The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About01-13-2016 PCC Minutes Minutes Promotional Coordinating Committee Wednesday, January 13, 2016 Regular Meeting of the Promotional Coordinating Committee CALL TO ORDER A Regular Meeting of the San Luis Obispo Promotional Coordinating Committee was called to order on Wednesday, January 13th, 2016 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room, located at 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California, by Chair Palazzo. ROLL CALL Present: Committee Members Patricia Loosley, Daniel Levi, Chair Sasha Palazzo, and Vice-Chair Jill LeMieux Absent: Clint Pearce, Stephanie Roberson, Deborah Lewis Staff Tourism Manager Molly Cano, Assistant City Clerk John Paul Maier and Present: Recording Secretary Brad T. Opstad PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS Traci R. McGinley, Incoming City Clerk, provided a brief introduction. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS C1. MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015 MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER LEVI, SECOND BY VICE-CHAIR LEMIEUX, CARRIED 4-0, to approve the Minutes of the Promotional Coordinating Committee meeting on December 9, 2015, as presented. C2. COMMUNITY PROMOTIONS BUDGET REPORT By consensus, the Committee directed staff to receive and file a presentation on the Community Promotions Budget Report. C3. PUBLIC RELATIONS REPORT By consensus, the Committee directed staff to receive and file a presentation on the Public Relations Report. C4. GRANTS-IN-AID (GIA) SUPPORT REPORT By consensus, the Committee directed staff to receive and file a presentation on the Grants-In-Aid (GIA) Support Report. Promotional Coordinating Committee Minutes of January 13, 2016 Page 2 City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle C5. VISITOR CENTER REPORT By consensus, the Committee directed staff to receive and file a presentation on the Visitor Center Report. C6. SLO HAPPENINGS PROMOTIONS REPORT By consensus, the Committee directed staff to receive and file a presentation on the SLO Happenings Promotions Report. C7. SLO HAPPENINGS TECHNOLOGY REPORT By consensus, the Committee directed staff to receive and file a presentation on the SLO Happenings Technology Report. C8. TOT (TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAX) REPORT By consensus, the Committee directed staff to receive and file a presentation on the TOT (Transient Occupancy Tax) Report. PRESENTATIONS 1. OPEN SPACE UPDATE Natural Resource Manager, Robert A. Hill, provided a brief introduction on City open space and varying types of reserves in the City, stated that there were fourteen (14) open space properties, and presented the City’s Open Space Trailhead Beautification and Enhancement Project. Hill spoke briefly on the funds that contributed to the Open Space Maintenance Plan including the role the PCC played in catalyzing the ideas into the development of a Major City Goal, identified amenities that are included on the trailheads, and presented the design concepts illustrate the kiosk design options for the various open space properties. Pierre Rademaker of Pierre Rademaker Design spoke on the difference between City functional amenities and the importance of incorporating the City’s standard style guide into the kiosk design, highlighted two categories of information focusing on the character of trailhead kiosks and the continuity within the kiosk system. 2. SLO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE QUARTERLY UPDATE SLO Chamber of Commerce Director of Communications and Business Education, Molly Kern, spoke on the Chamber’s marketing support, presented the SLO Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Report in which she provided data highlighting national and international results of public relations, featuring SLO International Film Festival, wine tours and several other City tourist attractions. Kern accentuated the Latest Best article “Best Apple Picking Near Los Angeles” as representative of the variety of tourism inducements SLO possesses, spoke on positive impacts from tourism that benefit the City and explained the promotion of blogger focus, especially those which recommend family- oriented and cultural activities. Promotional Coordinating Committee Minutes of January 13, 2016 Page 3 City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle Molly Kern further provided an update on the number of visitors served in the City as reported by Visitor Center foot traffic, phone calls and e-mails received, and the events added to the calendar of events. Vice-Chair Lemieux spoke on the Public Relations work that is done and expressed gratitude for the report provided. Committee Member Levi inquired about why the Central Valley has a noticeably small number reported in Visitor Center demographics. Molly Kern explained that Chamber public relations efforts are not predominantly spent in Central Valley whereas SLO County coastal cities do focus publicity efforts in that region. 3. SLO HAPPENINGS PROGRAM QUARTERLY PROMOTIONS UPDATE Judith L. Cohen and Victoria Moreno of FreshBuzz Media presented the SLO Happenings Program Quarterly Report and provided a brief design production history relating to the new live pages of the SLO Happenings 2.0 App. FreshBuzz Media noted that they underspent on the Facebook page until the final App revisions are complete. In explaining App metrics and results since its September 1st inception, they highlighted the increase in downloads (9860 for last two quarters), total users (adding 3050 to new total of 12,910), page views (now totaling 76,629) and clickthroughs on its new Splash Page. The representatives of FreshBuzz Media also spoke on second quarter media results, including the SLO Happenings’ promotional swag, Holiday Greeting brand content and outreach to promoters, while accentuating timeline contests on social platforms (Facebook, Twitter, #SLO, Instagram). They discussed the release of the App in tandem with the Chamber of Commerce this week and their promotional goals for it, which include Number of Downloads, Sessions and Page Views, as well as Percentage of New Sessions. 4. SLO HAPPENINGS TECHNOLOGY QUARTERLY UPDATE By consensus, this Item of the SLO Happenings Program Quarterly Promotions Update is tabled until the February meeting. BUSINESS ITEMS 1. 2016-17 GIA APPLICATION FINAL REVIEW The committee reviewed the application with the changes requested at the December meeting. MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER LEMIEUX, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER LEVI, CARRIED 4-0, to approve the 2016-17 GIA Application. The GIA Task Force is currently in the second year of its cycle. The committee discussed the pros and cons of naming new members to the task force and designated Committee Promotional Coordinating Committee Minutes of January 13, 2016 Page 4 City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle Member LeMieux as “backup” should Committee Member Pearce no longer be the Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) Board designee. This will be decided at the April meeting. PCC LIAISON REPORTS & COMMUNICATION 1. GIA UPDATE Committee Member Loosely reported on the Holiday Parade attendee prospectus. Tourism Manager Cano indicated that funding for the Noor Foundation event had been forfeited because the event had been changed, but that they are eligible to reapply for the funding. 2. TBID BOARD REPORT Tourism Manager Cano provided a brief report of the December TBID Meeting, highlighted fund balances, and announced the “Rainy Day” campaign launch in which guests lodging in SLO on two consecutive nights may receive a $100 gift card, attainable at Visitor’s Center; Committee Member Loosely inquired if the gift card was unrestricted in terms of where may be redeemed. 3. TOURISM PROGRAM UPDATE Tourism Manager Molly Cano reported that survey responses from homestays indicate that while they desire qualified referrals, their booking systems differ substantially from that of hotels, to inclusion in Helium is not their preferred option. Tourism Manager Cano reported the CCTC (Central Coast Tourism Council) Retreat is scheduled for mid-March and will include a mixer at Edna Valley Vineyard, conferences at Marriott Courtyard, adventure excursion breakouts throughout County (Morro Bay, Atascadero, and Pismo Beach), dinner at Luna Red one night, and Hearst Castle Visitor’s Center the following evening. Fifty to seventy-five members are expected with their spouses. Committee Member Daniel Levi indicated he would re-apply for his Board seat. Tourism Manager Cano announced she would attend the Visit California forum in which our marketing agencies are Finalists for Best Overall Marketing Campaign at the Poppy Awards. Cano reiterated that the Helium launch would be next week and that Trade Show season commences in San Diego this month. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 6:57 p.m. to the next Regular meeting to be held on February 10, 2016, 5:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, John Paul Maier Assistant City Clerk