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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-11-2019 TBID Agenda PacketCity of San Luis Obispo, Agenda, Tourism Business Improvement District Board Any writings or documents provided to a majority of the TBID Board regarding any item on this agenda will be made available f or public inspection in the Administration office of the City of San Luis Obispo at 990 Palm Street during normal business hours. Wednesday, September 11, 2019 10:00 A.M. City Hall- Council Hearing Room 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo CALL TO ORDER: Chair Bruce Skidmore PUBLIC COMMENT: Each speaker is limited to two minutes of public comment for items not on the agenda. Public comment for each agenda item will be called for separately and is also limited to two minutes per speaker. State law does not allow the board to discuss or take action on issues not on the agenda, except that members of the board may briefly respond to statements made or questions posed by the person giving public comment. Staff may be directed by the board to follow-up on such items and/or place them on the next board agenda. APPOINTMENT - OATH OF OFFICE John Conner, appointed by the City Council on September 3, 2019, will take the oath of office to serve on the TBID Board to complete an unexpired term through March 31, 2020. CONSENT ITEMS C.1 Minutes of Meeting on Wednesday, August 14, 2019 C.2 Smith Travel Report C.3 SLO Chamber Public Relations Activities Report C.4 AMF + Matchfire Marketing Services Report C.5 SLO Chamber Guest Services Report C.6 Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Report C.7 Q1 SLO Happenings Event Promotion Sponsorship Allocations BUSINESS ITEMS Public comment will be taken for each individual agenda item. Each speaker will be limited to two minutes of public testimony. 1. 2019-20 STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS PLAN 20 mins As recommended by the Marketing Committee, the SLO Chamber’s PR representative will present the 2019-20 Public Relations Strategic Communications Plan for the Board’s approval. 2. 2018-19 TBID ANNUAL REPORT 20 mins The Board will review the draft FY 2018-19 TBID annual report for recommendation to City Council on October 1, 2019. Pending the City Council’s approval of the report, the annual public hearing for the TBID will be scheduled for the November 5, 2019 City Council meeting. 3. VISITSLO.COM WEBSITE 20 mins As recommended by the Marketing Committee, agency representatives will present the website redesign and new functionality for the Board’s review and approval. Staff will discuss the plan for TBID communications announcing the new website URL and functionality. 4. CCTC EAST COAST INITIATIVE CO-OP 15 mins Staff will present an update on the CCTC East Coast initiative including the campaign direction and brand development for the Board’s co-op consideration. 5. MARKETING SERVICES RFP PROCESS 20 mins Staff will introduce the general Request for Proposal (RFP) process for the upcoming Marketing Services contract for the Boards discussion and direction on the workplan. TBID LIAISON REPORTS & COMMUNICATION At this time board members make announcements, report on activities, refer to staff issues for study and report back to the board at a subsequent meeting. 1. HOTELIER UPDATE – Liaison Reports 2. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE UPDATE – Minutes: September 5, 2019 3. MARKETING COMMITTEE UPDATE – Minutes: September 4, 2019 4. PCC UPDATE –Minutes: August 14, 2019 5. SLO CAL UPDATE – Liaison Reports; Visit SLO CAL Activity Report & STR 6. TOURISM PROGRAM UPDATE – Staff Report ADJOURN. POSTING STATEMENT: I, Chantal Burns, Tourism Coordinator, do hereby certify that on September 6, 2019, by 5:00 p.m., a true and correct copy of this agenda was posted on the bulletin board outside City Hall. Internet access to agendas and related material is available at www.slocity.org. DRAFT Minutes – Tourism Business Improvement District Board Meeting of 8/14/2019 Pg. 1 Minutes - DRAFT TOURISM BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT BOARD Wednesday, August 14, 2019 Special Meeting of the Tourism Business Improvement District Board CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the San Luis Obispo Tourism Business Improvement District Board was called to order on Wednesday, August 14, 2019 2019 at 9:59 a.m. in The Kinney’s Gallery Room, located at 1800 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo, California, by Chair Bruce Skidmore. ROLL CALL Present: Chair Bruce Skidmore and Board Members Nipool Patel (departed 11:22 p.m.) Dean Hutton, LeBren Young-Harris (arrived at 10:02 a.m.), Kristen Battaglia Absent: Pragna Patel-Mueller Staff: Tourism Manager Molly Cano and Tourism Coordinator Chantal Burns PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA None. CONSENT ITEMS C.1 Minutes of Meeting on Wednesday, June 12, 2019 C.2 Smith Travel Report C.3 SLO Chamber Public Relations Activities Report C.4 AMF + Matchfire Marketing Services Report C.5 SLO Chamber Guest Services Report C.6 Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Report C.7 Notice of Unscheduled Vacancy – Matthew Wilkins Public Comment None. --End of Public Comment-- ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER HUTTON, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER PATEL, CARRIED 5-0-2, TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS 1 THRU 7. PRESENTATIONS 1. REVIEW OF APPROVED 2019-20 MARKETING PLAN Agency representatives presented a review of the approved 2019-20 Marketing Plan with emphasis on updated personas and budget allocations within the media strategy. DRAFT Minutes – Tourism Business Improvement District Board Meeting of 8/14/2019 Pg. 2 Public Comment None. --End of Public Comment-- No action was taken on presentation items. BUSINESS ITEMS 1. 2019 FALL SEASONAL PROMOTION CAMPAIGN Agency representatives from AMF and Matchfire presented the Marketing Committee’s recommended 2019 Fall promotion campaign for board review and action. Board members discussed the components of the promotion and Tourism Manager Cano reviewed the earmarked funds with SLO Coast Wine Collective as an added promotional partnership benefit. Public Comments: Constituent John Conner of Petit Soleil. ---End of Public Comments--- ACTION: MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER HARRIS, SECOND BY BOARD MEMBER BATTAGLIA, CARRIED 5-0-1, to move forward with the presented promotion and approve the release of carryover funds for promotion use. ACTION: MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER PATEL, SECOND BY BOARD MEMBER HARRIS, CARRIED 5-0-1, to utilize the $7,600 earmarked funds within the SLO Coast Wine Collective contract for promotion use. 2. 2018-19 TBID ANNUAL REPORT PREPARATION The Board reviewed the annual report timeline and components presented by Tourism Manager Cano. Staff will present the draft 2018-19 Annual Report at the regular September board meeting. Public Comments: Constituent John Conner of Petit Soleil. ---End of Public Comments--- 3. COUNTYWIDE TOURISM MARKETING DISTRICT RENEWAL PROCESS Tourism Manager Cano walked members board members through a discussion of the process, role and strategy for SLO TBID involvement in the TMD renewal. Board members provided direction to request a special meeting for Visit SLO CAL to present and educate SLO TBID constituents. Public Comments: Constituent John Conner of Petit Soleil. DRAFT Minutes – Tourism Business Improvement District Board Meeting of 8/14/2019 Pg. 3 ---End of Public Comments--- TBID LIAISON REPORTS AND COMMUNICATION 1. Hotelier Update – None. 2. Management Committee Update - None. 3. Marketing Committee Update – August 7, 2019 minutes are in the packet for review. 4. PCC Update – August 6, 2019 minutes in packet for review. 5. SLO CAL Update – Tourism Manager Cano; Visit SLO CAL Activity Report & STR in agenda packet. 6. Tourism Program Update – Tourism Manager Cano reported on the following: • VisitSLO.com status • Public Relations Contract work • New Board Member will be sworn in a the September 11, 2019 meeting • Conference Center Feasibility Study • Strategic Partners • Upcoming TBID Meetings: ➢ Marketing Committee on Wednesday, September 4th, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. ➢ Management Committee on Thursday, September 5th, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. ➢ Board Meeting on Wednesday, September 11th, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 11:59 a.m. The next Tourism Business Improvement District Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 11, 2019 at 10:00 a.m., at City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA. APPROVED BY THE TOURISM BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT BOARD: XX/XX/XXXX August 2019 WD WE Total WD WE Total WD WE Total WD WE Total WD WE Total WD WE Total City of Paso Robles 77.0 90.0 80.7 127.97 214.45 155.53 98.49 193.02 125.50 -7.8 -4.6 -6.8 0.7 4.5 2.7 -7.2 -0.3 -4.3 City of Pismo Beach 86.4 95.4 89.0 202.72 293.38 230.48 175.25 279.85 205.13 -4.1 -2.4 -3.6 2.8 1.1 2.3 -1.4 -1.3 -1.4 City of San Luis Obispo 81.4 94.1 85.1 162.60 241.57 187.57 132.41 227.43 159.56 -4.5 -2.7 -4.0 8.0 3.6 6.4 3.1 0.8 2.1 City of Morro Bay 79.4 92.0 83.0 153.32 232.08 178.26 121.71 213.45 147.92 -7.8 -6.0 -7.3 2.3 -1.2 1.0 -5.8 -7.2 -6.3 WD WE Total WD WE Total WD WE Total WD WE Total WD WE Total WD WE Total City of Paso Robles 79.2 90.0 82.3 125.70 213.25 153.05 99.57 191.86 125.94 -6.4 -5.0 -5.9 -1.6 0.8 -0.4 -7.8 -4.2 -6.3 City of Pismo Beach 84.1 91.9 86.3 197.35 282.27 223.18 165.98 259.36 192.66 -9.0 -5.5 -8.0 -0.6 -1.0 -0.4 -9.6 -6.5 -8.4 City of San Luis Obispo 78.4 90.7 81.9 157.19 226.38 179.09 123.18 205.34 146.65 -11.8 -5.6 -9.9 5.4 -0.9 3.5 -7.0 -6.4 -6.8 City of Morro Bay 77.5 89.9 81.0 148.69 222.21 171.99 115.17 199.66 139.31 -12.2 -7.4 -10.7 -0.5 -1.3 -0.3 -12.6 -8.6 -11.0 WD WE Total WD WE Total WD WE Total WD WE Total WD WE Total WD WE Total City of Paso Robles 71.2 82.0 74.3 120.97 200.16 145.95 86.07 164.14 108.38 -5.4 -7.8 -6.2 -1.6 -1.0 -1.6 -6.9 -8.7 -7.7 City of Pismo Beach 78.5 87.1 80.9 182.65 270.37 209.61 143.38 235.42 169.68 -4.4 -7.4 -5.3 -0.9 -0.5 -1.0 -5.2 -7.9 -6.3 City of San Luis Obispo 74.5 83.9 77.2 150.52 218.59 171.68 112.10 183.50 132.50 -7.5 -8.5 -7.8 3.2 1.7 2.5 -4.5 -7.0 -5.5 City of Morro Bay 74.1 85.5 77.3 140.94 211.72 163.30 104.38 181.01 126.27 -4.3 -8.8 -5.8 -0.6 -0.8 -1.1 -4.9 -9.5 -6.8 WD WE Total WD WE Total WD WE Total WD WE Total WD WE Total WD WE Total City of Paso Robles 69.5 78.0 71.9 118.43 187.76 139.92 82.25 146.48 100.60 -9.26 2.00 -6.04 -0.9 3.7 2.1 -10.0 5.8 -4.1 City of Pismo Beach 76.0 89.5 79.8 166.40 239.16 189.72 126.39 214.10 151.45 -2.05 2.28 -0.70 -1.2 -0.8 -0.7 -3.2 1.5 -1.4 City of San Luis Obispo 72.3 82.0 75.0 143.38 198.89 160.71 103.60 163.02 120.58 -2.43 2.08 -1.06 3.1 4.1 3.8 0.6 6.2 2.7 City of Morro Bay 68.7 81.3 72.3 133.32 193.01 152.50 91.58 156.93 110.25 -3.11 -0.91 -2.41 -1.0 2.0 0.4 -4.0 1.1 -2.0 WD WE Total WD WE Total WD WE Total WD WE Total WD WE Total WD WE Total City of Paso Robles 62.5 85.6 69.1 111.36 206.65 145.08 69.65 176.95 100.31 0.5 2.9 1.4 -2.4 2.0 0.1 -1.8 5.0 1.5 City of Pismo Beach 62.3 90.2 70.3 151.74 266.82 193.92 94.59 240.57 136.30 0.5 2.1 1.1 -2.9 -0.2 -1.3 -2.4 1.9 -0.3 City of San Luis Obispo 62.5 86.8 69.5 134.84 227.32 167.85 84.33 197.28 116.60 -1.0 2.5 0.2 5.4 6.5 6.4 4.4 9.1 6.6 City of Morro Bay 59.3 87.7 67.4 118.89 215.06 154.64 70.46 188.54 104.20 0.1 3.3 1.3 -3.3 1.1 -0.7 -3.2 4.4 0.6 Week of August 25, 2019 to August 31, 2019 Week of August 18, 2019 to August 24, 2019 Week of August 11, 2019 to August 17, 2019 Week of August 4, 2019 to August 10, 2019 Week of July 28, 2019 to August 3, 2019 RevPar Current Week Totals Percent Change Occupancy (%)ADR RevPar Occupancy (%)ADR RevPar Current Week Totals Percent Change Occupancy (%)ADR RevPar Occupancy (%)ADR Current Week Totals Percent Change Occupancy (%)ADR RevPar Occupancy (%)ADR RevPar Current Week Totals Percent Change Occupancy (%)ADR RevPar Occupancy (%)ADR RevPar Current Week Totals Percent Change Occupancy (%)ADR RevPar Occupancy (%)ADR RevPar Report to City of SLO – TBID and PCC Public Relations Contract August 2019 Media/Community Relations 1) Attended Visit SLO CAL Marketing Committee Meeting & participated in PR discussion 2) Continued working on 2019-20 PR Communications Strategy 3) Began pitching TBID’s promotion ‘Sip, Stay & Save’ to media and digital influencers for a fall FAM activation 4) Worked with SLO Coast Wine to host and meet Mark Anderson on assignment for Shakers Magazine 5) Connected with Tanvi Chheda on assignment with Travel + Leisure for an October visit 6) Continued planning Winter FAM activation with Hotel SLO & Hotel Cerro’s teams. 7) Began planning Visit CA Gold Pass itinerary for writer on assignment with AFAR & JustLuxe 8) Sent suggested itineraries to Charles Anyiam, editor-in-chief of the African Times-USA 9) Met with Jessica Yadegaran, writer & editor for Bay Area News Group’s ‘Eat, Drink, Play’ 10) Continued planning Kate Retherford’s, @allthingskate trip to SLO in October 11) Continued working with The Kinney’s team to plan fall FAM 12) Connected with Seattle writer, Rick Rosner’s on assignment for 425 and South Sound Magazine. 13) Met with Anne Roderique-Jones for a piece titled “SLO Stays, Three Ways” for Enterprise Pursuits and Shermans Travel. 14) Sent out August/September events release to local and regional media outlets 15) Pitched numerous restaurants and hotels for a Travel Awaits train travel feature in partnership with Visit SLO CAL 16) Pitched SLO to the New York Times for an extended summer story 17) Pitched hotel packages for VISIT SLO CAL’s Canada Media Mission 18) Pitched an inaugural Uptown SLO Pop Up hosted by the Butler Hotel to local media and community groups Report to City of SLO – TBID and PCC Public Relations Contract August 2019 19) Continued conversations with Cision to determine options for new reporting in PR strategy 20) Pitched the following content for Visit California’s Story Ideas. o How to Spend Halloween California-Style I. Trick-or-Treating in the heart of San Luis Obispo II. Fall harvest yields endless opportunity for food and drink in San Luis Obispo III. Fall Family Friendly Events in San Luis Obispo IV. Zombies are in San Luis Obispo! Either run to survive or prepare to fight. V. Listen to tales and watch movies that will chill your spine in San Luis Obispo VI. Pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and scarecrow contests in San Luis Obispo 21) Continued to work with the city, AMF and Matchfire on overall tourism marketing campaign. Media Placements 1. 18 Family-Friendly Destinations You'll Love at Any Age Brit + Co included San Luis Obispo in their roundup of family-friendly destinations, specifically naming the town’s low-key atmosphere and The Kinney SLO as a place to stay. The piece specifically noted the heated pool, sun deck and pub with family-friendly games. UVPM: 10.2M 2. Santa Barbara to Monterey: How to Spend an Epic Long Weekend Along California’s Highway 1 From Press featured San Luis Obispo as a key stopping point on a California coastal road trip. Among the must-dos were dining at our well- known BBQ restaurants, strolling through Farmers’ Market & hiking Cerro San Luis among other trails in the city. UVPM: 8.7K Report to City of SLO – TBID and PCC Public Relations Contract August 2019 3. The 6 Most Scenic Amtrak Train Routes Oyster touts the Pacific Surfliner journey from San Luis Obispo to San Diego as a “short and sweet train route” and suggest staying at the Best Western Royal Oak Hotel. UVPM: 1.45M 4. 