HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes April 11, 2012U11FAh07a�,�eyOiE� ,
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Florida
Ft, Pierce •. Port 'Stl Lucie
Hutchloson Island
ST. LUCIE COUNTY
TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
St. Lucie County Administration Building, Conference Room 3
1:30 p.m.
(PLEASE NOTE NEW MEETING TIME)
1.
Call to Order.......................................................................................................Commissioner
Dzadovsky
2.
Roll Call...............................................................................................................................Jennifer
Garrity
3.
Self-lntroductions...............................................................................................CommissionerDzadovsky
4.
Approval of Minutes from March 14, 2012........................................................
Commissioner Dzadovsky
5.
Financial & Web Repoli .................................................................................................Charlotte
Lombard
a. February 2012 Revenue and P & L Report
b. Website Analytics
6.
2012 Mets Spring Training Wrap Up......................................................................................
Paul Taglieri
7.
Strategic Planning Workshop.........................................................................................CharlotteLombard
8.
National Tourism Week 2012.........................................................................................Charlotte
Lombard
9.
Other Business..............................................................................Commissioner
Dzadovsky
10.
Public Comment..........................................................................................
Commissioner Dzadovsky
It.
Adjournment.......................................................................................................
Commissioner Dzadovsky
Please note — Meetings are recorded.
Anyone with a disability requiring accommodation to attend this meeting should contact the St. Lucie
Tourism Office at (772) 462-2130 or TDD (772) 462-1428 at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the
meeting.
ST. LUCIE COUNTY
TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL MEETING
Wednesday, March 14, 2012 0 1:30 P.M.
MINUTES
Members present: Commissioner Chris Dzadovsky, Chairman
Vice -Mayor Linda Bartz, City of Port St. Lucie
Linda Cox, St. Lucie County Chamber
Michelle Valvano, Perfect Drive Golf Villas
Marilyn Minix, Road Runner Travel Resort
Chris Egan, Vistana's Beach Club — Sheraton PGA
Members absent: Commissioner Tom Perona, City of Fort Pierce
Staff present: Charlotte Lombard, Tourism Development Manager
Katherine Barbieri, Assistant County Attorney
Jennifer Garrity, Recording Secretary
Also present: Ed Griffith, Courtyard Marriott
At Schollianos, Castle Pines/Vision One
Karla Schollianos, Castle Pines/Vision One
Laura O'Brien, Port St. Lucie Civic Center
Andrew Hill, Holiday Inn Express & Suites
Ray Nau, Melbourne Airport
Tenille McLeod, Residence & Fairfield Inn
1. CALL TO ORDER: Commissioner Dzadovsky called the meeting to order at 1:41
PM.
2. ROLL CALL: Jennifer Garrity called roll.
3. SELF INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS:
Attending guests identified themselves.
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes from February 8, 2011 were approved.
5. FINANCIAL REPORT
Charlotte Lombard reported that January 2012 revenue was up 12% compared to
January 2011. Year to date revenue is up 14%.
Tourist Development Council Meeting 0 March 14, 2011
6. INTRODUCTION OF NEW WEB SITE
Charlotte Lombard presented the new St. Lucie County Tourism website.
www.visitstiuciefla.com
7. METS SPRING TRAINING OPENER UPDATE/PARK EXPANSION FOLLOW UP
All construction for the park expansion has been completed and on time before
Spring Training began.
8. PROPOSED TOURISM/VENUES CONSOLIDATION
Charlotte Lombard spoke about the proposed consolidation of the St. Lucie County
Tourism department with the Fenn Center and Fairgrounds division of the Parks
Department.
9. OTHER BUSINESS
Charlotte Lombard mentioned the upcoming Strategic Planning session for the TDC
members happening in April or May. Charlotte will check with members for
availability.
10. PUBLIC COMMENT
Chris Egan mentioned the co-op opportunities with neighboring Counties. Mr. Egan
also spoke about combining TDC meetings with Martin and Indian River County. Mr.
Egan also mentioned moving the TDC meeting to outside locations other than in the
Administration building.
Ray Nau, consultant for the Melbourne International Airport, mentioned the non-stop
availability from Melbourne to Washington DC. Mr. Nau also mentioned service
being offered in November for flights to Germany.
11. ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 2:42 PM.
