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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM091217Tourism Coordinating Council —Jefferson County Minutes of the Meeting of the Coordinating Council September 12, 2017 (DRAFT) The September 12, 2017 meeting of the Tourism Coordinating Council (TCC) for Jefferson County, was called to order at 10:06am by Chair Bill Roney, noting a quorum present. Voting Members present were: Bill Roney, Debbie Wardrop, Cleone Telling, Crystie Kisler, Marsha Massey TCC friends present: County Commissioner Kathleen Kler, Christina Pivarnik • TCC Marketing Coordinator present: Steve Shively Minutes from previous meeting were reviewed. Chair Bill Roney, called for approval of TCC minutes from the meeting conducted on August 8, 2017. Motion to approve by Debbie Wardrop, seconded by Bill Roney. Minutes unanimously approved. Steve reviewed the TCC YTD August 2017 financials. Noting that Jefferson County Treasurer reports General Sales Tax topping YTD budget by 7.7%, and Lodging Tax again at record highs for the period, outperforming YTD 4 -year averages for the same time by 47.75% and current actual over 2017 budget by 27.3%. TCC's allocated spending for 2017 continues to be expended as anticipated against budgeted year-round campaigns. Motion to approve by Debbie Wardrop, seconded by Bill Roney. August Financial report unanimously approved. Commissioner Kier shared a number of tourism related updates from Jefferson County, including: • Department budgets are beginning to be worked on for 2018. Including anticipated LTAC allocations. Anticipated that LTAC RFP for 2018 will remain similar to past years, with ongoing LTAC exploration into eventually revamping form and/or process of County LTAC requested fund distributions. • County will be upgrading software and security within County courthouse. • County is fully staffed, enabling in depth review and strategic planning at many levels. • New DCD is working on Statesman Group's Pleasant Harbor Master Plan for Brinnon. Continual modifications and on-going review by tribes contribute to delays. • Ongoing efforts for all sides to be able to speak and be heard regarding all upcoming ballot County initiatives. • Ongoing Olympia Prop 1 discussion regarding proposal for mileage base road tax. CALL TO ORDER APPROVAL OF MINUTES APPROVAL OF TCC FINANCIALS COMMISSIONER'S UPDATE Debbie reported on a recent meeting with Jamestown tribe related to their New Business eventual hotel development. Steep learning curve regarding additional business considerations uniquely related to hoteliers. Marsha briefed TCC on the following OPTC • Forever Twilight in Forks this weekend. Hwy 101 closed for rock scaling. Hwy OPTC UPDATE 112 provides good highway bye -pass. • FAM tours include Japanese tour operator. Upcoming is "Major Travel" from UK with 10 front line agents who'll be touring the Olympic Peninsula, inclusive of TCC hosted dinner at Kalaloch Lodge. • Black Ball Ferry has two FAM's, coming in September and November for Canadian receptive tour operators who work with Asian markets. • Port of Seattle = British Airways "Two Nation Vacation" held a reverse FAM at SAM featuring 28 DMO's. Highpoints included a good recap of UK marketing for current inbound long-haul travel business. Really appreciate Port of Seattle's working partnership with Olympic Peninsula. • Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuaries — Noting increase in international travelers this summer, including Dutch and Chinese tourists. John's Beach Combing Museum in Forks offered a direct credit to a German FAM tour from a past German travel writer for visitors to the museum this summer. • CCN 6 from China (10M viewers) have aired two episodes thus far of their 3 filmed: Officer and a Gentleman - Port Townsend, Olympic Game Farm — Sequim, and Forever Twilight — Forks. • Get any and all "Relax" packages to Stephanie in order to benefit from the OPTC Fall marketing efforts. • Bus ads will roll in Portland and Seattle again. • AAA — promoting 3 events on web. Beach Clean-up, CrabFest, Apple and Cider Fests. • Tourism Summit, Oct. 26 — 27. registration is now open! Still working through details. Steve worked through technical difficulties to share current marketing insights TCC MARKETING and promotional results to TCC. Topics covered included: COORDINATORS • WA Hospitality hosting Government Affairs meeting at Port Ludlow REPORT • Olympic Tourism Summit and OCL's "Lunch & Learn" pm Friday • TCC's involvement in OPTC Bus Ad programs • Numerous Display and digital Ad placements • Fall Festivals being promoted include: Jefferson Co. Farm Tour, Apple & Cider and CrabFest. • `Relax' fall campaign has agritourism "Bountiful Opportunities" sub -title for TCC. This will be illustrated with focus on travelers "foodie" persona and development of Culinary Tourism itinerates on our Utrip customizable literary builder. • Watching Port Townsend's success with micro -campaign of "Love us in the summer? Come back and visit in the fall & winter" as a good use of peak summer season marketing efforts. Port Ludlow — Debbie shared information of ongoing promotions, including: November wine dinners and cooking classes. Extra sign-ups still sought for beer AREA UPDATES dinner with Sound Brewery. Wheel of Fortune will feature a Port Ludlow curated "WA Lodging Experience" grand prize as part of upcoming shows. The 6 -day — 7 -night package is packed AREA UPDATES with Olympic Peninsula experiences. Debbie is once again coordinating an Olympic Peninsula gift basket for the (Continue) WHA's fall auction. "Bleasure Travel" -Mixing business with pleasure, is a growing market segment for the Inn. Packages designed to help travelers extend their length of stay are being created. Quilcene — Cleone spoke of the upcoming Quilcene Fair and combined Oyster Run. BUSY weekend ahead! Worthington House is in process of changing permitting from historic residential to event center. All Worthington's wall paper has been stripped. Lath and plaster repairs are underway. The Linger Longer advisory group is weighing in on port of Quilcene improvements, with emphasis of seeking port officials to address port amenities, mixed usage and transitional harbormaster staffing needs. Gateway VIC — Bill shared the sum of visitors on-going questions related to recent forest fire smoke and increased traffic due to constant Hood Canal bridge openings. Gateway VIC runs on a very thin — largely volunteer — staffing model. Bill's part- time support staffer is out on medical leave, creating added staffing burdens. Crystie lifted up the possibility of few Finnriver staff who Bill could consider as excellent substitutes until his co-workers medical leave is over. WTA - Christina reported that WA legislation approved $500,000 for development of a marketing plan and issuance of an RFP seeking vendors to provide state-wide services. Department of Commerce is now the lead on contracting. WTA is seeking a marketing plan that will provide economic impact analytics beyond those derived annually from the Dean Runyan & Associates reports. Port Townsend Marketing — Christina shared good news of the continuing busy Summer in Port Townsend, thanks to the early fall launch of their popular 'Love Port Townsend in Summer -- Come back & visit in fall & winter" campaign supported by flyers and postcards to help kick-start the marketing of their fall and winter promotions right now. Finistere is a new restaurant in Port Townsend (former location of Sweet Laurette Cafe & Bistro). So happy to have additional "destination dining" in Port Townsend. Very sad that Lorna Mann is leaving the JC Visitors Center to return to Scotland. She will certainly be missed. Lorna emailed the following report: "We had a busy August at the VIC with a 5% increase in visitors from last year Port Townsend was booked for the WBF and we were thankful that Fort Warden opened their dormitories! The Chamber visited Quilcene to celebrate ribbon cuttings for Gear Head Deli and the Worthington House Museum. Cleone gave us a fantastic tour of the AREA UPDATES Worthington mansions: Thanksl ►1► Please pass on my best wishes to the group, it has been wonderful working with you all. " - Lorna Tri -Area, Chimacum — Crystie reported that Labor Day weekend was the biggest business period ever for Finnriver. Reconfirming their decision to operate tasting room and food service daily. Excited that WSU has located to the Kively Center with admin and meeting spaces. Working on upcoming Apple & Cider Fest, a "Drink the Dragon" libations tour from Propolis to Hardware Distillery. Upcoming cider related FAM's with Organic Seed Alliance `taste trail' end of September and an excellent visit by the Herbfarm. (Continue) Adjournment -There being no further business the TCC meeting was adjourned ADJORN at 12:06 pm, Next meeting of TCC is scheduled for October 10, 2017 LOAM at the Andrew's Suite, Inn at Port Ludlow.