COLUMBUS CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING
900 FRONT AVENUE, COLUMBUS, GEORGIA 31901
Commissioners Present: Bruce Smith, Chair, John Shinkle, Vice Chair, Brian
Plemmons, Treasurer, Scott Ressmeyer, Immediate Past Chair, Jim Smith, Teresa
Tomlinson, and Allen Woodall.
Commissioners Absent: Elizabeth Barker, Secretary
Ex-Officios Members Present: Larry Campbell, Isaiah Hugley, Nadine Coker,
Cyndy Cerbin, and Paul Pierce.
Ex-Officios Members Absent: Richard Bishop, Mike Gaymon, Herbert Greene, Dale
Hester, Enoch Morris and Mayor Jim Wetherington.
Staff Present: Peter Bowden, Shelby Guest, Laura Walker, and Linda Olvera.
Call to Order: Bruce Smith, Chair, called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.
Approval of Minutes: Due to the absence of Elizabeth Barker, Secretary, Bruce
Smith, Chair, presented the minutes of the April Board meeting. Brian Plemmons
made a motion to accept the minutes as presented. Teresa Tomlinson seconded
the motion, a vote was taken and the motion passed.
Treasurer?s Report: Brian Plemmons presented the financial statements for
March, 2009 to the Board. John Shinkle made a motion to accept the statements
as presented. Jim Smith seconded the motion, a vote was taken, and the motion
passed.
Chair?s Report---------Bruce Smith
Board Commitment Agreement?All Board members have signed and returned their
agreement copies for 2009.
Minority Chamber of Commerce?update?At last month?s Board meeting the Board was
informed that the Minority Chamber had placed the CCVB?s brand on their web
page without permission. This situation has been corrected.
HB 642 Hotel Motel Tax?update?The Georgia Legislators have passed the bill and
it is waiting to be signed into law by Governor Purdue. It is anticipated that
the new hotel motel tax will go into effect July 1, 2009.
CCVB Accreditation?The Destination Marketing Association International has
awarded the Columbus CVB accreditation for 2009 through 2013. This year long
process is an invaluable tool in working with various organizations to bring
their clients, conferences, reunions, etc. to Columbus; the CVB Staff will
leverage this designation in selling the destination.
President?s Report-------Peter Bowden
Hotel Audit?update?Per the CCVB Board?s request, a resolution was presented to
Isaiah Hugley, City Manager, requesting an audit of the hotels regarding the
discrepancy between the collection and payment to the City of the hotel motel
tax vs. the reports provided by Smith Travel Research. The audit will be
conducted by the Georgia Municipal Association at a cost of approximately
$26,000.00 (to be paid by the City.) The City Manager?s office will contact the
hotels prior to the audit.
Broadway Springfest? Springfest will be held this year on Saturday, April 25
from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. ?Georgia Made, Georgia Grown? is the theme. Along with
various food vendors, there will be music, children?s activities, tours of the
Uptown area, artists, and craft items for sale. This event is made possible by
the combined efforts of the City of Columbus, Columbus CVB, Uptown Inc.,
Business Improvement District, and Columbus State University.
Operation Recovery?update?The military market segment continues to remain a
strong leader in visitation to Columbus; a new market segment the CVB us
monitoring is that of ?getaway? ? visitors who were interviewed who stated that
they had selected Columbus as an escape or getaway destination. Based on the
intercept surveys, Georgia remains the primary point of origin.
Visitors Information Program?The National Infantry Museum and Port Columbus are
partners in the Professional Development Outreach Program of the CVB. On April
27, the CVB is hosting a customer service training program for the staff of
those organizations along with CVB staff at the Cunningham Center. Once
completed, a Familiarization (FAM) Tour will be arranged so that each
participant is given an orientation of the various attractions and venues
within Columbus.
Triple Pass Program?This program will provide a ?buy one ticket? gain access to
participating venues and/or attractions. The example provided was that of
partnering between the National Infantry Museum, Port Columbus, and he
Coca-Cola Space Science Center. The single pass would admit the visitor to each
venue and/or provide discounts in the gift shop, restaurant, theater, etc. More
discussion is planned between the interested venues.
Sales Report----------Laura Walker (information attached)
Recap--------------------Bruce Smith
Adjournment----The meeting was adjourned at 4:45 p.m.
Attachments
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