Page 2 of 2
TDC Feb 2012
Variance
YTD
February
P & L Report
Actual
Budget
Budget
Actuals
Budget
Variance
Bed Tax Revenue
$ 62,755
$ 48,620
29%
$
237,514
$
168,300
41%
Carry Forward
$ 19,042
$ 19,042
0%
$
95,210
$
95,209
0%
Interest
$ 250
$ 250
0%
$
1,250
$
1,250
0%
Total Revenue
$ 82,047
$ 67,912
21%
$
333,974
$
264,759
26%
Direct Expenses
Salaries
$ 4,901
$ 5,310
-8%
$
26,099
$
26,550
-2%
Benefits
$ 1,321
$ 1,593
-17%
$
7,958
$
7,965
0%
Other Contract Services
$ 3,600
$ 5,883
-39%
$
41,565
$
29,415
41%
Software Support
$ 9,600
$ 883
987%
$
9,600
$
4,165
130%
Travel
$ 956
$ 500
91%
$
2,676
$
2,500
7%
Communications
$ 268
$ 83
223%
$
737
$
415
78%
Postage
$ 655
$ 417
57%
$
2,884
$
2,080
39%
Printing
$ 280
$ 3,216
-91%
$
23,818
$
16,080
48%
Promotional Activities
$ -
$ 83
-100%
$
803
$
415
94%
Promotional Entertainment
$ -
$ 83
-100%
$
150
$
415
-64%
Office Supplies
$ 108
$ 42
156%
$
261
$
210
24%
Dues
$ 175
$ 83
111%
$
760
$
415
83%
Aid
$ 40,000
$ 12,500
220%
$
90,000
$
62,500
44%
G & A
$ 2,121
$ 2,121
0%
$
10,605
$
10,605
0%
Materials Center
$ 17
$ 83
-80%
$
73
$
415
-82%
Promotional Advertising
$ 1,215
$ 6,250
-81%
$
14,039
$
31,250
-55%
Tax Collector
$ 1,217
$ 1,217
0%
$
6,085
$
6,085
0%
Total Direct Expenses
$ 66,434
$ 40,347
65%
$
238,113
$
201,480
18%
Net Income
$ 15,613
19%
$
95,861
29%
TDC Year to Date 2012
YTD
YTD
Variance
P & L Report
Actuals
Budget
Budget
Bed Tax Revenue
$
237,514
$ 374,000
-36%
Carry Forward
$
95,210
$ 228,501
-58%
Interest
$
1,250
$ 3,000
-58%
Total Revenue
$
333,974
$ 605,501
-45%
Direct Expenses
Salaries
$
26,099
$
63,720
-59%
Benefits
$
7,958
$
19,120
-58%,
Other Contract Services
$
41,565
$
70,600
-41%
Software Support
$
9,600
$
10,000
-4%
Travel
$
2,676
$
6,000
-55%
Communications
$
737
$
1,000
-26%
Postage
$
2,884
$
5,000
-42%
Printing
$
23,818
$
38,587
-38%
Promotional Activities
$
803
$
1,000
-20%
Promotional Entertainment
$
150
$
1,000
-85%
Office Supplies
$
261
$
500
-48%
Dues
$
760
$
1,000
-24%
Aid
$
90,000
$
150,000
-40%
G & A
$
10,605
$
25,457
-58%
Materials Center
$
73
$
1,000
-93%
Promotional Advertising
$
14,039
$
75,000
-81%
Tax Collector
$
6,085
$
14,604
-58%
Total Direct Expenses
$
238,113
$
483,588
-51%
Net Income
$
95,861
29%
National Travel and Tourism Week
May 5-13,2012
Every year during tourism week, the area's tourism industry organizations formally partner together to
plan and execute a public relations campaign. Partners include the St. Lucie County Tourist Development
Council and staff, the St. Lucie County Hotel & Lodging Association and the St. Lucie County Chamber of
Commerce' Tourism Committee. Together, these three entities focus on educating local residents,
stakeholders, business leaders and elected officials on the economic importance of tourism as well as
informing these audiences about diversity of accommodations available and the abundance of activities
and attractions that make our area a special place to visit.
Calendar and description of activities:
Mid -April — May 1, 2012 / St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce Tourism Committee has partnered
with Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers, the area's leading media company, to organize and promote a
local tourism photo contest. Advertising will begin running in the newspapers and on TC Palm in mid -
April to promote the contest and explain the rules. Prizes will be awarded in the following photo
categories: Best Day Ever!, Great Family Adventure, Best Kept Secret, and Wildlife, with an overall Best
Photo award also being given, as well as a Reader's Choice award. Participation will be encouraged to
include local Chamber member attractions as the suggested locations where great photos can be taken.
April 30, 2012 - May 11, 2012—Proclamations recognizing May 5-13, 2012 as National Travel & Tourism
Week to be issued at each of the area's local government meetings including the St. Lucie County Board
of County Commissioners, City of Fort Pierce Commission and City of Port St. Lucie Council. St. Lucie
County BOCC Proclamation on Tuesday, May 1 at 6pm, St. Lucie County Administration Building, 2300
Virginia Avenue, Fort Pierce. City of Fort Pierce and City of PSL Proclamations TBD.
May 1, 2012 / St. Lucie County Tourism Development Manager, Charlotte Lombard will be the guest
speaker at the monthly Economic Development Council Member Meeting Luncheon to discuss the
economic impacts and importance of tourism in St. Lucie County and how these impacts benefit the
County's local and prospective companies. Noon —1pm, Schreiber Conference Center, Indian River State
College, 500 NW California Boulevard, PSL.
May 4, 2012 / St. Lucie County Hotel & Lodging Association will host its annual Tourism Week Meeting
& Luncheon. During this meeting, the HLA will present its 3rd Annual Employee of the Year award
winners and two $500 scholarships to IRSC students interested in the Hospitality Industry. Employee or
the Year winners will be awarded to a Heart of the House & Front of the House Team Member. The
ideal winners are team members that exude the property's service culture, are truly professional, have
longevity within the organization and create a memorable experience for a guest's day in and day
out. The winners are enthusiastic about their lodging product as well as being a true ambassador to the
tourism industry in St Lucie County. Winners are presented with a personalized plaque and other
exciting benefits. 10am, Homewood Suites, 10301 SW Innovation Way, PSL.
May 11, 2012 / St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce Tourism Committee will host a booth at the
annual Treasure Coast Business Expo at the Port St. Lucie Civic Center. Various attractions and tourism -
related businesses will be sharing all the wonderful things we have to do in the area and encouraging
locals to get out and experience what we have to do in St. Lucie County. 8am —4pm, Port St. Lucie Civic
Center, 9221 SE Civic Center Place, PSL.
May 12, 2012 / St. Lucie County Tourism Staff will host a booth at the weekly Downtown Fort Pierce
Farmers Market promoting tourism in our area. The booth will educate residents about the importance
of tourism in St. Lucie County and inform them about all there is to do in our area. Representatives will
also give away "staycation' prizes that include one and two night stays to local hotels and vouchers for
local activities and access to attractions. 8 am-12 noon, Fort Pierce Marina Square, Downtown Fort
Pierce.