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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-16-2007* yK CLTY OF '~ UBU~ WASHINGTON Meeting Notes AUBURN TOURISM BOARD August 16, 2007 Location: SuperMall 1:30-3:30 p.m. Members Present: Board: Sue Singer (Chair), Dave Aust, Khara Nixon, Sarah Bonds, Bob Dunn, Bruce Goldsberry, Ronnie Roberts, Nancy Wyatt and Jared Bacon (replacing Tony Markee from Enterprise Rent-A-Car) Staff: Debbie Luce, Kirsten Reynolds, Shawn Hunstock, Duanna Richards, Dana Hinman and Dave Baron Opening: Chair Sue Singer called the Auburn Tourism Board (ATB) meeting to order at 1:45 p.m. on August 16, 2007, at the SuperMall. 1. Housekeeping • Approval of Minutes from June 21, 2007 o There were no additions or corrections to the minutes. The minutes were approved as submitted. • Introductions took place; there were new representatives from Enterprise Rent-A-Car. 2. Updates: • Website Update - o Debbie Luce, the new ATB Marketing Coordinator, and Bob Dunn gave an update on Website statistics. The statistics will be updated on a daily basis. Website updates include links, descriptions to local attractions and the Q&A section. The Board would like to see the site utilized as a measurement tool. • Brochure Distribution - o Debbie Luce gave an update on the distribution of the new tourism map/brochure. Cardboard brochure holders were purchased for dispensing. Duanna Richards talked about several good tourism distribution sites i.e. SeaTac Airport, Argosy Cruises and Museums. The list was reviewed and the group discussed associated costs. The distribution sites will likely cost the group approximately $17,000 for six months (w/out discounts). If nothing was changed from last year it would cost $6,000 for six months of display. The group also discussed possibilities of distributing in Seattle's eastside area; these locations would cost over $3,000 for a six month display contract. A motion was made by Nancy Wyatt to have the ATB join the Tacoma and Seattle Convention Visitors Bureau, seconded by Khara Nixon. Discussion took place on other distribution contracts and whether the new CVB contacts would help the Board get more sites. The group was in agreement to get more information. A motion was made by Nancy Wyatt for the new Tourism Marketing Coordinator, Debbie Luce, to negotiate the best rate from the old lists of distributors for a six month time period; the negotiation price would be no more than what was spent last year ($6,000), seconded by Dave Aust. Report on Latino Festival - Bruce Goldsberry reported the Latino Festival had some challenges due to weather; the people moved into the SuperMall. Attendance at the festival was approximately 12,000 (half of the previous year). Volunteers from the local Latino community helped put the event on. The Board would like to participate/partner with the Latino Festival next year; the event takes place the third week in July. Report by Tourism Marketing Coordinator: Debbie Luce reported her first steps in this position included visiting all the hotel. She made a connection with the new manager at the Travel Lodge (Dixie). Debbie plans to schedule rotating visits to all the hotels once a week. Other updates included: the Iron Horse Casino is hosting a poker tournament, the downtown businesses will have the map/brochures on display, a newsletter will be set up to share information about local events and news releases will be submitted to local papers. Ronnie Roberts from Gosanko's Chocolate Art reported success with distributing the map/brochures in his store. The Finance Department in City Hall was given a large supply to distribute and has been going through them quickly as new residents come in to hook up to utilities. The major priorities now are to continue updating the website and get local events coordinated and promoted. It was recommended that Debbie Luce should be' receiving the "star reports"; these reports give information about the hotel occupancy in the area. Financial Report - Shawn Hunstock reported the ATB fund balance to be $63,000. The year to date revenue is looking good and $42,000 was expended this year to date. A short discussion took place around utilizing e-commerce as a way to promote and advertise the community. Bob Dunn, Dave Aust and Debbie Luce offered to do research and identify directories such as e-commerce that could benefit the group. 3. Action Items: • Prioritization of Strategies - The group discussed that website development and brochure distribution is the number one priority. Next, the priority will shift to ads and location of advertising; Duanna Richards shared she has already done some research on the advertisement topic and the Washington Visitor Guide has already determined to be a good resource. • Brochure Press Release/Photo - Dana Hinman had the group pose for a photo to attach to an upcoming press release on the successful completion of the map/brochures. 4. Information Sharing: Ronnie Roberts reported that the remodel of Gosanko Chocolate Art is scheduled to be complete in two or three weeks, and will include an ice cream parlor. The SuperMall reported they are getting a new play area sponsored by Doxon Toyota and there are several new stores that reported doing very well. 5. Next Meeting: The group decided to meet every other month. The next meeting is scheduled for October 18, 2007 at 2:OOp.m. at the Auburn Area Chamber office in the Board Room; the meeting will include a tour of the Gosanko Chocolate Art building. 6. Adjournment - With no further business the group adjourned at 3:00 p.m.