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Home My WebLink AboutM050917 Tourism Coordinating Council Jefferson County Minutes of the Meeting of the Coordinating Council May 9, 2017 (DRAFT) The May 9, 2017 meeting of the Tourism Coordinating Council (TCC) for Jefferson CALL TO ORDER County, was called to order at 10:05am by Chair Bill Roney, noting a quorum present. Voting Members present were: Bill Roney, Marsha Massey, Shannon Meyers, Cleone Telling TCC friends present: County Commissioner Kathleen Kler, Christina Pivarnik, Sarah McHugh TCC Marketing Coordinator present: Steve Shively Minutes from previous meeting were reviewed. Chair Bill Roney, called for APPROVAL OF approval of TCC minutes from the meeting conducted on April 11, 2017. Motion MINUTES to approve by Cleone Telling, seconded by Bill Roney. Minutes unanimously approved. Steve reviewed the TCC YTD April 2017 financials. Noting that JeffCo. reports for APPROVAL OF April have not yet been posted by County Treasurer. TCC FINANCIALS TCCs allocated spending for spring 2017 continues to be expended, as anticipated, against budgeted year-round campaigns. Shannon Meyers moved for acceptance of April 2017 Financial report, seconded by Bill Roney, Motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Kler commented that Jeff Co. finance department is working on COMMISSIONERS forecasts including revenue realities of no anticipated funding from projected UPDATE DNR harvesting on County timber lands. Ongoing anticipated costs are being balanced with, necessary, but otherwise unanticipated, expenditures related to Gibbs Lake caretaker residence and other previously deferred maintenance items which are either at, or quickly approaching, critical needs to be addressed. Kathleen and Marsha received a comprehensive briefing from Penny Wagner of Olympic NPS regarding the combined NPS WSDOT Lake Crescent, Hwy 101 and East Beach Road roadway construction projects. Adding in the Elwha Bridge construction, it will be essential for clear communication to assist both visitors and residents traveling these roads. Jeff Co. Planning Commission has granted an extension to Port Ludlow Associated Phase 2 development, and is in on-going discussions with Pleasant Harbor over their still dynamic master plan project scope. Jeff Co. BoCC has renewed EDC as the official Economic Development partner of NEW BUSINESS Jeff Co. Christina affirmed the decision and shared her very true tag-line of Tourism is the front door to economic development. Bill Roney reported on his and Steves introduction and welcome to Joe Alfano, NEW BUSINESS the new GM for Delaware Norths Kalaloch Lodge property. Bill shared with TCC (Cont.) some of Joes background and the encouraging anticipation that Joe will be a much valued West End representative for both TCC and OPTC. Joe attended last weeks OPTC meeting held at Lake Quinault Lodge. OPTC Report - Marsha briefed TCC on the recent Lake Quinault OPTC meeting, OPTC REPORT echoing Bills report that it was good to welcome Joe to the Olympic Peninsula. Marsha also shared annual Visit Seattle meeting details. 2016 was another year of record growth, up 2.2% in total visitors. Excellent hospitality figures of 83% annual average hotel occupancy for Seattle last year, with an increase in both cruise ship sailings (218) and SeaTac airports total passenger count (up 8% domestic and 11.3% international). 1 in 18 jobs in King Co. is supported thanks to tourism. Issues: SeaTac expansion master plan, statement regarding an official City of Welcome as it relates to proposed travel bans, and visitor impressions resulting from increased presence of homeless. Christiana shared that OPTC was well represented at Travel & Words Conference with herself, Mary Brelsford and Barb Hanna attending. Improvements of two writer tracks and scheduled one-on-one appointments with experienced writers enabled excellent and productive story pitch opportunities for OPTC at event. Marsha highlighted Jeff. Co. Dean Runyan report regarding county and state numbers related to visitor spending Jefferson Co. 2016 over 2015 visitor spending + 4.1%, tourism related state tax generated 5.4%, local lodging tax generated + 7%. InstagramFAMs finishing up. Chinese CCTV-6 network (10 million viewers) will have a crew here for Seattle international film festival. They will visit the Olympic Peninsula for 2 days and ½ visit sites from films An Officer and Gentleman at Fort Worden and Forks Twilight series. Crew will also record footage highlighting views of the Peninsula including the Rainforest