Columbus, Georgia

Georgia's First Consolidated Government

Post Office Box 1340
Columbus, Georgia, 31902-1340
(706) 653-4013
fax (706) 653-4016

Council Members

COLUMBUS CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING

900 FRONT AVENUE, COLUMBUS, GEORGIA 31901

APRIL 16, 2008



Commissioners Present: Scott Ressmeyer, Chair, H.S. Guron, Vice Chair, Bruce

Smith, Secretary/Treasurer, Brian Plemmons, and John Shinkle.



Commissioners Absent: Allen Woodall, James Smith, and Teresa Tomlinson.



Ex-Officios Present: Larry Campbell, Cyndy Cerbin, and Janice Davis.



Ex-Officios Absent: Richard Bishop, Mike Gaymon, Dale Hester, Isaiah Hugley,

Enoch Morris, Burnie Quick, Mayor Jim Wetherington, and Judy Thomas.



Staff Present: Peter Bowden, Carrie Clark, Shelby Guest, Laura Walker, and

Linda Olvera.



Call to Order: Scott Ressmeyer, Chair, called the meeting to order at 3:35

p.m.



Approval of Minutes: Bruce Smith presented the minutes from the March meeting

for approval. Brian Plemmons made a motion to accept the minutes as presented,

seconded by H.S. Guron. A vote was taken and the motion passed.



Treasurer?s Report: Bruce Smith presented the March financials for review.

John Shinkle made a motion to accept the financials as presented, seconded by

Brian Plemmons. A vote was taken and the motion passed. Brian Plemmons lead

a discussion comparing the Smith Travel report with the receipts that have been

reported by the various hotels to the City finance department, noting an

apparent discrepancy between the two. CVB Staff pointed out that a similar

conclusion was made during the 2005 Comprehensive Tourism Analysis, performed

by Randall Travel Marketing. The CCVB Board asked that a letter be sent to the

City requesting an audit of the hotels/motels in Columbus for receipts and tax

monies collected.



Sales Report (see attached): Laura Walker presented the updated report for

March.



Chairman?s Report: Scott Ressmeyer

Geo Tourism-Last August a seminar was held at the Southeastern Tourism Society

(STS) Marketing College. National Geographic Society has promoted geo tourism

in connection with quality of life. This initiative ties in with the

Consolidated Government?s work on its 2025 plan. The CVB is suggesting that

tourism be included in the plan for protecting resources while maximizing its

benefits for residents.



City Planning-Community Visioning?Bruce Smith updated the Board on the City?s

town hall meetings relating to a variety of projects -- revitalizing Midtown,

transportation plans/traffic signals, revision of city zoning, white water,

streets, etc. Mr. Smith even suggested that an east ?west corridor might be

beneficial in connecting the city as opposed to the J.R. Allen?s Bypass that

redirects visitors away from the city.



The Columbus Challenge-the Next Step ? W.C .Bradley along with the Columbus

Chamber and Uptown Columbus have formed a task force to examine how best to

enhance the cultural experiences in Columbus. A consultant has been hired that

will lead the research and help determine what is needed to ?take the arts to

the next level.? The primary objective is to help Columbus become an arts,

entertainment and cultural destination.



Crisis Communication & Management Plan?In preparation for its DMAI

Accreditation, the CVB has had to create a comprehensive crisis management plan

that would provide provisions to protect Staff and visitors during a variety of

crises. The Executive Board reviewed the program and made the recommendation to

accept the plan. John Shinkle made a motion to adopt the CCVB plan submitted.

Bruce Smith seconded the motion, a vote was taken and the motion passed.



Destination Fee?update---HB 1399 failed to pass this legislative session. The

Georgia Hotel & Lodging Assoc. and the Tourism Development Alliance of Georgia

were the two organizations on record that did not endorse the bill and had

worked to defeat the bill during the 2008 legislative session. The CVB Staff

provided a brief description of its active role during the legislative session,

the assistance it provided contacting legislators, GHLA, TDAG, etc. and that

information had been shared with the Columbus Sports Council throughout the

process on the possible opposition that the bill might face. The CVB is working

to set a meeting with TDAG, the Sports Council, and the City Manager?s Office

to work on solutions for the next session.



President?s Report: Peter Bowden

Poplar Place Recognition?The CCVB, Harris County Chamber and the Pine Mountain

Tourism Assoc. sponsored a reception for various hotels and attendees during

one of the equestrian events at Poplar Place. The co-op allowed the three

communities to express appreciation to the Polar Place owners for their

contribution to the communities and to thank the hotel community for their

hospitality towards the travel audience attending these types of events.



Hospitality Industry Turning Green?During the Southeastern Tourism Society?s

(STS) Spring Meeting a general session discussion addressed the issue facing

the hospitality industry as a whole that there needs to be a proactive plan in

place towards the impact the ?industry? makes on the environment. A task force

within STS will be established to help provide direction and guidelines. The

CVB?s seat on the STS Board will allow Columbus to participate in the process.



Smith Travel Report Annual Summary (attached) ? a briefing was provided by

Brian Plemmons (see above comments re: the STR discrepancy between hotel/motel

tax collections)



Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 5:14 p.m.



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