7 Pacific Coast Stops To Make While Riding The Coast Starlight Travel Awaits included hotels and restaurants we pitched to them for this train travel piece. The story also noted the walkable and lively downtown as well as the hiking trails, wineries and college town vibe. 5. Hitting the Road We provided photos and detailed information on Hotel SLO and Hotel Cerro to CSQ Magazine which they included in their roundup of what’s new on the coast of California. Another notable San Luis Obispo mentions were Tolosa winery and its new Perinet Tasting Experience. UVPM: 10K 6. Fall Road Trip: California’s Central Coast AARP touts SLO’s slow pace, historic district and suggest multiple activities including attending Farmers’ Market, happy hour at Central Coast Brewing, eating cake at Madonna and staying at Apple Farm Inn. UVPM: 68K Report to City of SLO – TBID and PCC Public Relations Contract August 2019 7. Quilt Sampler Magazine Better Homes & Garden’s Quilt Sampler Magazine featured a five-page spread on Picking Daisies as a top-10 shop in the country. The story included multiple photos of the Creamery Marketplace located shop as well as the fabric store’s unique offerings and beginnings in SLO. The piece also called out SLO as one of America’s happiest places, including other business in the Creamery, the Farmers’ Market and Madonna Inn as places to check out when visiting. UVPM: 30.3K UVPM: 8. Where to Eat & Drink Between Los Angeles and San Francisco Chowhound includes SLO’s Santa Maria style BBQ and Madonna Inn’s Gold Rush Steak House as their top meal picks in San Luis Obispo and suggests a stay at the inn as well. UVPM: 10.2M 9. Become a Connoisseur in California Wine Country Visit California included 101 Wine and Breakaway Wine Tours in their feature on wine education experiences throughout the state. UVPM: 1K Report to City of SLO – TBID and PCC Public Relations Contract August 2019 10. 10 Top Farmers Markets Visit California included San Luis Obispo in their roundup of the best ten farmers’ markets in the state. The story calls the downtown market “a sensory treasure trove, with amazing sights, smells, sounds, and of course tastes.” UVPM: 1K 11. The 7 best spots for photos in SLO County, according to Instagram The Tribune reported on the top spots among thousands that both locals and visitors have shared on Instagram. Included on the list of the top seven are Bubblegum Alley and Madonna Inn. UVPM: 850K 12. Hotel Cerro: The Central Coast’s New “Green” Jewel in California Jetsetterblog posted about Hotel Cerro’s impending opening, calling the groundbreaking new hotel a “game- changer for San Luis Obispo in more ways than one”. It included design highlights with a nod toward the building’s historic roots, eco-conscious details and LEED Silver specifications. UVPM: 10K Report to City of SLO – TBID and PCC Public Relations Contract August 2019 13. DOWN THE MIDDLE: CENTRAL COAST TRAVEL GUIDE Zia Domic is a LA digital influencer who recapped her trip to SLO on her blog, the Hunter Collector highlighting her family’s stay at the Kinney and their quick road trip to SLO. UVPM: 5K 14. Cuisineist, a husband and wife sommelier team posted two rave reviews of San Luis Obispo dining experiences. i. Ciopinot, A Place Where Pinot Noir and Sea-Food are a Perfect Match ii. Buona Tavola in San Luis Obispo UVPM: 46.2K Events: 15. California Wine Month Kicks Off in September with Celebrations Across the State The Wine Institute included Downtown SLO’s Sip ‘n Saunter in their statewide compilation of Wine Month events. The story was picked up by multiple KLKN affiliates, Cal Travel & other wine tourism sites. UVPM: 23M 16. Fremont Theater movie nights benefit school district New Times reported on Fremont Theater’s Back to School Movie Nights benefitting the San Luis Coastal Unified School District. UVPM: 26K Report to City of SLO – TBID and PCC Public Relations Contract August 2019 17. Things to do on the Central Coast The Lompoc Record tells readers the music, food and people watching at the weekly SLO Farmers’ Market makes the drive worth it. UVPM: 247.7K 18. SLO Rep presents Greater Tuna New Times shared a synopsis of SLO Repertory Theatre’s running of the Off Broadway hit, Greater Tuna along with ticketing information. UVPM: 26K SLOTBID AGENCY REPORT August 2019 HAPPENING NOW • 2018-2020 campaign underway • New website almost complete • Be Here creative refresh • Sizzle Reel • Annual Report • Fall Promotion planning & preparation SLO VACATIONS • Events Management • Website Redesign • WordPress Platform + Plug-in Updates SEO • Broken links fi xed • Alt image tags added • Position tracking EMAIL • 63 new leads from email sign- up form • Ongoing: Welcome Series • SLO Happenings: August • Consumer Newsletter: Bi- Monthly • Member Newsletter: Quarterly Update 1-877-SLO-TOWN SanLuisObispoVacations.com *Valid on new bookings made for travel dates between October 1, 2019 to November 30, 2019. Visitor must send proof of purchase to info@sanluisobispovacations.com to reserve this promotion, then show proof of purchase and room key to San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center staff to pick up promo code with $100 in Uber credits. Promo code will not be mailed or emailed and must be picked up in person during the time of your stay at the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center, 895 Monterey St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. Offer limited to fi rst 500 reservations to claim. Some exclusions, including blackout dates of October 25–27, November 17, and November 27–28 apply. For questions regarding this offer, email info@sanluisobispovacations.com. One (1) redemption per 2-night stay. Three (3) redemptions maximum. Offer cannot be combined with any other offers. Lost or stolen codes will not be refunded. CONGRATULATIONS!CONGRATULATIONS! Your stay is eligible for the Sip Stay & Save promotion, which includes $100 in Uber credits! Bring all three items below to the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center during open hours: 1) This email (digital or printed will be accepted) 2) A photo ID, such as a driver’s license or passport 3) Hotel room key The Visitor Center is located at 895 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. Hours are: Sunday–Wednesday, 9:30am–5pm Thursday–Saturday, 9:30am–6pm This offer must be redeemed during your qualifi ed stay. Not valid once travel dates have passed. To redeem your Uber credits during your stay in SLO: A SLOTBID AGENCY REPORT SHARESLO • Cross-promotion on Cal Poly social channels • Ticket Tuesday promotion • Infl uencer Reporting • Pinterest Strategy Approval • Community blog posts: -Top Insta-worthy Places in SLO -The Perfect Picnic in San Luis Obispo -14 Things You Didn’t Know About San Luis Obispo LOOKING AHEAD • VisitSLO.com launch in September • Sizzle Reel and Annual Report presentations • Fall Promotion launch Fall Promotion August 2019 1-877-SLO-TOWN SanLuisObispoVacations.com VisitSLO.comRestrictions apply. $100 in credits to explore our SLO coast wine trails Stay 2 nights in a SLO hotel & receive SLOTBID AGENCY REPORT SESSIONS PAGE VIEWS USERS REFERRALS SanLuisObispoVacations.com 13,705 25,883 11,198 FACEBOOK New Fans Total Fans Total Reach Average Reach per Post Average Daily Page Engaged Users Total Engagements 0 101,049 1,746,189 14,480 80 756 TWITTER New Followers Total Followers Total Engagements #ShareSLO 17 4,283 295 220 INSTAGRAM New Followers Total Followers Total Reach Average Reach per post Total Engagements #ShareSLO 297 17,382 146,809 4,318 10,480 3,274 PINTEREST Total Impressions Total Audience Total Link Clicks Total Engagements 3,569 1,263 33 189 YOUTUBE SLO Promo Video 47,726 PAID DIGITAL MEDIA Search Engine Marketing Facebook Instagram Pinterest 633 Clicks 843 Clicks 382 Clicks 890 Clicks, 29,116 engagements August 2019 Report to City of SLO – TBID Phone Line and Availability Contract August 2019 Response to TBID Advertising Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 August 2018 August 2019 Calls to 1-877-SLO-TOWN 22 25 14 19 76 80 Hotel Availability Tracker Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 August 2018 August 2019 Email Response 16 16 15 17 65 64 Phone Calls to Hotels 71 79 57 86 289 293 Hotel Referrals Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 August 2018 August 2019 Visitors Served (Walk-ins) 1,774 1,608 1,372 1,343 5,833 6,097 Farmers’ Market* 500 500 500 500 2,000 2,000 Hotel Rooms Referred 315 328 292 291 1,012 1,223 *estimate without people counter 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 Change +/- July 508,195$ 541,806$ 591,184$ 636,778$ 699,845$ 761,346$ 844,845$ 877,391$ 880,321$ 874,775$ 900,365$ 2.9% August 511,564$ 542,194$ 574,395$ 623,655$ 674,244$ 732,271$ 774,501$ 765,232$ 734,830$ 815,225$ -100.0% September 400,023$ 437,543$ 490,524$ 508,583$ 505,954$ 557,002$ 643,127$ 650,117$ 701,230$ 696,113$ -100.0% October 414,870$ 442,586$ 437,805$ 469,977$ 509,435$ 594,032$ 642,221$ 628,049$ 613,045$ 704,568$ -100.0% November 280,913$ 330,924$ 347,437$ 359,163$ 425,769$ 475,360$ 468,016$ 497,162$ 519,193$ 565,129$ -100.0% December 246,684$ 274,417$ 314,784$ 319,451$ 355,315$ 391,132$ 429,600$ 434,836$ 479,813$ 491,517$ -100.0% January 230,279$ 256,351$ 276,165$ 302,153$ 331,853$ 400,239$ 387,304$ 396,559$ 415,461$ 468,705$ -100.0% February 273,373$ 302,246$ 323,359$ 344,160$ 366,980$ 431,510$ 466,915$ 439,735$ 502,476$ 526,793$ -100.0% March 326,099$ 333,783$ 392,266$ 426,879$ 448,103$ 520,795$ 559,235$ 549,642$ 577,221$ 606,841$ -100.0% April 423,158$ 451,133$ 475,913$ 486,850$ 564,617$ 610,894$ 609,439$ 708,724$ 653,881$ 751,077$ -100.0% May 372,997$ 433,874$ 447,116$ 489,862$ 546,916$ 601,614$ 598,093$ 645,114$ 626,025$ 688,231$ -100.0% June 490,326$ 512,543$ 578,234$ 610,948$ 630,729$ 727,028$ 731,038$ 765,362$ 795,368$ 843,999$ -100.0% Total/Average 4,478,481$ 4,859,400$ 5,249,181$ 5,578,460$ 6,059,758$ 6,803,224$ 7,154,334$ 7,357,923$ 7,498,864$ 8,032,974$ -100.0% 7,875,000$ 2018-19 2019-20 Change +/-2018-19 2019-20 Change +/-2018-19 2019-20 Change +/- July 85.2 80.1 -6.1 175.2 186.7 6.6 149.2 149.5 0.1 August 81.3 166.5 135.4 September 72.3 163.1 117.9 October 72.7 151.2 109.9 November 67.7 143.0 96.7 December 59.1 135.2 79.9 January 59.3 125.9 74.6 February 66.4 140.5 93.3 March 68.0 142.8 97.1 April 76.4 161.2 123.2 May 66.1 155.7 102.9 June 75.0 182.7 137.1 Total/Average 70.80 80.08 -6.1 153.58 186.72 6.6 109.77 149.53 0.1 Occupancy ADR TOT Comparison RevPAR*Figures from Smith Travel Research Report App #Application Type Event Event Organization Day of the Week Event Date(s)Historical # of Attendees Historical % of our out of area Historical # of out-of-area Attendees Committee Notes Funded Amount 1 Marketing Central Coast Youth Chorus 2019-2020 Concert Series Central Coast Youth Chorus Weekends December 7 & 8, 2019, April 18, 2020, May 16 & 17, 2020 300 2%6 Organization needs to review TBID goals and initiatives. Marketing dollars will only to be used in out of area markets to promote event and overnight stays in San Luis Obispo . $ 1,250.00 2 Marketing & Lodging Live Oak Music Festival KCBX, Inc.Friday - Sunday June 19-21, 2020 3832 33%1265 80% of event attendees camp onsite (~253 potential out of area non campers). Marketing dollars must be used solely for out of area marketing to promote overnight stays in a San Luis Obispo property. No hosted rooms approved due to incomplete plan and strategy provided. $ 1,250.00 3 Lodging Mission Prep Christmas Classic Mission College Prep Wednesday - Saturday December 18-21, 2019 1400 85%1190 Up to $10k towards hosted rooms for requested traveling teams. Event organization to determine properties and negotiate rates $ 10,000.00 4 Marketing New Year's Eve POPS: A Night at the Oscars San Luis Obispo Symphony Tuesday December 31 2019 1000 8%80 Organization needs to review TBID goals and initiatives. Marketing dollars will only to be used in out of area markets to promote event and overnight stays in San Luis Obispo . $ 1,250.00 5 Marketing San Luis Obispo International Film Festival San Luis Obispo International Film Festival Tuesday- Sunday March 17-22, 2020 14500 25%3625 Marketing sponsorship must be used to promote event and overnights stays in San Luis Obispo to out of area markets. $ 8,750.00 6 Marketing & Lodging SLO Craft Beer Festival Pouring Productions Friday - Saturday February 21-22, 2020 3000 15%450 Marketing sponsorship to be used only toward budgeted out of area media as listed in application's promotional plan. No hosted lodging approved based off of application plan and strategy. $ 3,964.00 7 Marketing SLO Half Marathon, Relay Race, 5k, Kids Race & Hall of Fame Ceremony Race SLO Saturday - Sunday May 2-3 OR April 25-26, 2020 4350 67%2915 Marketing sponsorship to be used towards out of area promotion of event. Stipulation that sponsorship must be applied to May 2-3, 2020 event dates. $ 7,500.00 8 Marketing Sustainable Ag Expo & International Sustainable Winegrowing Summit Vineyard Team Monday - Thursday November 11- 14, 2019 625 63%394 Marketing sponsorship must be used to promote event and overnights stays in San Luis Obispo to out of area markets. $ 10,000.00 2019-20 Q1 Sponsorship $ 43,964.00 2019-20 Event Sponsorship Budget $ 60,000.00 2019-20 Remaining $ 16,036.00 Event & Organization Application Data 2019 - 20 Q1 SLO Happenings Event Promotion Sponsorship TBID Sponsorship J T: 805.786.2770 JACQUI@SLOCHAMBER.ORG City of San Luis Obispo Public Relations Strategic Plan 2019-20 PREPARED FOR: City of San Luis Obispo Public Relations Strategic Plan 2019-20 2 STRATEGIC APPROACH This plan lays the foundation for the next year of earned media success for the Public Relations activities for the city of San Luis Obispo. While this plan and its supporting documents are the roadmap to success for SLO’s PR strategy, it should be recognized that the backdrop for media relations is continually changing and the opportunity for SLO’s PR team to be nimble and pivot when necessary is an asset. The public relations program will share the story of the unique offerings San Luis Obispo has for both residents and visitors by highlighting the character of the community and why locals love to call SLO home. This includes the promotion of community events and the sharing of distinctive experiences which set the San Luis Obispo community apart from other destinations. New developments in the city, expansions and renovations, key partnerships and events will guide our public relations storytelling in 2019-20. We will position San Luis Obispo as a lively university town in the heart of the Central Coast and the ideal place to experience excellent dining, disconnect while reconnecting with loved ones, discover our wine country and immerse in arts and culture. Additionally, as our fly markets grow, we will continue to assess awareness of San Luis Obispo in connecting destinations, while continuously focusing on easily accessible drive markets. Public Relations and earned media are valuable channels to reach potential visitors to San Luis Obispo and a vital part of a strategic communications plan. Credible third-party editorial content in the form of print and social media stories are effective ways to reach potential visitors and are valuable channels in telling story of SLO. We will pitch publications