Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau
Board of Commissioners Meeting
900 Front Avenue, Columbus, Georgia 31901
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Commissioners Present: Dhan Parekh, Chairman; Paul Pierce, Vice Chair; Shelley
Dean, Secretary/Treasurer; Cameron Bean; Charlie Desai; Felicia Hamilton; Lacy
Harden; and Marianne Richter
Commissioners Absent: Donna Hix
Ex-Officios Members Present: Brian Anderson, David Bevans, and Merri Sherman
Ex-Officios Members Absent: Richard Bishop, Cyndy Cerbin, Ross Horner, Isaiah
Hugley, and Mayor Teresa Tomlinson
Staff Present: Peter Bowden, Shelby Guest, Linda Olvera, and Ashley Woitena,
Call to Order Dhan Parekh
? The meeting was called to order at 3:35 p.m.
? Lacy Harden, General Manager of the Candlewood Hotel, was introduced as a new
Board member.
Approval of Minutes & Financials Shelley Dean
? The October minutes were presented, Charlie Desai made a motion to accept the
minutes as presented. Paul Pierce seconded the motion. A vote was taken and
the motion passed. The October financials were then presented to the Board.
Cameron Bean made a motion to accept the financials as presented. Paul Pierce
seconded the motion, a vote was taken and the motion passed.
? FY 2016 Budget Revision -- Forecasting a shortfall in revenue from the
hotel/motel tax for FY 2016, staff made recommendations to the Board to amend
the budget reflecting a 10% decrease; it was pointed out that the reductions
would not directly impact staff or the CVB?s program of work. Paul Pierce made
a motion accept the proposal. Shelley Dean seconded the motion. A vote was
taken and the motion passed.
Chair?s Report Dhan Parekh
? Nominating Committee for 2016 Officers ? Mr. Parekh suggested to the Board
that Paul Pierce, as the current Vice Chair, be approved for the Chair?s
position and that Shelley Dean, current Secretary/Treasurer, take on the role
as Vice Chair. The Board was asked if others wanted to be considered for either
officer slots. There being none, Mr. Parekh asked David Bevans and Cyndy Cerbin
to serve as a nominating committee to identify a candidate for
Secretary/Treasurer.
? Sports Council Merger -- With the Sports Councils Board?s decision to decline
the proposal to merge with the CVB and to remain independent, all bookkeeping
and accounting services currently managed by the CVB will revert back to the
Sports Council effective November 30, 2015. The Board was reminded that those
bookkeeping services had originally been taken on by the CVB several years ago
as a first step in a merger process.
? Abram?s Hall ? Mr. Parekh updated the Board that Abrams Hall had officially
opened and was being operated by IHG as of the end of October. Currently both
military personnel and the general public are able to book rooms at the hotel.
The Garrison Commander and the Department of Defense (DOD) have been contacted
to inquire what organization/agency is responsible for tracking hotel
operations to assure it was operating within the criteria provided during a
recent DOD briefing.
President?s Report Peter Bowden
? Impact calculator -- Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI)
has released a new event impact calculator model which will be utilized by the
CVB. This will help in better estimating the value of meetings, conventions,
events, etc.
? Sales Report (see attachment)
? Strategic Planning Meeting ? the Board was reminded of the stakeholder
meeting planned for January. There is to be a brief Board Meeting, from 3:00 to
3:30 PM, in order to take care of immediate CVB business, then adjourn in order
to attend the workshop, from 3:30 to 5:00 PM. Both meetings will be at the
Convention & Trade Center.
Adjournment Dhan Parekh
With no additional business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:20 p.m.
Attachments
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