and Pacific coast. WTA REPORT WTA (Washington Tourism Alliance) Christina Pivarnik updated TCC on current legislative efforts related to HB1123 / SB5251 bills for funding state-wide tourism. Both bills are still alive in the Legislators extended session, with WTA lobbying efforts continuing to inform and advocate for passage. TCC MARKETING COORDINATORS TCC Marketing Report - REPORT Steve reviewed with TCC on going marketing work accomplished on behalf of Council, highlights included: Analytics of Geo Fencing performance related to TCCs Spring TCC MARKETING Adventuresome Play campaign. Highlights reveled that targeted ad COORDINATORS delivery to customers within the Bass Pro Shop, Tacoma and Cabelas REPORT (Cont.) Lacey Geo Fence generated the highest click-through rates. While Swains, Port Angeles was the least productive Geo Fence targeted. Continued growth of UTrip travel planners usage at our on-line UTrip web app has enjoyed 10.52% growth April over March. Top global traffic to site includes expected I-5 corridor visitors with along with surprising Ohio, New York, Missouri and even Delhi, India visitors! Web analytics attributed a month-over-month increase in both planning horizon as well as average trip duration. TCC reviewed our 1/3 page ad in the 2017 Washington State Visitors guide and received Steves challenge to begin looking at competitors ad AREA UPDATES composition as we consider developing new TCC ad materials starting this fall. Area Update Sharing: Port Ludlow: Shannon shared news of some of the numerous special events happening at Port Ludlow, including: Yoga every Sunday 8-9AM Mothers Day at the Fireside Hosting a Hardware Distillery dinner th Sunday (Wine) School tasting sessions held the 4 Sunday of each month. Salmon Bakes coming in July and August Shelly Washburn has retired as Director of Golf, with Dick Schmidt stepping in to provide leadership of the restored 18-hole course. Theyve sold out most Rendezvous berths for this boating season Expanded seaplane dock capacity and welcoming increased Kenmore Air flights. Home sales continue at both Ludlow Cove and Terrace II. Revised Maps of their 30 miles of hiking and 23 miles of mountain biking have been printed. Early discussions of a possible NW Travel trip promotion with Wheel of Fortune. Quilcene Museum Cleone was congratulated for being nominated for a Jefferson Co. Heart of Service award. Official presentations will be next week, but TCC acknowledges that Cleone is already a winner with us! nd The Worthington House Museum enjoyed season opening Day April 22. Quilcene is exploding with hikers and trail runners Abundant crowds turning out for the start of Shrimp season. The CK Birkenfeld Trail around Worthington Park is a very popular addition. Shrimpfest poster was shared with all Gateway VIC Bill reports poor April visitation numbers at the Gateway. Parking lot resurfacing complete Extra sani can has been added May 20 th starts summer hours of 9-5 daily April visitor count is down, yet same as our web / UTrip demographics, the mix of Washington vs. out of state and international visitors has shifted to almost a 50-50 mix. Fort Flagler: Aaron sent along the following Park reported: AREA UPDATES Park Update: All camping areas now open. Reservations will be keeping us busy all (Continue) season. Not much availability until late August and mid September. Seaweed season underway April 16 May 15 with a great turnout during last weekends low tides. Halibut fishing season is also bringing in more campers. Next shellfish season here is set for July 1 Dec 31. Crabbing should open that first week of July also. Grass is growing so fast we can hardly keep up. Even the scars from our utility upgrade are starting to fade. Port Townsend Tourism Christina shared that busy Spring underway in Port Townsend, including: st Beautiful opening Day on the Bay held May 1. Lots of Mothers Day events, especially Fort Worden brunch at Commons. Upcoming Artisan Food Fest and plenty of travel writers scheduled to visit. JC Chamber Lorna was not able to attend TCC because of conflicting meeting of WA State Association of VICs. Shes involved with planning for hosting upcoming State VIC conference in Kingston 2018. She reported to Steve that VIC visitor counts were down for April. Visitor counts tracking similar with Gateway, with some unseasonably slow days recently. Adjournment - There being no further business, the TCC meeting was adjourned ADJORN at 12:02 pm, Next meeting of TCC is scheduled for June 13, 2017 10AM at the Andrews Suite, Inn at Port Ludlow.