in our target west-coast market that hold a high level of credibility with the public. Audiences tend to view media placements as unbiased and as providing powerful endorsements of a destination. Earned, editorial coverage is designed to inspire its audience to take the next step to discover more about the city of San Luis Obispo. It is important that San Luis Obispo is top of mind when consumers are looking to travel. Additionally, we have taken into consideration the following trends in the travel industry that will help inform our overall storytelling for 2019-20: Wellness: According to the Global Wellness Institute, wellness motivated travel could reach upwards of 1 billion trips in 2019. Society is asking more and more for health and wellness in their lives and it is motivating where people travel so they can immerse themselves in the experience. Travelers are looking to unplug from technology, connect with nature and pamper their mind, body and spirit on holiday. Farm to Table 2.0: The farm to table trend is not new, but food still motivates travel. Also known as gastro-tourism, this trend is defined by travel in the pursuit of unique food and beverage experiences. Everybody must eat and experiences with local fare help create a lasting impression of a destination. This can include anything from consumer involvement in the food sourcing process to an educational meal hosted by the chef, as long as the experience feels special. Multigenerational travel: According to the 2019 Virtuoso Luxe Report – a survey of more than 1,000 Virtuoso travel advisors – multigenerational travel is this year’s top vacation trend. Multigenerational travel is defined as a leisure trip where at least three generations from the City of San Luis Obispo Public Relations Strategic Plan 2019-20 3 same family are travelling together. Many travelers reported that spending time with loved ones is the most important factor when planning a trip. Taking these top travel trends into consideration, SLO will ensure our family, outdoor and culinary key messages are featured prominently in all our storytelling. As these messages are core to the destination, we imagine a seamless integration and the ability to tap into our local partnerships to highlight all San Luis Obispo has to offer. Objectives 1. Promote San Luis Obispo as a destination to live, play and stay driving visitation and delivering economic impact. 2. Build consumer awareness serving as the voice of SLO by amplifying the destination brand and reaching audiences locally, regionally and nationally. 3. Communicate the vitality and character of San Luis Obispo and the community. Target Audience Consumers falling into our visitor profiles seeking leisure travel range from millennials to baby boomers, in defined key travel markets (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle), as well as those with special interests such as food and wine, outdoor activities and arts and culture. Central Coast residents’ looking to rediscover what is in their backyard and learn about events and new happenings within their community. Target Media Audience SLO’s public relations strategy is focused on securing placements across digital and print media channels in its target markets. Digital influencers are also a crucial piece of the media mix given their ability to share aspirational messaging in real time to appropriate niche audiences. Lifestyle, business and news media are all appropriate targets for SLO’s PR activities and will be prioritized by several criteria: Target Media Audience Objectives 1. Niche publications by pillar 1, 2 2. Digital Influencers 2, 3 3. Feeder Market publications 1, 2 4. Central Coast publications 1, 3 5. National Travel & Lifestyle 1, 2 IMPLEMENTATION Develop Editorial Calendar Taking into consideration diverse media interests and trends within target media, an official editorial calendar will outline when and what content is needed throughout the year. This organized method will provide ample lead-time to create content or develop assets for pitches, press releases, events, building City of San Luis Obispo Public Relations Strategic Plan 2019-20 4 itineraries etc. The editorial calendar is meant to complement the TBID’s marketing plan as well as partner activities and community events to ensure overall efficiency and benefit. Deliverable: Curate an editorial calendar that aligns with marketing efforts and provides an at-a- glance view of the year’s activities Timeline: October 2019 Launch the SLO Media Center As creating awareness of San Luis Obispo is a priority of the public relations strategy, it is imperative that the media center has the latest destination information. The media center on VisitSLO.com will serve as a resource in proactive outreach as well as for responding to media inquiries. It will be updated quarterly with top press mentions as well as hosting story ideas, press releases, itineraries, a media intake form and key messages. Deliverable: Work with marketing agency, Matchfire to build out Media Center on new VisitSLO.com website Timeline: November 2019 Update Key Messages Based on SLO’s defined pillars and key messages already in place, we will work to update and improve upon the current key destination messaging. These pillars represent the core of San Luis Obispo and guide the storytelling used in public relations. Pillars/Key Messages: o Culinary o Beer/Wine o Cal Poly o Family o Outdoor o Cultural Deliverable: Confirm updated key messaging Timeline: October 2019 Develop Target Media List This list will be informed by our defined target media list and will include a mix of print publications, both digital and online. We will also work with our DMO partners to ensure there is minimal duplication in our pitching efforts. Deliverable: Pull together list of 70-80 outlets that fit in our target media audience Timeline: September 2019 City of San Luis Obispo Public Relations Strategic Plan 2019-20 5 Story Ideas & Press Releases Hosting evergreen story ideas on the media center will ensure consistent brand messaging. General press releases as well as event releases sent to targeted media will also be available in the media center to ensure up to date information on San Luis Obispo is readily available. Deliverable: Posted on media center and on hand for responsive leads Timeline: September 2019 PROACTIVE MEDIA OUTREACH At its core, San Luis Obispo’s public relations program will showcase the city’s abundance of activities, one-of-a-kind experiences and vital and engaging community. SLO’s PR team will act as a resource by sharing story ideas, creating unique content and assets and engaging both traditional and social media through an array of media relations tactics. SLO’s public relations program both amplifies consumer-marketing efforts and reaches audiences beyond the scope of paid efforts to promote the SLO brand. In addition, successful public relations will build relationships between SLO, its tourism partners, local businesses and the general public. Content Pitching With the media landscape constantly changing, SLO’s efforts in public relations are informed by trends in consumer travel and by our key messages. Throughout the year, we will be pitching San Luis Obispo to a variety of editors and freelancers on our targeted media list. This will include event releases as well as story ideas defined by key messages, travel trends and news hooks. This proactive work is in combination with responsive content pitching. Deliverable: Press releases are sent to targeted media 2-3 times per quarter with responsive lead opportunities coming in daily. Timeline: Quarterly Press Visits & FAMS There is no substitute for experiencing San Luis Obispo firsthand. Press trips play a major role in generating editorial placements that tell the San Luis Obispo story and showcase our key messages. These placements inspire travel and educate consumers on the destination. Deliverable: Secure 5-6 individual media visits Timeline: Throughout 2019-20 Digital Influencer Hosting As the digital influencer-sphere is growing, we have dedicated more attention to these content creators. The public relations team has taken the lead with SLO’s digital influencer strategy and has found success in the authentic relationship building that defines its approach. We will form partnerships with digital influencers that are relevant to the SLO brand, resonate with our target audience and have a desired reach on their platform(s). City of San Luis Obispo Public Relations Strategic Plan 2019-20 6 Deliverable: Secure 5-6 digital influencer partnerships Timeline: Throughout 2019-20 RESPONSIVE LEADS A good responsive strategy takes work, consideration and preparation. The reputation and standing of the SLO Chamber of Commerce makes it a natural partner for SLO’s tourism PR efforts as media regularly reach out to the Chamber for destination and visitor information. The efficiency and accuracy of delivering information on San Luis Obispo to media is vital in positioning ourselves as the expert for the destination. Having defined information on hand will also guarantee we are prepared to submit pitches to the 3x daily HARO service should a request fit in with our target audience and overall strategy. Leveraging Partnerships Visit California: San Luis Obispo will leverage the large international megaphone that belongs to Visit California by participating in its PR programs. SLO will regularly submit content to Visit California’s editorial board, participate in Visit California-led press trips, share content on Visit California’s social media channels and attend domestic media marketplaces. Central Coast Tourism Council: SLO will leverage the Central Coast Tourism Council’s growing reach by participating in its PR efforts and positioning the destination as the heart of the Central Coast. Visit SLO CAL: SLO will leverage the national and international reach of Visit SLO CAL by partnering closely with their PR team and participating in their PR programs. SLO will regularly submit content to Visit SLO CAL’s editorial board, participate in Visit SLO CAL-led press trips and represent through their channels San Luis Obispo as the heart of SLO CAL. SLO Coast Wine Collective: Understanding that the budding wine region is a flourishing aspect of our destination, SLO will work with SLO Coast Wine’s team on telling that story and publicizing the destination together. Cal Poly: Cal Poly is not only one of the community’s largest economic drivers, but also a huge draw for visitors whether they be families of students or those seeking the university’s many cultural offerings. Through our built-in relationship with Cal Poly, we are able to work with them to get in front of additional audiences. MINDBODY: SLO has a great relationship with MINDBODY’s PR team that we will continue to grow through our joint interest in representing San Luis Obispo as a wellness destination, in addition to highlighting our community as one where start-ups such as MINDBODY thrive. SLO Lodging Properties: SLO will work with the city’s lodging partners and their PR teams to lead the destination portion of any hosted media or FAMS. As there is a shared interest for success of both promoting the hotels and the destination, this partnership is built in but also tactical in its approach. Events While the current PR strategy does not have attending press events as a tactic, the team will remain open to opportunities as they come and assess participation on a case by case basis. City of San Luis Obispo Public Relations Strategic Plan 2019-20 7 MEASURING SUCCESS Develop a system of regular reporting and stakeholder feedback. Monthly written reports of PR activities and media placements with quarterly presentations to TBID and monthly presentations to PCC. Delivery of all aspects of strategic plan within 2019-20 timeline. The public relations team is currently vetting new metrics for reporting through the media monitoring service we utilize, Cision. DRAFTSLO TBID ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 DRAFT2 SLO TBID Annual Report 2018-19 A Letter from the Chair A LETTER FROM THE CHAIR Another productive year for the SLO TBID. We are pleased to see continuing growth in TOT collections in the 2018‐19 fiscal year being up 7.3% YOY to just over $8m. This year’s growth exceeded initial City projections of 5% growth resulting in an additional $169k into the City’s General Fund. Occupancy was relatively flat (.07% growth), at just slightly under 71% for the year, pointing to an increase in average rate (up 4% to $153.57), and RevPAR (up 4.1% to $109.77), to substantiate the increase in collections. We also had some transition this year as Clint Pearce with Madonna Enterprises ended his term. Through his time on the Board, he provided great leadership and we appreciate his contributions over the years. We are also pleased to share Pragna Patel‐Muller renewed her position and will continue providing invaluable contributions for another term and we welcomed new Board Member, Kristin Battaglia. This year we were fortunate by avoiding any major situations that would impact occupancy or demand in San Luis Obispo as we once again are seeing regular and uninterrupted travel on Highway 1; a key corridor for travelers to our city. One of our new hotel partners, La Quinta Inn & Suites San Luis Obispo, celebrated their grand opening this past May and look to be enjoying brisk business levels already. In the coming year, we continue to look forward to welcoming the opening of Hotel SLO and Hotel Cerro, with both expecting to open before the end of calendar 2019. As we add new inventory, and some of our competing cities to the north and south do the same, it will be most important that we continue working with all our key partners to drive awareness and demand for hotels in the city. We continue to see great success with our “Money for a Rainy Day” program, and the new focus “Be Here” campaign has really taken shape and certainly contributes to the success we had in maintaining our city occupancy levels and allowed us to grow rate as well at the same time. We added another promotion this past year between Thanksgiving and Christmas called “Our Gift To You” that had good results and brought in some new visitors as well. There is even more to come next year as we continue to create new and inspiring promotions at other times of the year to help spread out and create new demand for our destination. Our key partnerships with Cal Poly Athletics, Cal Poly’s Office of Student Affairs (NTSP Program, Parent Program and the newly developed SLO Discovery Weekend), SLO Coast Wine Collective, and an increased level of partnership with MINDBODY continue to show our organization’s focus on community outreach and partnership involvement. As we will continue to mention, none of this could not be done without the commitment and dedication of city staff to help provide consistency and support in the board’s efforts to further position SLO as the number one destination on the Central Coast. Sincerely, Bruce Skidmore Embassy Suites by Hilton San Luis Obispo SLO TBID Board Chair DRAFT3 SLO TBID Annual Report 2018-19 Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS Background on TBID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Background ....................................................4 Advisory Body .................................................4 2018–19 Advisory Board ........................................4 Advisory Body Bylaws .........................................5 2018-19 Year By the Numbers (TOT) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Strategic Plan Implementation Year & Program Approach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 TBID Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Snapshot of the Progress ......................................8 Branding & Campaign .........................................9 Website .......................................................10 Media ..........................................................11 Email Marketing ...............................................13 Social .........................................................14 Public Relations ...............................................17 Travel & Tradeshows. