:30 p.m.