City of Lawrence
Lawrence Convention & Visitors Bureau Advisory Board
Tuesday, May 25, 2004 minutes
MEMBERS PRESENT: Karen Christilles, Ron Desch, Derek Felch, Kate Kelly, Brad Kemp, Don Johnston, David Longhurst, Maria Martin, Lisa Patterson, Tom Rost, Constance Wolfe
STAFF PRESENT: Judy Billings, Brandy Ernzen, Susan Henderson, Troy Roberts
PUBLIC PRESENT: Jeanie Hetrick, Holiday Inn Express; Jon Driscoll, Days Inn.
The meeting was called to order by chairman Tom Rost, and minutes were approved as presented.
Billings discussed the monthly financial statement, explaining that April’s guest tax figure is not available yet, so the guest tax reports have not changed since last month’s meeting. Billings noted that travel expenses have been higher due to increase in gas prices, but there is nothing else out of the ordinary for the monthly statement.
City Budget Process
Lisa Patterson explained that the city has changed its budget process; now every other year the CVB will schedule an appointment to discuss its proposed budget. The City Commission will hear public comment on its overall budget at 6:35 p.m. on June 8, as well as hold a budget study session on June 9.
Old Business
i. National Tourism Week Recap: Ernzen announced that there were 27 entries in the annual National Tourism Week photo contest. She and Henderson have discussed changes to the contest’s rules for next year, with the goal making it easier for people to enter and to get more high-quality images. The Hospitality Employee Awards had six nominees, and the awards event on May 13 was attended by about 12 hospitality employees.
ii. Western Music Association Awards: Ron Desch stated that WMA director, Victoria Ward, will visit Lawrence in June to meet with hotel GMs. The WMA is just starting to take applications for event attendance, but they are estimating attendance in the hundreds, not thousands.
New Business
i. In-State Tourism Promotion: Henderson reported that the CVB will place ads in several community newspapers throughout June to support the state’s Mega Gigantic Giveaway promotion. In addition, participants can come to the Visitor Information Center to have their picture taken and sent in for the contest. Copies of the ads and markets were passed around.
ii. Roberts Leaving: Rost announced that Roberts has submitted his resignation, with his last day May 26. An ad will run in the Journal-World and on visitlawrence.com.
Staff Updates of Involvement
Online Booking & Web site: Ernzen reported that the number of reservations remained flat for April, but the number of room nights almost doubled. There were several glitches in the booking system’s programming that have been corrected since the last board meeting. Web site traffic as a whole also continues to increase. Billings explained how the new Web site will interact with the online booking system once everything is live.
Kansas Chautauqua Planning: Billings reported that ads have been placed, the tabloid is on press and the event details are being finalized.
Heritage Area Report: Billings announced that Merrill Peterson, author of John Brown: A Legend Revisited, will give a lecture at the Dole Institute on May 28. While here, Billings will take Peterson, along with descendent of John Brown and August Bondi, to several sites to be included in the heritage area.
The heritage area bills are still in committees waiting for an administrative bill to be passed. The BKNHA group is also writing an addendum to the feasibility study.
Conference & Sporting Event Bids: Roberts announced that he should hear this week if Lawrence secured the 2005 National Collegiate Cycling race. Roberts recently submitted bids for the 2006 American Business Women’s Association and the 2005 Kansas Association of Environmental Educators conferences. He noted that Ed Kimmineau with the American Fastpitch Association is looking for additional sponsorship funds, and that Billings will handle this with the Lawrence Sports Corporation.
Wakarusa Music Festival Sponsorship: Roberts and Billings reported that the Wakarusa Music Festival (June 18-20, 2004) is looking to the CVB to sponsor shuttle busses between Clinton Lake State Park and downtown Lawrence. Discussion followed, and more information will be gathered.
Other
Billings and Rost briefed the group on the “No Borders, No Boundaries” regional tourism event held earlier today.
Meeting Adjourned
Schedule of Upcoming
Meetings:
NOTE: NO JUNE 2004 MEETING
Tuesday, July 27, 2004, 4:00 pm at Halcyon House, 1000 Ohio
Tuesday, August 24, 2004, 4:00 pm at Halcyon House, 1000 Ohio