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Special Promotions ...........................................19 Guest Services ................................................20 Strategic Partnerships ........................................21 Event Promotion ..............................................23 Industry Relations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Research ......................................................25 2018–19 Financial Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Income ........................................................27 Expenditures ..................................................28 Looking Ahead to 2019–20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 TOT Chart 2018–19 .............................................31 TOT Month-to-Month 2018–19 .................................31 OCC Month-to-Month 2018–19 ................................32 ADR Month-to-Month 2018–19 ................................32 RevPar Month-to-Month 2018–19 .............................33 Visitor Personas ...............................................34 DRAFT4 SLO TBID Annual Report 2018-19 Background on TBID BACKGROUND ON TBID BACKGROUND In June 2008 the City Council adopted Ordinance 1517 establishing the tourism business improvement district (TBID) in the City of San Luis Obispo as requested by the local lodging industry. The assessment of two percent of gross receipts for the district became effective on October 1, 2008 and the use of funds was defined in Section 12.42.030 of the Municipal Code as follow: “This ordinance is made and enacted pursuant to the provisions of the Parking and Business Improvement Area Law of 1989 (Sections 36500 et. seq., of the California Streets and Highways Code). The purpose of forming the district as a business improvement area under the Parking and Business Improvement Area Law of 1989 is to provide revenue to defray the costs of services, activities and programs promoting tourism which will benefit the operators of hotels in the district through the promotion of scenic, recreational, cultural and other attractions in the district as a tourist destination.” ADVISORY BODY The use of the assessment fund is based on the recommendation of the Tourism Business Improvement District advisory board that is staffed by City of San Luis Obispo hotel owners, operators, and/or managers. The board members are appointed by the City Council and serve for an initial term of four years with the opportunity to serve second term for a maximum of eight years. 2018-19 ADVISORY BOARD NAME PROPERTY TERM Dean Hutton Apple Farm 3/31/21 Bruce Skidmore (Chair)Embassy Suites by Hilton San Luis Obispo 3/31/21 LeBren Harris Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton 3/31/21 Pragna Patel‐Mueller Hotel Buena Vista 3/31/23 Kristin Battaglia*The Kinney SLO 3/31/23 Nipool Patel Lamplighter Inn & Suites 3/31/20 Clint Pearce**Madonna Inn 3/31/19 Matthew Wilkins (Past Chair)Sands Inn & Suites 3/31/20 *Kristin Battaglia was appointed on May 21, 2019 to fill the vacant seat on the TBID Board. **Clint Pearce completed his second consecutive term on March 31, 2019 and was not eligible for reappointment. DRAFT5 SLO TBID Annual Report 2018-19 ADVISORY BODY BYLAWS In addition to the governing City ordinance, the TBID Board established its advisory body bylaws and further defined its role and functions as: The functions and duties of the TBID Board shall include, but not be limited to, the following: A. Planning a comprehensive program to promote tourism to the City of San Luis Obispo and prepare an annual marketing program consistent with industry goals and objectives. B. Develop advertising and promotional programs and projects to benefit the lodging industry in San Luis Obispo. C. Present an annual assessment report to the City Council regarding the implemented promotional programs and projects. D. Perform any other lawful tasks as directed by the Council. The Board meets monthly on the second Wednesday at 10 a.m. for its regular board meeting. In 2018‐19, the Board met a total of 15 times for scheduled Monthly Board Meetings and Special Board Meetings. They held nine regularly scheduled Monthly Board Meetings, two Special Board Meetings rescheduled due to lack of quorum, one rescheduled Special Board Meeting due to staff’s TBID related travel, and three Special Board Meetings related to TBID 5‐year Strategic Plan development. Additionally, the board utilized the two standing committees (comprised of Board Members) ‐ the Management Committee and the Marketing Committee, to execute detailed work and form thoroughly considered recommendations to the Board. In 2018‐19, the Marketing Committee members also served on the joint Event Promotion Committee with members of the Promotional Coordinating Committee to consider event sponsorship commitments. Background on TBID DRAFT6 SLO TBID Annual Report 2018-19 MEASUREMENT FY 2018-19 RESULT % CHANGE FROM FY 2017-18 TOT $8,043,692 7.3 % Occupancy 70.79 %0.07 % ADR $153.57 4.0 % RevPAR $ 109.77 4.1 % 2017-18 Year by the Numbers 2018-19 YEAR BY THE NUMBERS The 2018‐19 fiscal year produced relative growth in the tourism industry in San Luis Obispo. The City collected over $8 million dollars (+7.3%) in transient occupancy tax (TOT) continuing the year‐over‐year trend of producing the largest collection ever recorded for the City of San Luis Obispo and breaking the eight‐million‐dollar mark. Additionally, the collections exceeded the City’s forecasted growth (+5%) which in turn contributed nearly $169,000 more dollars directly into the City’s General Fund. Although the TOT collection was strong for the City in 2018‐19, this year the occupancy rate in the City remained flat (+0.07%) resulting in an average annual occupancy rate slightly under 71% for the year. The months showing the most significant growth in occupancy were August (+6.7%) and April (+5.3). The most negatively impacted occupancy months were May and June both resulting in a decrease in occupancy of 5% compared to the same month the prior year. However, the Average Daily Rate (ADR) was up 4% to $153.57 which nearly doubled the growth from the prior year. Every month within 2018‐19 out rated the same month in the prior year. Additionally, the RevPAR, defined as Revenue Per Available Room, grew by 4.1% to $109.77. This means that although the occupancy was flat, the lodging businesses received higher profits based on rate increases with less day‐to‐day impact on the properties. As another measurement of success, the downtown Visitor Center served nearly 85,000 in‐person guests. San Luis Obispo lodging properties achieved thirty‐one impacted or near sellout weekends in 2018‐19, which is up by six weekends over the past two years. 2018-19 YEAR BY THE NUMBERS *see appendix for complete graphs DRAFT7 SLO TBID Annual Report 2018-19 Strategic Plan Implementation Year & Program Approach STRATEGIC PLAN IMPLEMENTATION In 2018‐19 the TBID implemented the final year of the initial five‐year Tourism Strategic Clarity Plan. This document has served as the framework for the direction and decisions made by the TBID Board for the tourism program this fiscal year as well as the prior years since its adoption in 2014. As defined within the plan, the TBID focused on fulfillment of five Strategic Imperatives: • Deliver Smart Growth • Develop the SLO Brand • Build Meaningful Partnerships • Contribute to an Unforgettable SLO Experience • Ensure Organizational Excellence Mission The SLO TBID builds awareness to grow tourism, serving as the voice of San Luis Obispo. Values Integrity | Accountability | Adaptability | Collaboration | Determination | Innovation Unique Role of Value The SLO TBID provides the City of SLO with comprehensive tourism brand management through strategic partnerships and a robust marketing and promotional budget. Vision In SLO TBID manages the brand for the destination of San Luis Obispo, delivering balanced growth of tourism, with creativity and integrity. Vision Out San Luis Obispo is an unforgettable place where visitors engage in a unique lifestyle they aspire to, become emotionally attached, and return for renewal. Brand Intention Heart Side: Happy | Pride of Place | Inspiring | Relaxed | Rejuvenating Head Side: Experiential | Beautiful | Artisinal | Healthy | Authentic Strategic Imperatives Deliver Smart Growth | Develop the SLO Brand | Build Meaningful Partnerships | Contribute to an Unforgettable SLO Experience | Ensure Organizational Excellence Unique Value Proposition San Luis Obispo is an authentic and inviting California community where you can play, taste, explore, relax, and recharge. Strategic Clarity The elements of our Strategic Clarity are the SLO TBID’s “North Star” for the upcoming five fiscal years, setting the level of expectation and the tone and tenor of everything we plan. As we move into defining specific initiatives, our Strategic Clarity will serve as a touchstone. Vision In What kind of organizational culture are we committed to being? Vision Out What is the ideal future state we will strive to create? What are we committed to making happen?Mission What is most important to us as we strive to realize our vision? What is the focus of our work?Values What are the fundamental beliefs that shape how we work together to serve our mission? Unique Role of Value What unique and valuable role do we play amongst our peer organizations? HOW do we provide value? Strategic Imperatives What must be accomplished during the planning horizon? Unique Value Proposition What unique and sustainable value does the destination of San Luis Obispo deliver? WHY San Luis Obispo? Brand Intention WHAT is the experience we want our destination to be known for? Mission Values Unique Role of Value Vision In Vision Out Brand Intention Strategic Imperatives Unique Value Proposition Vision In Vision Out Mission Values Unique Role of Value Strategic Imperatives Unique Value Proposition Brand Intention STRATEGIC PLAN INVESTMENT This year the TBID Board made two significant investments to expand the impact of the and longevity of their initial strategic plan. Those decisions include the successful acquisition of the tourism URL VisitSLO.com and the development of their next strategic plan document. The 2019‐24 TBID Strategic Plan development was DRAFT8 SLO TBID Annual Report 2018-19 TBID CONSTITUENT RELATIONS As an important commitment to the imperative to “Ensure Organizational Excellence” the TBID Board expanded their constituent relations efforts in 2018‐19. New this year, after a successful pilot program the TBID Board issued a quarterly constituent newsletter that provided all interested constituents with information including updates on Board activities, opportunities for seasonal promotions, and items impacting their industry. The three newsletters distributed resulted in an open rate of 46%. Additionally, in 2018‐19 the SLO TBID welcomed new hotel properties in San Luis Obispo. As a means to connect to the new lodging properties, the Board invited representatives to present at a monthly Board meeting in order to meet their colleagues and learn about eachother. This practice will continue into 2019‐20 as additional new lodging properties join the SLO TBID. As an ongoing effort, in order to keep the lodging constituency abreast of all TBID business, the Board was assigned properties to laisse. Each board member was responsible for communication with his/her respective group of hotels and then asked to report out on their findings during the “Hotel Update” portion of each Board meeting agenda. Lastly, for the seventh year the TBID leveraged the outreach support of SLO Chamber’s contracted services to perform weekly lodging call arounds and quarterly hotel visits. This resulted in 3,438 touch points with San Luis Obispo hotels through phone calls and emails, and four quarterly visits to distribute downtown maps and other import visitor serving collateral. Background on TBID an important step to address the TBID’s imperative to “Ensure Organizational Excellence” as it will give longer range goals for the Board, create consistency in the program direction as leadership changes, and provide a framework for new opportunities. The acquisition of VisitSLO.com marks a milestone for destination promotion in the city of San Luis Obispo. In 2018‐19, the SLO TBID Board reached a compromise with the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce leadership regarding the terms of a partnership that would create an online centralized location for San Luis Obispo visitor information, further the missions both organizations, and ultimately reduce duplication between the SLO Chamber and the TBID. The compromise included the transfer of ownership of the authoritative URL, VisitSLO.com from the SLO Chamber to the City’s TBID and would replace the TBID’s current URL, SanLuisObispoVacations.com, as the official visitor serving website for San Luis Obispo moving toward the goal to “develop the SLO brand” and overcome the SLO brand log jam. DRAFT9 SLO TBID Annual Report 2018-19 TBID Activities TBID MARKETING ACTIVITIES SNAPSHOT OF THE PROGRESS In 2018‐19 the TBID Board focused on the following key marketing activities: • Refresh of “Be Here” campaign which include new 2018‐19 Campaign Production • Produced 6 Video Ads • Produced Radio Ad Series • Produced New “Be Here” Creatives for Print and Digital • Successful Seasonal Promotions: Our Gift to You & Money for a Rainy Day • Support of Partnerships & Events • Support of Influencer Marketing with SLO Chamber • Continuing with the second year of our two‐year Marketing Plan 2018‐2020 In order to implement the complex marketing programs, the TBID Board and staff work closely with the team of contractors including AMF Media Group and Matchfire as the marketing agencies on record, and the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce for Public Relations and Guest Service initiatives. DRAFT10 SLO TBID Annual Report 2018-19 TBID Activities BRANDING & CAMPAIGN The TBID manages the tourism brand for the destination of San Luis Obispo, delivering balanced growth of tourism, with creativity and integrity. The TBID uses the brand messaging pillars outlined below to showcase the unique offerings in San Luis Obispo. San Luis Obispo Brand Messaging Pillars: • Cultural • Culinary • Outdoor • Family After a successful campaign launch in 2017‐18, the TBID marketing campaign titled “Be Here” was refreshed, enhanced and expanded in 2018‐19. The campaign messaging and aesthetic was meant to inspire visitors to feel like their true self in San Luis Obispo, and the evolution of the “Be Here” campaign meant to inspire the emotions connected to why people love visiting San Luis Obispo. To tell this story, new promotional assets were produced to reach the targeted audience. This included: six new videos each depicting a persona and popular trip theme as inspiration; a radio campaign geared to a very prominent listener base; and refreshed creative ads were continuously rolled out for the print placements and digital campaigns. DRAFT11 SLO TBID Annual Report 2018-19 WEBSITE www .SanLuisObispoVacations .com The City’s official tourism website, SanLuisObispoVacations.com, is the primary marketing tool used to represent the destination. It is designed mainly for consumers, but also serves the travel trade, meeting planners, TBID members and media. It features robust content including a detailed calendar of events integrated with SLO Happenings, lodging property listings for all TBID constituents including hotels and permitted homestay properties, itinerary suggestions and features, the ShareSLO blog, and featured press coverage. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) ensures the relevancy and success of the TBID’s website. Organic search traffic to the site continues to stand as the top traffic channel, making up 45% of site sessions‐ this is up from 33% in 2017‐18. The work is done monthly to optimize pages with top keywords, meta tags and meta descriptions, and ShareSLO blog posts and social content created based on forecasted keyword and search trends. As a result, webpages now rank in the top position on Google for San Luis Obispo searches including Bubblegum Alley, SLO Getaway, SLO Happy Hours and Shopping. Additionally, in partnership with the Promotional Coordinating Committee (PCC), the TBID developed a new calendar of events feature on the website. This calendar of events called “SLO Happenings” showcases all the events in the city. The SLO Happenings calendar is managed by the TBID, but members of the community can submit events to be listed. As part of the integrated approach for the SLO Happenings program, the TBID and PCC also promote the calendar through monthly TBID event newsletters and on social media through the weekly Ticket Tuesday program. Since its launch in August 2018, the SLO Happenings calendar had 23,758 pageviews. TBID Activities Key 2018–19 Website Results: • 221,062 site sessions • 412,436 page views • 187,577 users • 14,000 referrals to constituent websites Highlights of Website Activities: • Added 10 new pages and updated over 34 pages • Launched redesigned “SLO Happenings” event calendar • Revamped homepage • Continued weekly events management • Email database transfer • Updated email sign‐up forms across the site • Initiated the VisitSLO.com URL transition and website redesign *see appendix for complete graphs DRAFT12 SLO TBID Annual Report 2018-19 PAID MEDIA In 2018‐19, the TBID took a refined approach to paid media based on the insights garnered from the comprehensive market research study and report in 2018. The goal was to use the findings to better target audiences with relevant content and reengage existing audiences to create repeat visitors. In addition to the psychographic targeting based on visitor interests aligned with the visitor personas, the media strategy targeted the geographic markets of the Bay area (Marin, Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Mateo), Los Angeles area and Seattle. Paid media was heavily dedicated toward programmatic display, video (including connected TV), social, email targeting and SEM. The 2018-19 paid media strategy: • Targeted advertising geographically, demographically, and psychographically • Focused on a digital campaign which included programmatic, behavioral, email, and geo‐ proximity targeting & SEM • Introduced connected TV & broadcast advertising • Invested in a new travel site partner, Expedia • Maintained budget for co‐ops through Visit SLO CAL in order to expand reach and maximize investments TBID Activities *see appendix for persona descriptions DRAFT13 SLO TBID Annual Report 2018-19 Paid Social Media In 2018‐19 the TBID continued to invest in paid social media as a means of advertising, however tactics were changed from that of prior years with reallocating the investment from Facebook only into Instagram and Pinterest too. This resulted in a significant decrease in Facebook results but added new results from the two new paid channels, Instagram and Pinterest. Instagram saw a 187% increase in impressions allowing the TBID to reach an ever‐ growing audience as Facebook grows older and Instagram grows more popular. And Pinterest tactics also expanded the reach to the growing popularity of pinning for trips and itineraries and travel inspirations. • Total Social Impressions: 7,387502 Broadcast Advertising Based on the insights from the market research, in 2018‐19 the TBID invested in a broadcast advertising campaign via radio. The targeted radio campaign ran in the Bay Area on the very popular KCBS radio station and a micro‐site that the radio station had set up for the campaign tracked site visits after the commercial aired. Results: • 317 Site Visits within 8‐minutes of those commercials airing • 5,306 Total Site Visitors - 80% of Site Visitors were new to the site TBID Activities CUMULATIVE DIGITAL ADVERTISING MEASUREMENTS Total Number of Digital Ad Impressions 12,747,280 Total Number of Clicks 569,612 • Programmatic Display • Conversion Zone Targeting • SEM • Gmail Promotional Tab Targeting • Facebook • Instagram • Pinterest • Programmatic Video ‐ YouTube • Programmatic Connected TV • Visit California E‐Newsletter • Expedia All print and digital advertising is directed toward the website or the toll-free phone number for more information on San Luis Obispo. Digital Media Online programmatic campaigns are the most effective marketing and advertising tool to target the drive markets in California for leisure travelers to San Luis Obispo. The TBID continues to use branded advertising to maximize online reach for the promotion of San Luis Obispo through strategic placement on top travel and lifestyle sites through a programmatic digital advertising program. In 2017-18, the advertising program for the TBID was focused on the mix of digital display that hit key websites to target the right customer, email targeting, and the use of video pre-roll and streaming music services like Pandora. DRAFT14 SLO TBID Annual Report 2018-19 SLO TBID Annual Report 2018-19 TBID Activities Search Engine Marketing ‐ SEM Search Engine Marketing with Google Ad Words is one portion of the TBID’s “always‐on” adverting tactics. From July 2018‐June 2019, SEM delivered 240,000 impressions and 10,200 direct clicks to the TBID’s website. The refined messaging in key word phrases and terms zeroed in on top performers that allowed the marketing agency to adjust the campaign accordingly to ensure a very high click through rate was achieved. The top performing areas were for the SEM campaign were Los Angeles, San Jose, San Diego, San Francisco, Ventura and Mountain View. Print Advertising Limited print advertising placements were continued in the TBID’s media mix the 2018‐19 fiscal year. Traditional print campaigns are an important tool to reach niche market visitors primarily in the mature demographic and to reinforce travel inspiration and build brand awareness for the destination. For the most part, the TBID placed print ads in cooperative advertising campaigns and with publications of regional partners like Visit SLO CAL, Cal Poly and Central Coast Tourism Council (CCTC). This year the refreshed creative featured the “Be Here” message and showcased some of the accolades San Luis Obispo continues to round up from major publications. Print Advertising Placements included: • Visit SLO CAL Visitors Guide • SLO Chamber Visitor Guide • Cal Poly’s GoSLO Magazine • CCTC Map Expedia Based on the market research performed by the TBID, Online Travel Agencies continue to top the list of ways visitors book lodging in San Luis Obispo (36%) and second to direct property reservations at 39% of bookings. Based on this data the TBID pilot tested a partnership with Expedia in 2018‐19. The Expedia partnership provided San Luis Obispo with a sponsorship page while the campaign ran that provided information to better inform potential visitors about the destination offerings as well as lodging options. The Expedia campaign ran from November 2018 – February 2019. Results: • Impressions: 1,800,000 • Clicks: 1,100 • Hotel Bookings: $1.8M = 11.6% YOY increase • Room Nights: 10,700 = 9.8% YOY increase • ROAS: 51:5 DRAFT15 SLO TBID Annual Report 2018-19 TBID Activities EMAIL MARKETING The TBID continued to utilize email marketing activities through the newsletter to communicate regularly with potential visitors on activities in SLO to build brand loyalty, encourage repeat visitation and an extended length of stay. The newsletter promotes upcoming events and special promotions as well as compliments our seasonal advertising campaigns and public relations outreach. This year the TBID continued the focused attention on enhancing their email marketing efforts beyond the monthly newsletter. Their investment in marketing automation continued to garner new email subscribers through the TBID site with over 1,280 new subscribers in 2018‐19. The TBID continued the Welcome Series to acknowledge new subscribers which achieved a 64% open rate (compared to industry average of 20%). And they continued the Hotel Page Abandonment series which sent visitors a personalized email if they left hotel pages without taking action. This series achieved a 58% open rate including replied response seeking additional support or commenting on their trip to the area after receiving the personalized email. Highlights: • 12 SLO Happenings event emails • 4 SLO Vacations’ consumer newsletters • 2 ongoing, automated emails based on user behavior • 4 Seasonal Promotion emails ‐ Our Gift to You promotion & Money for a Rainy Day promotion • 5 promotional email for sponsored offers with strategic & event partners NEWSLETTER ACTIVITY MEASUREMENTS Total Number of Newsletters Sent 25 Database Size 31,807 2018-19 EMAIL MARKETING DRAFT16 SLO TBID Annual Report 2018-19 TBID Activities SOCIAL MEDIA ‐ #SHARESLO This year, the TBID continued to captivate ShareSLO fans and grow the social media footprint through great, engaging content. ShareSLO leveraged user‐generated content, along with adding TBID created content like the six new videos. With an emphasis on engaging site content, the TBID drove social traffic to SanLuisObispoVacations.com by linking to relevant content whenever possible, especially through the blog. ShareSLO continues to maintain a network of engaged social fans on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The total social media engagements across all platforms was 177,252 – with Instagram outperforming other channels by eight times the results. The ShareSLO blog, featured on SanLuisObispoVacations.com, continues to perform exceptionally well as a source to drive traffic deeper into the website. DRAFT17 SLO TBID Annual Report 2018-19 2018-19 Social Activities Included: • ShareSLO Blogs: 34 ShareSLO blogs published • Campaigns: Be Here, Wellness, Bucket List, Things to Do • Cross‐promotionon Cal Poly social channels • Launched new Pinterest profile • VisitCA Twitter Chat participation • Initiation of live streaming local events on social channels • Collaboration with SLO Chamber on influencer initiatives TBID Activities SHARESLO PROGRAM MEASUREMENTS Total Number of Blog Posts 34 Total Number of Fans 122,403 Total Hashtag Uses (Instagram & Twitter only) 38,154 Total Video Views (YouTube)47,158 Total Social Engagements 177,252 Total Social Impressions 9,663,112 Ticket Tuesday As part of the SLO Happenings campaign with the PCC, the TBID rolled out a series on Instagram called Ticket Tuesdays. Each Tuesday throughout the year, the ShareSLO Instagram page would offer a sweepstakes for fans to enter to win tickets to various happenings in the city. This on‐going weekly campaign reached over 208,000 people. DRAFT18 SLO TBID Annual Report 2018-19 Paid Social Media Measurements TBID Activities Paid Media Results 2017-2018 2018-2019 % CHANGE FACEBOOK Impressions 6,490,594 2,386,982 -63% Clicks 197,651 4,816 -97% CTR 3.05% 0.20% -93% Total Reach 6,490,594 615,690 -90% Frequency 4.04 3.57 -11.63 INSTAGRAM Impressions 921,548 2,647,781 +187% Clicks 3,663 2,106 -42% CTR 0.40% .08% -80% Total Reach 524,236 715,764 +37% PINTEREST Impressions -2,352,739 - Clicks -9,349 - Avg. CTR -0.40% - Engagements -373,045 - CTR -175 - *A strategic reallocation of funds out of Facebook and into other marketing channels is displayed in the downward YOY percentages DRAFT19 SLO TBID Annual Report 2018-19 PUBLIC RELATIONS In 2018‐19, the TBID and PCC continued to jointly hold a dedicated contract with the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce for Public Relations efforts. On behalf of the City’s community promotions program, the SLO Chamber is responsible for establishing professional relationships with media outlets and journalists in various markets to build and maintain awareness of San Luis Obispo as a travel destination. The 2018‐19 contract elements with the SLO Chamber for Public Relations included: pitching to media, bringing in media, coordinating media trips, sending out media releases, responding to natural media inquiries, use of the Chamber’s photography library for editorial requests and press releases, planning and executing press trips and developing media kits. This focused PR effort proved to be successful for San Luis Obispo. During the 2018‐19 fiscal year, the PR activities generated at least 271 total mentions or media placements that highlighted San Luis Obispo in international, national, regional and even local publications. Top media coverage included: VOGUE, Fodor’s, Matador Network, Outside, and Sunset. Additionally, coordinated media visits or press trips were secured to promote the destination with the goal of earning valuable editorial coverage. In fiscal year 2018‐19, 45 media outlets, both domestic and international were hosted in San Luis Obispo. Best of Lists • Top Three Destinations for Solo Female Travel • 10 Stunning Train Trips for an Unforgettable Vacation in Motion • If You Road Trip This Summer Make It This One • 20 Best Weekend Getaways from Every USA Region • 9 Travel Destinations That Will Be Huge in 2019 • 16 Destinations You Should Visit Before They Become Tourist Traps • 10 Best Places to Stop Along Highway 101 • 2019 Best Affordable US Honeymoon Spots revealed • Top 8 Farmers’ Markets to Visit Across America • The 7 Best Wine Destinations in the World • From The Mountains To The Coast, These Are 7 Of California’s Most Scenic Towns To Visit TBID Activities PUBLIC RELATIONS MEASUREMENTS Number of Mentions 271 Potential Reach 1,126,325,071 DRAFT20 SLO TBID Annual Report 2018-19 SLO TBID Annual Report 2018-19 Influencer Relations In 2018‐19, the TBID created an Influencer Strategy & Program aimed at utilizing social media influencers to build awareness and reach of San Luis Obispo. While this tactic was originally approached this fiscal year as a paid media tactic, through research, testing and thorough review it was determined that a media pitching approach (like PR) would be a more cost‐effective way to garner these relationships. In 2018‐19 the TBID welcomed seven social media influencers in San Luis Obispo. A selection of those hosted are: • Jackie Aanonsen McEwan @glutenfree.followme // 117k followers // culinary & wellness • Jacki Carr @jackicarr // 16.2k