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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM010918Tourism Coordinating Council —Jefferson County Minutes of the Meeting of the Coordinating Council January 9, 2018 (DRAFT) The January 9, 2018 meeting of the Tourism Coordinating Council (TCC) for Jefferson County, was called to order at 10:03am by Chair Bill Roney, noting a CALL TO ORDER quorum present. Voting Members present were: Bill Roney, Debbie Wardrop, Crystie Kisler, Aaron Terada, Joy Baisch TCC friends present: Commissioner Kathleen Kler, Christina Pivarnik, Tim Rensema • TCC Marketing Coordinator present: Steve Shively Minutes from previous meeting were reviewed. A move to approve TCC minutes from the meeting conducted on December 10, 2017, was made by Bill Roney. Motion to second by Debbie Wardrop. Unanimously approved. Steve reviewed the TCC 2017 Year End financials. Noting that TCC successfully spent all but $55 of allocated marketing funds. Jefferson County Treasurer reports General Sales Tax remain essentially on budget target for 2017 with year end under budget by -1.2%, while Lodging Tax revenues for 2017 exceeded budget by +19.4%. As anticipated JeffCo. Lodging Tax revenues should topped $500,000 for 2017 with 2017 actuals of $507,868. Motion to approve current TCC Financials by Debbie Wardrop. Motion to seconded by Bill Roney. December TCC Financial report unanimously approved. Commissioners Report: Commissioner Kler referenced continued need for community education related to the value of tourism within the county -wide Economic Development conversation. Impacts to foundational systems such as affordable housing when perception may be that community marketplace transient accommodations, e.g. Airbnb or VRBO may be impacting residential housing inventories. Reflection on similar tourism focused reinvention in Forks post timber industry to Kauai Hawaii post S&H Sugar. Both offer highly sought-after authentic and sustainable visitor experiences. Reflecting on TCC's December 2017 introduction to the global Overtourism awareness, TCC — in collaboration with OPTC and Jefferson EDC — should strive to produce a statement regarding the value of tourism to our rural Olympic Peninsula county. Success with the half -a -dozen recently hosted community meetings. General appreciation for Philip Morley's informative presentation on county's primary role and budget briefing to community members. Plenty of Q&A's, still more education needing to be offered. TCC was pleased to hear that Kathleen accepted the LTAC / TCC Commissioner liaison role for 2018. APPROVAL OF MINUTES APPROVAL OF TCC FINANCIALS COMMISSIONERS REPORT New Business: Bill briefed TCC on the OPTC website designer selection process emphasizing the still unknown possibility of shifts in content administration for NEW BUSINESS new site vs. traditional levels in historically administering existing OlympicPeninsula.org site. Steve reassured TCC that the new site will not be an unfunded mandate, rather we will continue to strategically invest TCC marketing efforts in the digital platforms that provide us with the highest return on investment. Should the redesigned OlympicPeninsula.org site successfully demand additional attention, we will need to assess and rebalance our digital marketing efforts elsewhere. Bill shared with TCC the upcoming OPTC partners planning meeting, and reviewed the annual cooperative marketing agreement constituting OPTC, and TCC's place among the Olympic Peninsula's regional city and county tourism participants. Per past TCC action, "Bill Roney, TCC Chair, will be the sole signatory of any OPTC contracts in the future, and will vote with a single representative vote on behalf of TCC at OPTC. Debbie Wardrop is the alternative TCC voting representative to OPTC. This authority is consistent with TCC by-laws. " (ref. August 2017). Bill circulated the annual OPTC joint marketing agreement he will sign. Commissioner Kler added that David Sullivan of BOCC would also desire to sign. Bill will review request and modify TCC's signature on annual OPTC agreement as needed. Steve shared 2017 marketing highlights and insights into promotional results TCC MARKETING with TCC. Reviewed topics included: COORDINATORS • Review of 2017 highlights REPORT • Focus on initial strategy and plan for 2018 • Importance of collaboration and renewed opportunity to work again with Mason Co. on Hood Canal promotions • TCC's involvement with state -level tourism leadership related WTA Tourism funding • Continued advocacy for issues such as opposition to National Park fee proposal, and global futuring with a local look at the Community Marketplace influence of AirBnB, VRBO as