COLUMBUS CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING
900 FRONT AVENUE, COLUMBUS, GEORGIA 31901
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2013
Commissioners Present: Elizabeth Barker, Chair, Dhan Parekh, Vice Chair,
Charlie Desai, Felicia Hamilton, and Ken Johnson.
Commissioners Absent: Paul Pierce, Secretary/Treasurer, John Miller, Pino
Wells Davis, and Shelley Dean
Ex-Officios Present: David Bevins, Bill Bullock, and Isaiah Hugley
Ex-Officios Absent: Richard Bishop, Cyndy Cerbin, Mike Gaymon, Herbert Greene,
Ross Horner, and Mayor Teresa Tomlinson
Staff Present: Peter Bowden, Shelby Guest, Laura Walker, and Linda Olvera
Special Guests: Brian Rutledge and Bo Tabor with Robinson, Grimes & Company,
CPAs
Call to Order: Elizabeth Barker, Chair, called the meeting to order at 3:30
p.m.
Approval of Minutes and Treasurer?s Report: In the absence of Paul Pierce,
Elizabeth Barker presented the September Board minutes for approval. Dhan
Parekh made a motion to accept the minutes as presented, seconded by Ken
Johnston. A vote was taken and the motion passed. Linda Olvera presented the
September and October financials to the Board. Dhan Parekh made a motion to
accept the September financials as presented, seconded by Ken Johnston. A vote
was taken and the motion passed. Ken Johnston made a motion to accept the
October financials as presented, seconded by Charlie Desai. A vote was taken
and the motion passed.
Chair?s Report??????????????..Elizabeth Barker
? CVB Annual Audit??..Brian Rutledge and Bo Tabor presented the FY 2013 audit
to the Board. After review, Ken Johnston made a motion to accept the audit as
presented, seconded by Dhan Parekh. A vote was taken and the motion passed.
? Nominating Committee??.The Committee presented a slate of officers for
consideration at the election in January: Dhan Parekh, Chair, Paul Pierce,
Vice Chair, and Felicia Hamilton, Secretary/Treasurer. Elizabeth Barker will
become the Immediate Past Chair.
? Board Retreat???..During the retreat three areas were part of the major
discussion: Signage Task Force-A Task force to be established to work with
others groups to help identify areas needing way finding signage
? Quarterly Briefings to Council and Mayor at Council work sessions
? Frontline hotel training-a program to help educate frontline employees and
other hotel staff to know more of the community and how to better assist the
visitor, to help extend the stay
President?s Report?????????????.Peter Bowden
? Ft. Benning Hotel Super Hotel Marketing Strategy???.The CCVB has launched a
new web site named visitftbenning.com, designed to target the visitor coming to
Ft. Benning/Columbus; primarily families coming for graduations; the site is
intended to promote the benefit of staying in Columbus which ultimately will
drive room nights to Columbus hotels. The hotel has been named the Abrams Inn.
(After one year the hotel will be rebranded under different flags.) General
McMasters has advised his command of the site and has encouraged the site to be
referenced to help direct civilian and non-military personnel to Columbus
hotels. Letters have been sent to State legislators, Congress, Senate and the
Pentagon regarding the concern of privatization. Mayor Tomlinson has suggested
a lobby effort with like communities to Congress and the DOD. There will be
meetings in January with Fort Benning officials PAL representatives, and the
hotel community to discuss the Abrams Inn and its impact on Columbus.
Recap & Adjournment???????.Elizabeth Barker
? A motion was made by Dhan Parekh to adjourn. Charlie Desai seconded the
motion, a vote was taken and the motion passed.
? The meeting was adjourned at 4:45
p.m.
Attachments
No attachments for this document.