followers // wellness & outdoors (MINDBODY) • Melanie Phillips @headstandsandheels // 21.4k followers // wellness (MINDBODY) • Corey Marshall @missfoodieproblems // 79.5k followers // culinary • Kate Retherford @allthingskate // 44.4k followers // fly‐market DRAFT21 SLO TBID Annual Report 2018-19 TRAVEL & TRADESHOWS Consumer Travel Shows The TBID continues to maximize the consumer travel show strategy. Consumer shows provide the TBID an opportunity to take San Luis Obispo on the road to key markets. In 2018-19 four consumer tradeshows were attended – two as San Luis Obispo initially and two in cooperation with other regional partners. The two individual shows were the Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show and the Bay Area Travel & Adventure Show, and the two cooperative shows were Los Angeles Magazine Food Event in partnership with SLO Wine Association and Taste Washington with Visit SLO CAL. At these shows, the booth featured key information on San Luis Obispo including lodging information, maps and upcoming event. Shows were selected based on their anticipated attendance, quality of attendees, and target drive and fly market location. Booth visitors were presented with the opportunity to enter to win a SLO Getaways sweepstakes. TBID Activities CONSUMER TRADE SHOW MEASUREMENTS Number of Shows Attended 4 Newsletter Registrations Collected 3,528 Industry Tradeshows For the third consecutive year, the TBID participated in the industry tradeshow IPW. The U.S. Travel Association’s IPW is the travel industry’s premier international marketplace and the largest generator of travel to the U.S. In 2018‐19 the tradeshow took place in Anaheim California, which provided new opportunities for participation and sponsorship. During the three day show booked with intensive prescheduled business appointments, the TBID met with over 5,055 representatives interested in booking travel to San Luis Obispo. In addition to the success on the tradeshow floor, the TBID also made the sponsorship investment with Visit SLO CAL to exhibit in the new California Plaza area added to the show for 2019. As part of the sponsorship investment and since the show was in California, the TBID was also able to host 30 international media and trade participants in the post tradeshow familiarization tour which among other destinations in the county featured San Luis Obispo, including Thursday Night Farmers Market, a walking tour of downtown and a wine tasting experience in the Edna Valley. DRAFT22 SLO TBID Annual Report 2018-19 SEASONAL PROMOTIONS Our Gift to You In 2018‐19, the TBID added a new seasonal promotion to their offerings. This promotion ran from post‐ Thanksgiving to Christmas and was called “Our Gift to You”. It offered $100 to new guests that booked two or more consecutive nights in a SLO hotel. This promotion was a pilot for a new seasonal promotion. It garnered 166 room nights booked between November 26 – December 21. Of the 57 qualified entries, 9% were first time visitors to San Luis Obispo. Money for a Rainy Day In light of the previous three years of success, the TBID Board offered the “Money for a Rainy Day” special promotion again. In 2018‐19, it was intended to drive overnight stays in the City of San Luis Obispo during the slowest months of the year between January ‐ March. Through the promotion, visitors were required to book and stay for a minimum of two consecutive nights at a lodging property in the City of San Luis Obispo and they would receive a $100 cash to spend how they choose. As a result, the promotion garnered 1,182 qualified room nights during January through March. The campaign provided a 3:1 return on investment generating over $160,000 in lodging revenue during the promotion period. TBID Activities DRAFT23 SLO TBID Annual Report 2018-19 TBID Activities GUEST SERVICES Through a dedicated contract with the TBID, the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce provides a suite of guest services to the TBID. In 2018‐19 this included: • Provide dedicated customer service for San Luis Obispo City hotels at the Downtown Visitor Center. • Provide a 800‐number separate phone line exclusively for the TBID. Only SLO TBID properties will be recommended through this phone line. Provide staff to respond to a TBID‐only phone line during Visitor Center Hours and return afterhours phone calls. The SLO Chamber is contracted for the Visitor Center to answer each call made to the TBID’s 1‐877‐SLOTOWN number, which serves as a response tool to the TBID’s advertising efforts and digital presence. This creates the option for a ‘real person’ to assist in trip planning, ensuring that travelers seeking personal guidance have a friendly, live voice to shape their experience of San Luis Obispo before even arriving. The telephone number, 1‐877‐SLO‐TOWN, is a separate line that rings in the Chamber and is used solely to refer and promote TBID properties. During fiscal year 2018‐19 over 1,000 calls were answered on the 1‐877‐SLO‐TOWN line, an increase of 11% over the prior year. Much of this is attributed to the seasonal promotions and the new connections made with Cal Poly Parents & Supporters. DRAFT24 SLO TBID Annual Report 2018-19 STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS The TBID collaborates with numerous community partners and industry nonprofit organizations in marketing San Luis Obispo as a destination which makes the TBID more efficient in promotional activities. The TBID’s strategic partnerships allow the marketing agencies to build relationships with the organizations below, elevating the destination as a whole. Promotional opportunities with each organization give the TBID new platforms and audiences to build brand awareness. Top partnership achievements include: Cal Poly Athletics • TBID maintains the exclusive hotel industry sponsor to advertise with Cal Poly Athletics • TBID hosted nearly 650 room nights for visiting teams, recruits, and coaches • ShareSLO throws 3 first pitches at Cal Poly Baseball • CP Athletics Facebook page posts • Banner ad in ongoing Athletics newsletters • Cal Poly Alumni E-blast & Alumni Getaway Giveaway • Radio spots for basketball • Homecoming game ticket giveaway • New rotating graphics submitted for LED banner at Mott Gym • Soccer Visiting Teams Guide • ShareSLO Track & Field Meet • Program ad • :15 scoreboard video using new footage SLO Wine • Deployed e-newsletters to over 12,000 subscribers that included TBID content, logo, and links • Hosted travel, lifestyle, wine writers in San Luis Obispo for various media visits resulting in media coverage in: Wine Enthusiast, SF Gate & SF Chronicle, USA Today, LA Time, 805 Living, Chicago Tribune • The “Stay” page on SLOwine.com garnered over 30,000 views • Partnered to host an integrated marketing experience at LA Magazine’s The Food Event in October 2017 TBID Activities DRAFT25 SLO TBID Annual Report 2018-19 STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS (CONT .) Cal Poly Office of Student Affairs: Parent Program & New Student and Transition Program Cal Poly New Student & Transition Programs (NSTP) sees over 50,000 guests of students and their families between Open House, Student Life Orientation Days, and Week of Welcome annually. Through this partnership in 2018-19, the TBID partnered with NSTP to engage and connect with our new students and their families from the college acceptance time to orientation. In addition to website presence and logo inclusion, the TBID activations include representation at the following events: • Open House • SLO Days • Week of Welcome/Move-in Weekend Cal Poly Parent Program strategic partnership continued the series of events called SLO Discovery Weekends that provide intimate weekend gatherings in SLO for small groups of parents and families. In 2018‐19 two SLO Discovery Weekend sessions were held. MINDBODY In 2018‐19 the TBID expanded the partnership with MINDBODY aimed to support the shared goal of positioning SLO as the “Home of MINDBODY” and a top wellness destination. This partnership included the TBID’s participation in MINDBODY’s annual client conference, BOLD where the TBID connected with over 2,000 domestic and international clients. Additionally, MINDBODY and the TBID cohost two key wellness influencers from destinations like Denver and New York. TBID Activities DRAFT26 SLO TBID Annual Report 2018-19 EVENT PROMOTION In 2018‐2019, the TBID sponsored, promoted, and was represented at more than a dozen local events of different shapes and sizes. Over the course of the year, the TBID continued to shape an event strategy to ensure all SLO TBID‐sponsored events are well‐aligned with the brand, and that expectations and best practices were clear. These guidelines allowed the TBID to reach visitors before, during, and after an event takes place, which in turn arms the TBID with the tools we need to leverage events to put heads in beds. In 2018‐19, the TBID continued their approach to supporting a few of the sponsored events through agency support in campaign development, creative and media buys. Instead of simply funding out of area marketing, the TBID dedicated their sponsorship dollars along with the marketing agency time to help create and manage the out of area promotional campaigns. This strategy was successful for the TBID and the events. TBID Sponsored Events: • SLO Craft Beer Fest • SLO Wine Roll Out the Barrels • SLO Half Marathon • Festival Mozaic’s Winter Mezzo • SLO Film Fest • Sustainable Ag Expo • Mission College Prep Winter Classic • Live Oak Music Festival • Boots & Brews Country Music Festival • Veg Fest TBID Activities EVENT SPONSORSHIP MEASUREMENTS Number of Events Sponsored 10 Estimated Total Number of Event Attendees Reached through Sponsorship 20,000 Total Sponsorship Investment $ 134,500 DRAFT27 SLO TBID Annual Report 2018-19 INDUSTRY RELATIONS California Hotel & Lodging Association (CHLA) A new industry partnership for the TBID in 2018‐19 is with the California Hotel & Lodging Association (CHLA). CHLA protects the rights and interests of the California lodging industry. Legislative advocacy, educational training, communication, and cost‐saving programs are provided for all segments of the industry. Through the TBID, all lodging properties in the City of SLO are members of CHLA and can utilize the services offered. In 2018‐19, CHLA provided an educational workshop for all TBID members regarding key legislative actions and business requirements that will impact the industry. Visit California The Visit California partnership has been critical in the growth of our brand within the California Tourism product. San Luis Obispo has received coverage though the marketing activities performed by Visit California including travel trade, press, and industry outreach. Monthly submissions are uploaded to Visit California for media outreach, trade contacts, and newsletter content. Additionally, the TBID maintains ongoing coordination to keep the City of San Luis Obispo destination page up to date. ShareSLO also participated in Visit California sponsored Twitter chats. The TBID attended the Visit California Outlook Forum educational event in the spring. Central Coast Tourism Council The Central Coast Tourism Council (CCTC) is an organization of tourism and hospitality professionals whose marketing efforts accomplish collectively what no single tourism entity can do alone—promote the entire California Central Coast as a destination and maximize our members’ tourism revenue. The CCTC serves as the Central Coast’s voice in Sacramento, and partners with California Tourism’s global marketing and advertising campaigns. The TBID is actively involved in CCTC with the Tourism Manager as the President and Regional Board Member. In 2018-19, the TBID leveraged the CCTC activities through media and trade leads, blog and social presence, and international outreach. Visit SLO CAL The TBID maintains participation with Visit SLO CAL by having two representatives on the Board of Directors and the Tourism Manager on the Marketing Committee. The TBID Board leverages the partnership with Visit SLO CAL to promote San Luis Obispo on a national and international level- beyond the local and state reach the TBID’s marketing plan focuses to achieve. The TBID’s participation in Visit SLO CAL also encompasses group sales, film commission, county-wide public relations, and county-wide special events like Restaurant Month and Wine Month. In 2019–20, the TBID partnered with Visit SLO CAL on many initiatives including: participation in IPW & California Plaza activation, Taste Washington, co‐operative software solutions like Crowdriff, and Brand USA destination page investment. TBID Activities DRAFT28 SLO TBID Annual Report 2018-19 2018-19 FINANCIAL STATEMENT 2017-18 Financial Statement INCOME SOURCE 2018–19 TOT Revenue Assumption (Adjusted Mid Year)$7,875,000 TBID Assessment (20% of TOT Revenue)$ 1,575,000 2017–18 Carryover $ 230,000 TBID Fund Reserve $100,000 2018-19 TBID Program Budget $1,891,600 INCOME DRAFT29 SLO TBID Annual Report 2018-19 SLO TBID Annual Report 2018-19 EXPENDITURE ALLOCATED Operations/Staffing Administration Overhead (2% of TBID Assessment)$ 31,500 Staffing (1 FTE & .75 FTE)$200,000 Contracts & Marketing Projects AMF/Matchfire - Marketing Contract $850,000 Chamber of Commerce - Public Relations $51,000 Chamber of Commerce - Guest Services $45,000 Chamber of Commerce - Media Monitor $8,400 CCTC Black Diamond Co-op $2,650 FAM Trip Hosting (Media & Influencers)$6,000 AMF/Matchfire - Website Design $35,000 Chamber of Commerce- URL Aquisition $48,500 Partnerships Cal Poly Athletics $96,500 SLO Wine $18,000 SLO Wine Media Hosting $3,000 Cal Poly Student Affairs $20,000 CCTC East Coast Initiative $5,000 Events Promotion General Events Promotion $134,000 Event Activation $4,000 Tradeshows Tradeshows & Travel Shows $45,000 Tourism Conferences $8,000 Tourism Organizations/Research Central Coast Tourism Council Membership $1,000 Smith Travel Report $3,100 California Travel Association (Cal Travel)$1,000 California Hotel & Lodging Association $ 22,061 Strategic Plan Development $35,000 Research Project $25,000 Support/Meetings Tourism Program Expenses $7,000 Total Allocated Expenditure $1,705,711 *This figure represents the total allocated expenditures. The difference will be available for carryover to the 2018-19 program budget. EXPENDITURES DRAFT30 SLO TBID Annual Report 2018-19 Looking Ahead to 2018-19 LOOKING AHEAD TO 2019–20 As the TBID moves into 2019‐20, there are three key issues that remain top of mind for the work of the Board in the next fiscal year: 1. The addition of new inventory in the market 2. The implementation of the new TBID Strategic Plan 3. The required Request for Proposal process for the Marketing Services contract While these are not the only subjects that the TBID Board will be focused on, these three will influence a lot of their work efforts. In addition, other key program activities include: • Implementation of the 2019‐20 Marketing Plan • Better target new audiences with relevant content and reengage existing audiences with relevant content to create repeat visitors • Create and deploy an influencer marketing strategy that shares real‐time, authentic SLO experiences with social media audience • Leverage dedicated promotions funds to attract fall and winter stays and set aside funds for special opportunities to attract specific audiences out of market Overall, the TBID is looking forward to growing the district membership to include new hotel properties