potential vertical marketing channels • Local and global growth on need for deeper research related responses to the topic of "Overtourism" • Discussion of value in adding new print promotions in regional in -room guide vs. Airbnbmag. TCC encouraged further consideration for Here&Now's in - room guides but to hold on proceeding further with Airbnbmag. Port Ludlow— Debbie shared information that AREA UPDATES • The Inn has been featured in a recent Upscale Living Magazine article by travel writer Tracy Beard. • Homes sales office has moved up to Olympic Terrace. • Golf course open year-round. • FAM tour this week with Port Townsend's VIC volunteers. Spring FAM with Olympic Gateway VIC volunteers scheduled. • Already booking corporate and business holiday parties for 2018 • Looking forward to TASTE WA flying in (via Kenmore Air) March 23 with Chef Dan cooking his magic at Finnriver. AREA UPDATES Gateway VIC — Bill shared the good news that 2017 was great! Thanks to an (Continue) exceptional team of volunteers, some sharing their skills with visitors for over a decade. Statistical totals of 35,000 visitors reveled about 1 in 3 total visitors to the facility, come in the door for traditional VIC services. The others use the location for park `n ride, restroom, etc. Approximately 8,500 visitor contacts in same as 2016 in numbers. 44,000 visitor contacts from web and on-line information requests. Brinnon — Joy reported that Dosewallips State Park continues to remain busy, thanks especially to their inventory of vacation cabins and yurts. Plenty of on-going Elk viewing opportunities. The herd size numbers 60+ in size. Good start for preparing late spring arrival of guests. Fort Flagler & Marrowstone Island — Aaron shared that the Fort continued with a downturn in winter attendance through their group and vacation rental units. Not sure the cause reason. However, RV and campground attendance continues to be strong, thanks in part to the long -offered — virtually unadvertised — "Off - Season Senior Discount Pass" (details http://parks.state.wa.us/205/Passes). Tri -Areas — Crystie had to step off the call before reporting the following: 1. Chimacum Grange is posting position for new event coordinator and is actively working for a revival of energy and programming to keep it relevant 2. Crystie is reaching out to local farms and trail makers to create and print a Chimacum Farmstands walking/biking map to use by way of encouraging visitors to go to local farmstands: Red Dog, Spring Rain, Shorts, Finnriver and Corner have all agreed... Looking for LTAC supplementary funding if possible for design/printing support anticipated first printing in May 3. Have you all walked the Tollefsen Trail! From HJ Carroll? It's wonderful! Please walk it and send a love note to the county for the decade of hard work to make that happen 4. Red Wine & Chocolate tour coming up in February 5. Local group is putting on Farm Film Series with the Jeff Co library. Poster link: http://friendsofthetrees.net/sites/default/files/FilmPosterFINAL- 2.pdf 6. Local group called ELF (Eat Local Food) (with Steve and Chef Dan) working on matchmaking with farms and food producers and local restaurants. Good effort to get more local food on plates! OCL has long talked about creating graphic icon and materials for LOCAL FOOD items on menus ... lots of room for improvement there. Port Townsend Marketing — Christina reported: AREA UPDATES • Strong PT LTAC and Sales taxes for 2017 • Equally strong holiday season thanks to retailers and a big holiday campaign (Continue) emphasis. • Current Mainstreet construction marketing being coordinated with Mainstreet • Strange Brew Fest arriving later in January • LTAC's 2018 budget for Port Townsend will — hopefully — be approved today. • Jefferson County Chamber in a leadership transition. Looking to new Board to help with identifying a new Chamber Executive. WTA — Christina reported: State legislation had approved $500K for statewide marketing plan. RFP for vendor was issued in corporation with Department of Commerce. Eleven qualified bids reviewed by an independent team of 3 WTA and 3 DOC members. Firm GreenRubino was awarded the contract. They are fast -tracked tasked with providing a finalized marketing plan by January 18 for use with lobbying current State Legislators to pass SB 5251-2017-18 and HB 1123-2017-18 Everyone is encouraged to attend the combined WA Hospitality / WTA Tourism blitz in Olympia, January 29 — 30, details at: watourismalliance.com/tourismrally2018 Adjournment - There being no further business the TCC meeting was adjourned ADJORN at 12:15 pm Next meeting of TCC is scheduled for February 13, 2018 10AM at the Inn at Port Ludlow.