HomeMy WebLinkAboutLRC2Tourism Business Improvement District
Management Subcommittee
Meeting Minutes
December 22, 2015 – 3:00 pm
City Hall
PRESENT: Pearce; Harris
STAFF PRESENT: Molly Cano, Tourism Manager
BUSINESS ITEMS
1. SLO Wine Road Show Event Discussion
Heather Muran of SLO Wine Country presented various options for the Road Show event for the
committee’s review and discussion. The shows presented as options for involvement were: VinDiego;
Eat Drink SF; LA Food & Wine; CA Wine Festival. The committee discussed that all four of these
events were in line with the marketing goals of the program they had expected and were appropriate
target regions and demographics. Particularly the committee was interested in the Eat Drink SF event
in San Francisco. The committee requested that SLO Wine do further research into the event
sponsorship and representation opportunities and then follow up with the committee and/or TBID
Board.
2. Helium Launch Update
The committee reviewed the phase two launch strategy for the website which included the Helium
roll out in January. The committee approved the direction design demo for recommendation to the
Board in January for launch.
3. Homestay Update
Staff and Studio Good presented the update on the Homestay outreach and strategy for the
committee’s review and discussion. The committee reviewed the survey that was distributed to
permitted Homestay properties through staff outreach. There was a 43% response rate to the survey.
Based on the feedback received at that time, the majority of homestays would prefer to have a
qualified referral from the TBID and a have a property specific landing page through the TBID’s site.
The committee directed Studio Good to use these results to create a proposal for Homestay
representation on the website for presentation at the January Board meeting.
4. Sales & Marketing Member Event
Staffs presented the Sales & Marketing Member event strategy for the committee’s review and
discussion. The event is scheduled to take place on January 28, 2016 at the Cal Poly Basketball Suite
and will be open to the TBID member sales and marketing representatives on a limited RSVP
opportunity. The event is designed as a social opportunity for the SLO TBID member sales
representatives to get to know each other and begin to learn and interact with the TBID, staff, and
marketing team. The committee reviewed and approved the Save the Date communication piece and
directed staff to distribute it to the membership. Staff noted that the Save the Date would go out to all
members in December followed by the invitation with RSVP information in early January. The
capacity of the suite would allow for 12-15 participants. The committee commented that based on
space that 1 representative per property was recommended unless spots remained on the guest list.
5. 2014-15 Fund Balance
The committee discussed the use of the 2014-15 fund balance in the 2015-16 fiscal year. The
committee felt that using a significant portion of the fund balance for the purpose of targeted
marketing/advertising efforts during the first quarter of 2016 was very important and should be the
priority use of the funds. The committee directed staff to work with the marketing agency to create
options for marketing programs utilizing up to $70,000 of the fund balance for the TBID to consider
at the January Board meeting. The committee expressed that business is slowing due to El Nino and
other factors and a targeted program was needed.
6. New Business Items
The next Management Committee meeting is scheduled for January 26 at 3:00 pm.