coming into the City of San Luis Obispo and focusing on building the awareness and increasing the demand for visitors to San Luis Obispo. DRAFT31 SLO TBID Annual Report 2018-19 Appendix APPENDIX TOT CHART 2018-19 TOT MONTH TO MONTH 2018-19 0 2000000 4000000 6000000 8000000 10000000 2018-192017-182016-172015-162014-152013-142012-132011-122010-112009-10 0 200000 400000 600000 800000 1000000 2018-192017-18 JunMayAprMarFebJanDecNovOctSeptAugJuly DRAFT32 SLO TBID Annual Report 2018-19 Appendix OCC MONTH TO MONTH 2018-19 ADR MONTH TO MONTH 2018-19 0 20 40 60 80 100 JunMayAprMarFebJanDecNovOctSeptAugJuly 2017-18 2018-19 0 50 100 150 200 2018-192017-18 JunMayAprMarFebJanDecNovOctSeptAugJuly DRAFT33 SLO TBID Annual Report 2018-19 Appendix REVPAR MONTH TO MONTH 2017-18 MONTHLY SITE METRICS 0 30 60 90 120 150 2018-192017-18 JunMayAprMarFebJanDecNovOctSeptAugJuly DRAFT34 SLO TBID Annual Report 2018-19 Appendix UPPER CRUST Ages 65+ (Baby Boomers & Silent Generation) Combined HH Income of $113,000 Urbanicity: Suburban Household Technology: Above Average Employment Levels: Mix Married or divorced, second or third marriages, Empty nester couples. Blended families with grown kids. Grandparents. Brand Pillars: Cultural, Culinary, Beer/Wine MONEY & SHAKERS Ages 45–64 (Baby Boomers & Silent Generation) Combined HH Income of $105,000–$130,000 Urbanicity: Suburban and Urban Household Technology: Average to Above Average Employment Levels: Management & Professional Married without children, few children or children in college or new grandparents. Divorced, remarried, second families. Brand Pillars: Cal Poly, Culinary, Cultural DRAFT35 SLO TBID Annual Report 2018-19 SLO TBID Annual Report 2018-19 DIGERATI Ages 35–54 (Generation X, Generation Y, Xennials, Millennials) Combined HH Income of $128,498 Urbanicity: Urban Household Technology: Trend Setters (Grew up with Technology) Employment Levels: Management & Professional (Tech Jobs) Married with no kids, married with one or two kids, divorced, single parent, sharing custody, blended families. Brand Pillars: Cal Poly, Culinary, Beer/Wine, Outdoor, Cultural READY FOR RETIREMENT Ages 55+ (Baby Boomers & Silent Generation, Generation X soon) Combined HH Income of $93,000 (Budget Conscious) Urbanicity: Suburban Household Technology: Average Employment Levels: Management & Professional Married without children, divorced—blended families, second families, children out of home, new grandparents. Brand Pillars: Family, Outdoor, Beer/Wine Tourism Business Improvement District Management Committee Meeting Minutes Thursday, September 5, 2019 – 10:00 a.m. City Hall’s Council Human Resources Room - 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Members Nipool Patel and Kristin Battaglia BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Pragna Patel-Mueller STAFF PRESENT: Molly Cano, Tourism Manager and Chantal Burns, Tourism Coordinator Call to order time: 10:0 4 a.m. BUSINESS ITEMS 1. CHLA Membership Renewal Agreement & Fall Educational Workshop Tourism Manager Cano reviewed the 2018-19 membership benefits with committee members who discussed membership benefit requests for the 2019-20 year. Additionally, the committee discussed the Fall workshop as a proposed training over two days in October including topics and certification as a membership benefit for TBID Constituents. 2. 2019-24 TBID Strategic Plan Workplan & Priority Review Tourism Manager Cano walked committee members through the workplan and priority document prepared by Coraggio Group based on the 2019-24 Strategic Plan. The committee discussed the initiatives and future ideas to execute them. 3. Board Meeting Management The committee discussed and provided feedback on ways to improve board meeting reports, presentations, attendance and governance to improve efficiency. 4. New Business Items a. Committee Discussion -TMD Discussion b. Future Agenda Items – none c. Next Meeting Date – Thursday, October 3, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. Meeting was adjourned at 11:05 a.m. Tourism Business Improvement District Special Marketing Committee Meeting Meeting Minutes Wednesday, September 4, 2019 – 10:30 a.m. Apple Farm – 2015 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Dean Hutton, Chair Bruce Skidmore, LeBren Harris (departed at 12:50 p.m.) BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: none STAFF PRESENT: Molly Cano, Tourism Manager and Chantal Burns, Tourism Coordinator Call to order time: 10:31 a.m. BUSINESS ITEMS 1. VisitSLO.com Site Development Update Tourism Manager Cano provided a recap on the new website development status and communications made by and with the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce on the acquisition. Brittany Garcia of Matchfire presented the new site’s developments on redesigned pages and requested suggestions and feedback from committee members. Recommendation: The committee recommends the presented website with suggested edits to the Board for approval. 2. 2019-20 Public Relations Strategy Review Jacqui Clark-Charlesworth presented the draft 2019-20 Public Relations Strategy for the committee’s review and recommendation to the Board. Committee members provided feedback and suggested edits. Recommendation: The committee recommends the 2019-20 Public Relations Strategic Plan as presented with suggested edits to the Board for approval. 3. SLO Happenings Event Promotion – Q1 Application Review Committee members evaluated, scored and discussed the 2019-20 Q1 SLO Happenings Event Promotion applications and established funding recommendations for Board approval as listed below: 1. Central Coast Youth Chorus 2019-20 Concert Series –marketing sponsorship at $1,250 2. Live Oak Music Festival – marketing sponsorship at $1,250; no hosted lodging 3. Mission Prep Christmas Classic –hosted lodging sponsorship up to $10,000 Board Member Harris was recused from discussion due to conflict of interest. 4. New Year’s Eve POPS: A Night at the Oscars - marketing sponsorship at $1,250 5. San Luis Obispo International Film Festival – marketing sponsorship at $8,750 6. SLO Craft Beer Festival - marketing sponsorship at $3,964; no hosted lodging 7. SLO Half Marathon Relay Race + 5k & Kid’s Race & Hall of Fame Ceremony - marketing sponsorship at $7,500 8. Sustainable Ag Expo & International Sustainable Winegrowing Summit - marketing sponsorship at $10,000 4. 2019 “Sip, Stay, Save” Promotion Update This item was tabled due to insufficient meeting time. 5. Central Coast Tourism Council East Coast Initiative This item was tabled due to insufficient meeting time. 6. 2019-20 Tradeshow Strategy This item was tabled due to insufficient meeting time. 7. New Business a. Committee Discussion – none b. Future Agenda Items – none discussed c. Next Committee Meeting: Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. in City Hall’s Council Hearing Room Meeting was adjourned at 1:11 p.m. DRAFT Minutes – Promotional Coordinating Committee Meeting of August 14, 2019 Page 1 Minutes - DRAFT PROMOTIONAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE Wednesday, August 14, 2019 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, August 14, 2019 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room, located at 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California, by Vice Chair Matteson. ROLL CALL Present: Committee Members Melissa Godsey, Daniel Levi, John Thomas and Bruce Skidmore, Vice Chair Dana Matteson Absent: Committee Members Ryan Heath and Chair Zoya Dixon Staff: Tourism Manager Molly Cano and Teresa Purrington, City Clerk PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA None --End of Public Comment-- CONSENT ITEMS C.1 Minutes of the Meeting on July 10, 2019 C.2 2019-20 Community Promotions Budget Report C.3 Public Relations Report C.4 Grants-in-Aid Support Report C.5 Visitors Center Report C.6 SLO Happenings Activity Report C.7 TOT Report Public Comment None DRAFT Minutes – Promotional Coordinating Committee Meeting of August 14, 2019 Page 2 --End of Public Comment-- ACTION: MOTION BY MEMBER LEVI, SECONDED BY MEMBER SKIDMORE, CARRIED 5-0-2 (Member Heath and Chair Dixson absent), to approve the consent agenda items C1 through C7. PRESENTATIONS 1. SLO Chamber of Commerce Year-End Report SLO Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center Communications and Business Education Director Jacqui Clark-Charlesworth, presented monthly report. Public Comment None --End of Public Comment-- No action was taken on this item. BUSINESS ITEMS 1. Banner Project Update Tourism Manager Molly Cano gave an update on the Downtown Banner project, the Railroad Square Banner project and the style guide for other banner projects in the future. Public Comment None --End of Public Comment-- No action was taken on this item. 2. Community Placemaking and Beautification Projects The Committee continued discussing placemaking and beautification projects and provided their feedback/ideas received from their discussions with other residents, businesses and organizations. Public Comment None --End of Public Comment-- DRAFT Minutes – Promotional Coordinating Committee Meeting of August 14, 2019 Page 3 No action was taken on this item. Discussions to continue at next meeting. PCC LIAISON REPORTS AND COMMUNICATION 1. Grants-in-Aid (GIA) Update Member Thomas indicated he met with Greek Festival coordinator regarding the attendance at the event which exceeded projections on all days. 2. Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) Board Report Member Skidmore reviewed the TBID Board meeting of August 14, 2019. 3. Tourism Program Update Tourism Manager Cano presented an update on the recent and upcoming Tourism Program activities, including: Announcing that Chair Zoya will be resigning from the Committee Working on the Strategic Communications Plan Conference Center Feasibility Study Cal Poly presentations Events application process Photos of IPW event ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:02 p.m. The next Regular Promotional Coordinating Committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 11, 2019 at 5:30 p.m., in the Council Hearing Room, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California. APPROVED BY THE PROMOTIONAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE: XX/XX/2019 - Industry Engagement - Visit SLO CAL Activity Report, JULY 2019 Visit SLO CAL Hosts DMA West Leadership Summit July 29-31, Visit SLO CAL hosted DMA West’s annual Leadership Summit, which took place at the SeaCrest OceanFront Hotel in Pismo Beach, and attracted CEOs from across the western U.S. Chuck Davison, President & CEO, participated in several sessions including an opening leadership learning and tasting session with David Walker, co-founder of Firestone Walker Brewing Company, and a panel on destination management, moderated by Chris Fair, President of Resonance Visit SLO CAL also organized activities and facilitated a bonfire at the Oceano Dunes on Tuesday night, complete with s’mores. Chuck Davison Receives Certified Destination Management Executive Credential During Destinations International (DI)’s Annual Convention, Chuck Davison, President & CEO of Visit SLO CAL, officially received his Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) credential, which DI considers the industry’s highest educational achievement. This credential speaks to the value Visit SLO CAL brings to this industry. Davison is currently the only person in the county who has a CDME credential. Visit SLO CAL Attends Destinations International’s Annual Convention July 23-25, Visit SLO CAL President & CEO Chuck Davison, Director of Travel Trade Michael Wambolt, and Director of Community Engagement & Advocacy Derek Kirk attended Destinations International’s Annual Convention in St. Louis, MO. Key Takeaways: • There is an industry shift recognizing residents as customers • We need to be authentic about being inclusive but also stop walking on egg shells • Visit SLO CAL is leading the industry with the Destination Management Strategy – m any are discussing similar work, but very few have actually begun or have a plan 0 - PR and Travel Trade - Visit SLO CAL-Assisted Media Placements • Roadtrippers: Here’s your chance to swim in Hearst Castle’s freshly restored Neptune Pool—if you can afford it • Oyster: The Best Places to Travel in August in the U.S. • Livability: Newlywed bliss on the Central Coast? San Luis Obispo named top honeymoon destination • HoneyTrek: SLO CAL: The Best of California’s Central Coast • Modern Farmer: This Finger Lime Farm Is Nothing to Shake a Finger At • AARP: Fall Road Trip: California’s Central Coast • Simplemost: 9 Wine-Country Getaways That Are More Affordable Than Napa • Outside: Affordable Adventure Trips in North America Recent Media Hosted • @Allen_Meyer, July 28-30 Travel Trade • Upcoming: o Tour and Travel Sales Mission, Southern CA – October (TBD) § $250 Co-op Visit SLO CAL is a 501c6 tourism non-profit. For more information please call (805)541-8000. Allegretto featured on HoneyTrek.com (left); Shanley Farms featured on ModernFarmer.com (right) VISIT SLO CAL WEB ACTIVITY SESSIONS: 85,978 USERS: 69,100 PAGE VIEWS: 158,975 AVG. PAGE VIEWS/VISIT: 1.85 AVG. TIME ON SITE: 2:34 TOTAL ORGANIC TRAFFIC: 53,092 PARTNER REFERRALS: 12,834 MOST VISITED EVENT PAGE: CAYUCOS 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION (4,826 ORGANIC VISITS) MOST VISITED BLOG: FOURTH OF JULY IN SLO CAL (3,681 ORGANIC VISITS) VISIT SLO CAL SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVITY FACEBOOK: 58,084 TOT. ORGANIC IMPRESSIONS: 128,009 HIGHEST ORGANIC REACH: HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO RAGGED POINT?... (5,783) HIGHEST ORGANIC ENGAGEMENT: HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO RAGGED POINT?... (673) FOLLOWERS TWITTER: 8,639 TOT. ORGANIC IMPRESSIONS: 33,290 PINTEREST: 760 INSTAGRAM: 28,868 TOT. ORGANIC IMPRESSIONS: 679,678 VISITOR GUIDE DIST. SLOCAL.COM: 220 LOCAL DELIVERY: 979 THIS MONTH IN SLO CAL SUBSCRIBERS 35,483 OPENS: 5,126 THIS WEEK IN SLO CAL CIRCULATION: 1,848 MOST CLICKED LINK: STR REPORT Content R equests Visit SLO CAL is looking for content regarding the following themes to be shared on SLOCAL.com and SLO CAL social media channels. Please send all information and photos to Haley Cahill, Marketing Coordinator, at HaleyC@SLOCAL.com. • California W ine Month – themes include unique varietals, winemaker features, wine dogs, perfect pairings, etc. • C A Surfing Day – themes include SLO CAL surf spots, local surfers, surfing basics, etc. • Fall/Harvest – themes include where to go this fall, u-pick farms, what to pick and when, recipes, events, etc. June 2019 vs June 2018 Lodging Statistics (STR, Inc.) SLO CAL Search Engine Optimization Campaign Update July 2019 Date: August 5, 2019 Client: SLO CAL Date Range: July 1 - 31, 2019 Executive Overview: Organic Traffic Overview: SEO Snapshot: YoY Organic Landing Page Traffic Comparison - Top Areas Listing Pages saw a -13.15% difference in Sessions (-572 Sessions) Events Pages saw a 12.86% difference in Sessions (2654 Sessions) Things to Do (Activities) saw a 45.42% difference in Sessions (1459 Sessions) Blog Pages saw a 19.71 % difference in Sessions (1173 Sessions) The Home Page saw a -25.8 % difference in Sessions (-1682 Sessions) Explore Pages saw 29.00 % difference in Sessions (1514 Sessions) Notes and Recommendations The four most recent blog posts that you sent over for optimization were responsible for 57 sessions. Half of those sessions were from pages less