COLUMBUS CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING
900 FRONT AVENUE, COLUMBUS, GEORGIA 31901
February 20, 2013
Commissioners Present: Elizabeth Barker, Chair, Charlie Desai, Felicia
Hamilton, Ken Johnson, Paul Pierce, Pino Wells Davis, and Shelley Dean
Commissioners Absent: Dhan Parekh, Secretary/Treasury, and Jim Smith, Vice
Chair
Ex Officios Present: Richard Bishop and Cyndy Cerbin
Ex Officios Absent: David Bevins, Bill Bullock, Mike Gaymon, Herbert Greene,
Ross Hunter, Isaiah Hugley, City Manager, and Mayor Teresa Tomlinson
Staff Present: Peter Bowden, Shelby Guest, Laura Walker, and Linda Olvera
Call to Order: Elizabeth Barker, Chair, called the meeting to order at 3:35
p.m.
Approval of Minutes & Treasurer?s Report: Elizabeth Barker, Chair, presented
the minutes from the January Board meeting in the absence of Dhan Parekh,
Secretary/Treasurer. Paul Pierce made a motion to accept the minutes as
presented. Ken Johnson seconded the motion, a vote was taken and the motion
passed. Linda Olvera presented the January financials to the Board. Ken
Johnson made a motion to accept the financials as presented. Pino Wells Davis
seconded the motion, a vote was taken and the motion passed.
Chair?s Report??????????????.Elizabeth Barker
On-Line Travel Companies Settlement, action taken---On behalf of the CCVB
Board, Bureau Staff forwarded a letter to the Columbus Consolidated Government
asking for any settlement to be paid in FY 2013. There has been no response to
the request as of February 20, 2013.
FY 2013 Revenue--- Columbus Consolidated Government vs. Smith Travel
Research---There appears to be a discrepancy between what the Columbus
Consolidated Government reports as the hotel/motel tax income and those revenue
numbers reported by Smith Travel Research and how those differences affect
revenue to the CVB. The Board is being asked to support a request of the CCG
to research the differences. For example, is it due to government (federal &
state) tax exempt business, extended stay (over 30 days) business, etc. Not
knowing the reason for the difference, does not allow the Staff to market the
destination effectively; and budgeting against projected vs. actual revenue
interferes with the program of work and its
effectiveness.
President?s Report?????????????.Peter Bowden
Fy 2014 Budget Presentation?Peter Bowden presented the FY 2014 budget to the
Board for their approval. Staff projected a 3% decline in hotel/motel tax
revenue based on current trends with FY 2013. Savings have been recovered
through negotiating a lower health care benefit premium and building lease with
Columbus State University Foundation Properties. Program of work will not be
impacted with the reduction. The Board complimented the Staff on its work to
present a conservative, yet balanced budget that would continue the mission and
continuity of the CVB?s work. Paul Pierce made a motion to accept the budget
as presented. Felicia Hamilton seconded the motion, a vote was taken and the
motion passed.
Welcome Center & Newcomers Briefings?In partnership with the State Welcome
Center on Williams Road, the CCVB Staff will have a presence each Friday from
9:00 am till 1:00 pm working in conjunction with the GA Department of Economic
Development (GDEcD) Staff. The Bureau?s primary objective is to interact with
visitors as they travel to Columbus, promoting attractions, events, etc. that
might extend the stay of the visitor or recycle their plans for visiting
Columbus. This arrangement with the GDEcD is open to the Bureau?s destination
partners, attractions and hotels, to have representatives on site. Each
Wednesday, the CCVB attends the Newcomers briefings held at Fort Benning from
9:00 am till 12:00 pm; and as well as one meeting held each month on Fridays.
This enables Staff to provide a brief orientation to attendees what is
available in Columbus and the surrounding area as to entertainment, history,
restaurants, etc.
Chattahoochee Unplugged---This is a documentary film of the Chattahoochee
River, specifically the portion of the river that impacts Columbus. The film
is being produced by Brent Turner. It is expected to air this fall on Georgia
Public Broadcasting. Mr. Turner has also suggested that the film will be
available to other Public Broadcasting Stations in the U.S.
Georgia Trend (magazine) ---In conjunction with Columbus having been chosen as
one of Georgia?s Renaissance Cities, the CVB partnered with the Greater
Columbus Chamber of Commerce, Uptown Columbus, Inc., and the Columbus
Consolidated Government and placed a full page ad in the February issue of the
publication. The story and editorial that accompanied the advertisement
positioned Columbus as one of Georgia?s finer cities to business in and as well
as a unique destination for travel.
State Travel Guide---As part of its advertising program of work to promote the
destination with an emphasis on whitewater, the Columbus Convention & Visitors
Bureau purchased the back cover of the Travel Guide. Research reveals that the
Guide is one of the top three resources used by visitors to learn about
Columbus?the CVB?s web site and Visitors Guide are a part of those resources.
The Travel Guide is the GDEcD?s primary fulfillment tool for visitor?s
inquiries. It is distributed by the Department at all trade shows in the U.S.,
Europe, and South America. The number of impressions is approximately 800,000
copies per year.
Sales Report---see attachment
Adjournment??????????????The meeting was adjourned at 4:25 p.m.
Attachments
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