HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-8-2014 TDC MinutesST. LUCIE COUNTY
TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL MEETING
Wednesday, October 08, 2014 ◊ 1:31 P.M.
MINUTES
Members present: Commissioner Chris Dzadovsky, Chairman
Commissioner Rufus Alexander, City of Fort Pierce
Marilyn Minix, Roadrunner Travel Resort
Vice-Mayor Linda Bartz, City of Port St. Lucie
Chris Egan, Vistana’s Beach Club – Sheraton PGA
Clive Daem, Dockside Inn
Michelle MacNichol, Perfect Drive Golf Villas
Members absent: Paul Taglieri, St. Lucie Mets
Teresa Arronson, St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce
Staff present: Kathryn Barbieri, St. Lucie County Attorney
Charlotte Bireley, St. Lucie County Tourism & Venues
Darius McPhall, St. Lucie County Tourism & Venues
Also present: Ron Knaggs, UDT Museum
Ken Corona, UDT Museum
Rick Kaiser, UDT Museum
Dave Godshall, UDT Museum
Criag Mundt, UDT Museum
Ann Satterlee, Sunrise Theatre
Kathleen Frederick, A.E. Backus Museum
Corinne Frederick, A.E. Backus Museum
Jennifer Garrity, St. Lucie County Parks
Miriam Charles, Heathcote Botanical Gardens
Cris Adams, Heathcote Botanical Gardens
Linda Fasano, Arts and Cultural Alliance
1. CALL TO ORDER: Commissioner Dzadovsky called the meeting to order at 1:31
PM.
2. ROLL CALL: Darius McPhall called roll.
3. SELF INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS:
Attending guests identified themselves.
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes from September 09, 2014 were approved.
5. PUBLIC COMMENT:
No public comments.
Tourist Development Council Meeting ◊ October 8, 2014
6. FINANCIAL REPORT & WEB REPORT:
Charlotte Bireley reported that August 2014 revenue was up 14% compared to
August 2013. Charlotte Bireley gave the report on the revenue for year to date is up
18.3% from last year.
Charlotte Bireley reported that the year to date totals for August bed tax revenue has
already surpassed what was projected for the entire year revenue by 21%.
She also highlighted that we are on target for spending the entire projected tourism
for the fiscal year.
She further highlighted that the expense vs. revenue report for the month of August
was middle of the road in comparison to the expenses and revenues during this time
last year.
Charlotte provided the TDC with a report on the increased activity of the St. Lucie
County Tourism web site for the month of September. The month of September was
up compared to that month from the previous year. Charlotte commented that the
web site visits are expected to increase due to the recent digital advertisements that
have been released.
7. Presentation from Capital Grant Recipients:
a. Heathcote Botanical Gardens, Chris Adams introduced herself and give a brief
presentation of how the grant has assisted the Gardens. Adams commented on
how the garden has went from a local attraction to a sought after destination
attraction.
b. National Navy SEAL Museum, Craig Mundt gave short introduction about
himself and too highlighted how the grant has been a benefit to the SEAL
Museum, specifically noting the renovations of the existing structures as well as
the ability to bring in attractions that has increased the customer base.
c. Backus Museum and Gallery, Kathleen Frederick gave background and history
of the Museum and presented a revised scope of the project and discussed
how the grant will allow them to better preserve the existing art and how the
grant will be used in the new projected expansion of the current Backus
Museum.
8. Other Business:
Commissioner Dzadovsky highlighted his visit with Club Med management team. He
stated that the relationship between the Club Med and the tourism industry could be
very beneficial for both industries, highlighting that Club Med does over 200,000 bed
nights per year and how the St. Lucie County tourism industry could be a secondary
source for lodging when events are taking place at the resort.
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Tourist Development Council Meeting ◊ October 8, 2014
Dzadovsky further stated that Club Med is wanting to reestablish a relationship with
the St. Lucie County tourism industry.
Vice Mayor Linda Bartz added that the Club Med is also in the process of opening a
volleyball academy on site which will be the only academy of volley ball in the
country.
9. Adjournment:
Meeting adjourned at 3:04 PM.
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