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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-23-2022 TBID Minutes DRAFT Minutes – Tourism Business Improvement District Board Meeting of 2/23/2022 Pg. 1 Minutes TOURISM BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT BOARD Wednesday, February 23, 2022 Special Meeting of the Tourism Business Improvement District Board CALL TO ORDER The special meeting of the San Luis Obispo Tourism Business Improvement District Board was called to order on February 23, 2022 at 10:03 a.m. by Chair John Conner. ROLL CALL Present: Chair John Conner, Vice Chair LeBren Harris and Members David Smith, Matthew Wilkins, and Natalie Ward (Joined meeting at 10:18 a.m.) Absent: Members Stephanie Bolles and Pragna Patel-Mueller Staff: Tourism Manager Molly Cano and Tourism Coordinator Matt Teel PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA None. --End of Public Comment-- BUSINESS ITEMS 1. SLO TBID BRAND BOOK B.C. LeDoux from Noble Studios presented a proposal for the development of a comprehensive brand book for the Board’s consideration. The purpose of the Brand Book is to serve as a tool to layout out the SLO TBID’s brand hierarchy, strategy, messaging, and identity. The total cost for the brand book as presented in the proposal was $35,000. Public Comment None. --End of Public Comment-- ACTION: MOTION BY BOARD VICE CHAIR HARRIS SECONDED BY MEMBER WARD CARRIED 5-0-2 (Members Bolles and Patel-Mueller were absent) to spend $35,000.00 from the SLO TBID unallocated fund balance to develop the SLO TBID Brand Book. 2. SLO CAL IPW CO-OP CONSIDERATION Tourism Manager Molly Cano presented a co-op opportunity for participation in IPW during June 4- 8, 2022, in Orlando, Florida in partnership with Visit SLO CAL. The projected total expense for staff to attend the conference is $8,590 and this amount would be drawn from the available TBID tradeshow budget total of $13,000. Board Vice Chair Harris asked about budgeting available and Tourism Manager Cano provided an update on SLO TBID budgeting. Public Comment None. DRAFT Minutes – Tourism Business Improvement District Board Meeting of 2/23/2022 Pg. 2 --End of Public Comment-- ACTION: MOTION BY MEMBER WILKINS SECONDED BY VICE CHAIR HARRIS CARRIED 5-0-2 (Members Bolles and Patel-Mueller were absent) to approve the co-op participation for IPW 2022. 3. VISITSLO.COM WEBSITE REDESIGN DISCUSSION Kimberly Pedego of Noble Studios lead the Board through the overview of the website redesign project and lead a discussion on early input inspiration and desires from the Board. During the presentation, member Ward asked about website ADA compliance and what it means. Pedego elaborated on what website ADA compliance is and why it is important for building new websites. Member Smith asked about video streaming on websites and asked for insight from noble studios. Pedego commented on how video streaming can affect website engagement, user experience and how there are many factors to consider. Vice Chair Harris asked about booking hotel stays directly through the website. Pedego commented that the purpose of the website is to be to help people plan their travel rather than trying to compete with the wide options of travel sites. Member Ward asked about hierarchy of hotels page and whether there is an opportunity for properties to solicit their own specific deals on the website within the deals section. Pedego commented on the current settings of the site and the potential for TBID constituents to list deals. Vice Chair Harris expressed the need for listing more hotels on the find a hotel page rather than limiting the page to six total listings. Vice Chair Harris also commented on the need to include homestays and alternative lodging options within navigation of site. Member Wilkins commented on other booking sites and how they display lodging options. Pedego commented on current hotel listing page and how we can improve the user experience through the website redesign. Chair John Conner and Tourism Manager Cano commented on the need to keep the website inclusive and that allowing constituents to pay for promotions on visitslo.com is not ideal for keeping balanced lodging representation. Tourism Manager Cano asked the Board if there are any other website features that visitslo.com is missing. Vice Chair Harris commented on how a website heat map could help staff and contractor teams understand what users are looking at on the website. Katy McGrath from Badger Branding asked about the current SLO TBID partnership with the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce to keep website event content up to date. Tourism Manager Cano reviewed the current system in place for working with the SLO Chamber team to update event content. Pedego reviewed next steps in the website redesign process and what the SLO TBID Board can expect to review in the future. Public Comment None. --End of Public Comment-- ACTION: None. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 11:29 a.m. The next Tourism Business Improvement District Board Regular meeting is scheduled for March 9, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. held remotely and via teleconference. APPROVED BY THE TOURISM BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT BOARD: 3/9/22