than a month old. Paddleboarding: 6 sessions, 8 Wild Animals: 26 sessions,Summer Guide to SLO Children's Museum: 16 sessions, Farm to Table Paradise: 9 Sessions Industry Averages:Engagement Metrics Industry Average SloCal.com % Difference Total Pages Per Session:1.99 1.85 -7.62% Total Average Session Duration:0:01:47 0:02:34 30.73% Total Bounce Rate:54.99%54.57%-0.77% Organic Pages Per Session:2.08 1.98 -5.10% Organic Average Session Duration:0:01:57 0:02:58 34.31% Organic Bounce Rate:47.77%49.73%3.95% SEO Overview Sessions increased 6.4%. Top Organic Pages by Section : Listing: Irish Hills Natural Reserve, Events: Cayucos 4th of July Celebration, Things to Do: Main Page. Blog: Fourth of July the Slo Cal way, Explore: Pismo Beach Shell Beach. Eat and Drink: Bars Lounges, Stay: Main Page. What to Do in San Luis Obispo gets 1,600 AMS. "what to do" is a good phrase to use as a related phrase when creating "things to do" content. Halloween with its many blog-able activities is just around the corner. Topics to consider: Top Haunted Houses, Top Trick or Treat Locations for Kids, Top Costume Contests. Top Bars/Nightclubs for Halloween. Most Halloween activities take place at night which lend itself to developing content and links to places to stay. Page 2 of 14 Date: August 5, 2019 Client: SLO CAL Date Range: February 1 - July 31, 2019 Total Traffic Overview: Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Sessions:79,856 106,677 137,526 91,571 94,331 85,978 Users:67,366 90,346 115,996 76,814 79,837 69,100 Bounce Rate:26%30%42%60%58%55% Pageviews:135,050 169,103 204,819 150,732 165,491 158,975 Avg Pageviews Per Visit:1.69 1.59 1.49 1.65 1.75 1.85 Avg. Session Duration:0:02:24 0:02:17 0:01:59 0:02:15 0:02:27 0:02:34 Total Organic Search Traffic:28,680 37,159 41,686 42,861 45,466 53,092 % of Traffic Organic Search:36%35%30%47%48%62% Entry Pages From Search:1,712 1,730 1,811 1,871 1,940 2,133 VisitSLOCounty Visits:0 0 0 0 0 0 VisitSLOCounty Bounce Rate:0%0%0%0%0%0% Mobile/Tablet SnapShot: Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Sessions:59,045 83,001 110,701 69,668 71,737 64,036 % of Sessions:74%78%80%76%76%74% Bounce Rate:27%33%44%65%64%60% Pageviews: 85,403 114,792 147,616 98,319 107,009 101,433 Avg. Session Duration:0:02:00 0:01:56 0:01:44 0:01:54 0:02:03 0:02:11 0 20,000 40,000 60,000 80,000 100,000 120,000 140,000 160,000 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Total Visits Comparison Prior Year This Year 0 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000 60,000 Traffic Channels 0 50,000 100,000 150,000 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Mobile/Tablet Visits Prior Year This Year Page 3 of 14 Date: August 5, 2019 Client: SLO CAL Date Range: February 1 - July 31, 2019 visitSLOcounty 0 20,000 40,000 60,000 80,000 100,000 120,000 140,000 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul YoY Users 2017-18 2018-19 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul YoY Bounce Rate 2017-18 2018-19 0 50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000 250,000 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul YoY Pageviews 2017-18 2018-19 0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul YoY Avg. Pageviews/Session 2017-18 2018-19 0:00:00 0:00:43 0:01:26 0:02:10 0:02:53 0:03:36 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul YoY Avg. Session Duration 2017-18 2018-19 0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul YoY Entry Pages From Search 2017-18 2018-19 Page 4 of 14 Date: August 2, 2019 Client: SLO CAL Date Range: February 1 - July 31, 2019 Organic Traffic % of Total Site Traffic Sessions 53,092 61.75% Organic Engagement Compared to Site Engagement Pages / Session 1.98 7.03% Avg. Session Duration 0:02:58 15.30% New Sessions 71.67%-4.47% Bounce Rate 49.73%-8.86% Search Engine Visits Percent google 51,407 96.83% yahoo 713 1.34% bing 707 1.33% duckduckgo 187 0.35% ask 33 0.06% sogou 18 0.03% Top 10 Linking Sites Landing Page Visits Percent visitcalifornia.com /4,836 9.11% destinationpasorobles.com /event/cayucos-4th-of-july-celebration/4836/3,740 7.04% reside.org /events-and-festivals/3,182 5.99% pasowine.com /blog/post/fourth-of-july-the-slo-cal-way/2,606 4.91% centralcoast-tourism.com /event/annual-4th-of-july-fireworks-celebrate/5949/2,415 4.55% tombarket.com /events-and-festivals/events-calendar/1,701 3.20% dmoproz.com /blog/post/insider-tips-15-free-things-to-do-in-slo-cal/1,039 1.96% coterealtors.com /blog/post/dog-friendly-beaches-abound-in-slo-county/894 1.68% digitalinteractive.company /event/11th-annual-central-coast-lavender-festival/2150/825 1.55% centralcoastrealestatephotography.com /explore/pismo-beach-shell-beach/818 1.54% Organic Search Traffic: 0 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000 60,000 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Organic Visits Comparison Prior Year Current Year Page 5 of 14 Date: August 2, 2019 Client: SLO CAL Date Range: February 1 - July 31, 2019 total organic 0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 40,000 45,000 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul YoY Organic Users 2017-18 2018-19 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul YoY Organic Bounce Rate 2017-18 2018-19 0 20,000 40,000 60,000 80,000 100,000 120,000 140,000 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul YoY Organic Pageviews 2017-18 2018-19 0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 4.00 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul YoY Avg. Organic Pgvws/Sn 2017-18 2018-19 0:00:00 0:00:43 0:01:26 0:02:10 0:02:53 0:03:36 0:04:19 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul YoY Avg. Organic Sn Duration 2017-18 2018-19 Page 6 of 14 Date: August 5, 2019 Client: SLO CAL Date Range: July 1 - 31, 2019 Goals: Goal Completions Visitors Magazine Request 290 Media Request 0 Meetings RFP 2 Enewsletter Sign-up 126 Top 20 Google Search Console Search Queries: Queries Clicks Impressions CTR Position san luis obispo 3,515 140,351 2.50%2.6 cayucos 4th of july 918 2290 40.09%1.7 cayucos 388 16597 2.34%4.4 pismo beach 361 150839 0.24%8.4 san luis obispo events 330 1368 24.12%1.1 pismo beach fireworks 328 2043 16.05%4.8 morro bay 319 66841 0.48%8.3 pismo beach 4th of july 258 901 28.63%2.6 things to do in san luis obispo 254 8414 3.02%5.5 circus vargas 250 2254 11.09%2.9 edna valley wineries 234 1414 16.55%4.5 paso robles 221 70833 0.31%9.9 slo events 209 647 32.30%1.1 pismo fireworks 2019 191 1024 18.65%4.8 avila beach 179 37594 0.48%7.7 pismo beach fireworks 2019 150 1139 13.17%5.8 circus vargas san luis obispo 136 968 14.05%4.6 santa margarita 97 10045 0.97%4.2 shell beach 81 6400 1.27%5.4 arroyo grande 74 12506 0.59%5.7 Page 7 of 14 Date: August 5, 2019 Client: SLO CAL Date Range: July 1 - 31, 2019 Select Google Search Console Search Queries Year over Year Comparison: Reporting Month Change Reporting Month Change arroyo grande 74 -24 12,506 72 arroyo grande hotels 0 0 118 59 atascadero hotels 0 0 119 53 avila beach 179 55 37,594 598 avila beach hotels 1 0 452 352 cambria ca 15 -68 4,959 -9,806 cambria ca hotels 0 0 417 -22 cayucos 388 301 16,597 2,197 cayucos hotels 0 0 274 211 morro bay 319 87 66,841 -27,477 morro bay hotels 0 0 498 341 nipomo ca 31 1 5,145 -447 nipomo hotels 0 0 20 11 oceano hotels 0 0 93 89 paso robles 221 18 70,833 17,019 paso robles hotels 0 0 486 331 pismo beach 361 -16 150,839 4,353 pismo beach hotels 0 0 967 430 san luis obispo 3515 -1,304 140,351 14,032 san luis obispo hotels 17 17 6,985 6,574 san miguel ca 54 -21 1,372 -682 san simeon 62 -6 21,970 2,980 santa margarita 97 -30 10,045 358 santa margarita hotels 0 0 48 30 shell beach 81 47 6,400 746 shell beach hotels 0 0 257 64 YoY Clicks Queries YoY Impressions Page 8 of 14 Date: August 5, 2019 Client: SLO CAL Date Range: February 1 - July 31, 2019 External Links Listings: Link to Website Top 10 URLs Total Clicks Top 10 Websites Total Clicks www.cayucoschamber.com/Calendar.html 911 Swinging Bridge 78 www.experiencepismobeach.com/event/annual-4th-of-july-fireworks-celebration/297/873 Elephant Seal Vista Point 74 vimeo.com/254752474 481 Moonstone Beach 60 www.circusvargas.com/tickets.html 419 Sunbuggy Fun Rentals 57 www.sensoriopaso.com/399 Nitt Witt Ridge 56 pasoroblesdowntown.org/downtown-calendar/292 Charles Paddock Zoo 54 www.groverbeach.org/Calendar.aspx?NID=1&FID=206 287 Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa 47 www.seapinesgolfresort.com/concerts-on-the-green 214 Freshwater Fishing Lopez Lake 46 assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/fetch/c_limit,q_80,w_1200/https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/crm/slocal/Field-of-Light-at-Sensorio_Copyright---2019-Bruce-Munro.-All-rights-reserved.-Photography-by-Serena-Munro_10_a55c862b-5056-a36a-0b4925d3683d9ca4.jpg200Wolff Vineyards Edna Valley 46 www.midstatefair.com/193 Hardie Park 45 Listings: Link to Detail Top 10 Listings Total Clicks Swinging Bridge 124 Nitt Witt Ridge 110 Ragged Point Beach 63 Morro Bay State Park 60 Bishop Peak 51 Festival Mozaic 49 Hearst Castle 49 San Luis Obispo Farmers Markets 49 Avila Beach Horseback Riding 46 El Moro Elfin Forest 44 0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000 14,000 16,000 18,000 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul External Links Total Clicks Page 9 of 14 Date: August 5, 2019 Client: SLO CAL Date Range: February 1 - July 31, 2019 0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Listings: YoY Link to Website Total Clicks 2019 0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Listings: Link to Detail Total Clicks 0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000 14,000 2/1/2019 3/1/2019 4/1/2019 5/1/2019 6/1/2019 7/1/2019 Total Partner Referrals Page 10 of 14 Date: August 5, 2019 Client: SLO CAL Date Range: July 1 - 31, 2019 Demographics & Interests Affinity Categories: Top 10 Affinity Categories Visits Shoppers/Value Shoppers 18,651 Travel/Travel Buffs 16,833 Sports & Fitness/Health & Fitness Buffs 16,684 Food & Dining/Cooking Enthusiasts/30 Minute Chefs 16,177 Lifestyles & Hobbies/Art & Theater Aficionados 15,540 Lifestyles & Hobbies/Business Professionals 14,947 Media & Entertainment/Movie Lovers 14,716 Banking & Finance/Avid Investors 14,045 Lifestyles & Hobbies/Outdoor Enthusiasts 13,856 Technology/Technophiles 13,430 Other Categories: Top 10 Categories Visits Arts & Entertainment/Celebrities & Entertainment News 10,972 Food & Drink/Cooking & Recipes 5,252 News/Weather 4,083 Travel/Hotels & Accommodations 3,899 Travel/Air Travel 3,762 Arts & Entertainment/TV & Video/Online Video 3,553 Real Estate/Real Estate Listings/Residential Sales 3,493 Arts & Entertainment/TV & Video/TV Shows & Programs/TV Reality Shows 3,288 News/Sports News 3,264 Online Communities/Social Networks 2,867 Affinity Categories broaden the scope to identify users in terms of lifestyle; for example, Technophiles, Sports Fans, and Cooking Enthusiasts. These categories are defined in a similar way to TV audiences, and represent an opportunity to understand the behavior of your audience. Other Categories are used to classify groups of users based on the specific content they consume, along with how recently and frequently they consume that content. This category data provides a more focused view of your users, and lets you analyze behavior more narrowly than Affinity Categories. * Per Google 3.49% 14.04% 11.74% 10.33% 11.23% 9.36% 1.86% 9.77% 8.67% 7.32% 6.41% 5.78% 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+ Age Group by Gender Male Female Page 11 of 14 Date: August 5, 2019 Client: SLO CAL Date Range: July 1 - 31, 2019 Top Content:Geographic: Top Landing Pages Entrances /11,391 /event/cayucos-4th-of-july-celebration/4836/4,109 /events-and-festivals/3,960 /blog/post/fourth-of-july-the-slo-cal-way/2,924 (not set)2,833 /event/annual-4th-of-july-fireworks-celebrate/5949/2,611 /?utm_campaign_=fy20_miles_engagement 2,315 /events-and-festivals/events-calendar/2,141 /?fy20_traffic_awareness_miles=1,544 /blog/post/insider-tips-15-free-things-to-do-in-slo-cal/1,122 Top Content Pages Pageviews /13,931 /events-and-festivals/7,355 /events-and-festivals/events-calendar/4,894 /event/cayucos-4th-of-july-celebration/4836/4,826 /blog/post/fourth-of-july-the-slo-cal-way/3,681 /event/annual-4th-of-july-fireworks-celebrate/5949/3,196 /things-to-do/3,031 /?utm_campaign_=fy20_miles_engagement 2,597 /stay/1,874 /events-and-festivals/live-music-concerts/1,712 Top Exit Pages Exits /7,929 /event/cayucos-4th-of-july-celebration/4836/4,041 /blog/post/fourth-of-july-the-slo-cal-way/2,725 /events-and-festivals/2,708 /event/annual-4th-of-july-fireworks-celebrate/5949/2,594 /events-and-festivals/events-calendar/2,029 /?utm_campaign_=fy20_miles_engagement 1,886 /?fy20_traffic_awareness_miles=1,407 /things-to-do/1,192 /event/11th-annual-central-coast-lavender-festival/2150/913 15% 10% 7% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 1% 56% Top Cities Los Angeles San Francisco San Luis Obispo Paso Robles Atascadero Baywood-Los Osos Arroyo Grande Phoenix 78.5% 3.7% 3.5% 2.4% 2.2% 2.2% 1.4% 0.8% 0.5% 0.5% 4.1% Top States California Texas Arizona Washington Nevada Colorado Illinois New York Virginia Florida Other 27.62% 22.15% 17.66% 3.82% 3.42% 3.16% 3.04% 2.35% 2.13% 2.11% 12.53% Top Metros Los Angeles CA Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-San Luis Obispo CA San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose CA Fresno-Visalia CA Phoenix AZ Dallas-Ft. Worth TX Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto CA Seattle-Tacoma WA Denver CO San Diego CA Other Page 12 of 14 Date: August 5, 2019 Client: SLO CAL Date Range: July 1 - 31, 2019 Top Referrers: Sessions Bounce Rate Avg. Session Duration Pages / Sessions visitcalifornia.com 1,026 38.79%0:04:05 2.54 m.facebook.com 760 73.82%0:01:18 1.41 avilavillageinn.com 480 39.58%0:03:34 2.43 visitavilabeach.com 321 47.35%0:03:04 2.18 facebook.com 309 81.55%0:01:05 1.35 slocal.com 281 55.16%0:00:49 1.95 slocal.simpleviewcms.com 218 11.93%0:12:08 5.04 blog.thediscoverer.com 129 62.79%0:01:45 1.51 l.instagram.com 74 62.16%0:02:17 1.54 l.facebook.com 65 55.38%0:02:51 1.82 Totals 4,949 49.46%0:03:16 2.23 Top Campaigns: Campaign Source / Medium Sessions % New Sessions Avg. Session Duration Bounce Rate Sitelink goodway / sem 1,257 78.68%0:01:37 62.21% fy20_miles MiQ / display 613 87.77%0:01:30 65.74% fy20_miles Sojern / display 575 75.30%0:01:01 70.09% CA_TO-DO goodway / sem 228 84.65%0:01:08 71.05% fy20_video_miles facebook / video 202 96.53%0:00:33 79.70% fy19_miles_dallas adara / display 172 33.72%0:01:43 76.16% fy20_miles_video facebook / video 127 98.43%0:00:44 76.38% CA_OUTDOOR goodway / sem 96 91.67%0:01:14 64.58% CA_BEACH goodway / sem 34 67.65%0:04:03 41.18% fy20_miles Sharethrough / Native 29 0.00%0:01:31 31.03% fy19_miles youtube / video 19 89.47%0:00:40 73.68% CA_TRAVEL goodway / sem 15 86.67%0:00:11 86.67% visitslocalfall goodway / social 12 75.00%0:01:37 58.33% fy19_miles facebook / video 6 0.00%0:05:38 16.67% fy20_miles Sharethrough / Video 6 16.67%0:01:24 66.67% Totals 3,438 78.71%0:01:23 66.52% Referrer Page 13 of 14 Date: August 5, 2019 Client: SLO CAL Date Range: July 1 - 31, 2019 In-MarketVs Visitor: 4,964 16,981 0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 In-Market Out of Market Desktop Visits 11,034 52,998 0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 40,000 45,000 50,000 55,000 60,000 65,000 70,000 75,000 80,000 In-Market Out of Market Mobile/Tablet Visits 77.38% 22.62% 82.77% 17.23% Page 14 of 14