Hotel-Motel Tax Board Minutes 2019 April 26

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Hotel-Motel Tax Board Minutes 4/26/2019 Pg. 4 Yahoo and IndianasCoolNorth.com. Top external links were: downtownsouthbend.com/paddy-party; google.com/maps; milb.com/south-bend/news/all-star-concert-featuring-pitbull; dtsb.com/things-to- do/st-patricks-day-parade; and eatdrinkdtsb.com/event/winter-restaurant-weeks-2019. All the numbers are up as VSBM recently launched a five-month digital campaign for the summer primarily in Chicago and Indy markets. Newsletters are distributed to 21,955 leisure recipients and 569 newsletters are emailed monthly to industry partners. Three travel writers were hosted including Kevin Raub with Lonely Planet, Sara Broers of Travel with Sara and Melody Pittman with Wherever I May Roam. The Tourism Marketing & Hosting Grant was increased to $125,000 this year. There were a record 46 applications and 35 events funded including USA Hockey, Fischoff, Jr. Irish Soccer, Sunburst and Studebaker Drivers Club. The Capital Development Fund recipients included the Ice Box which received $71,500 to prepare and improve technology for the USA Hockey Event which was a 300- room event and the St. Joseph County Parks which received $100,000 for their natural playscape which is the first in the region. SJCP leveraged that first financial assistance to receive additional grants which changed the scope of the project from $250,000 to $400,000. These awards are assist- ing a wide variety of partners and the financial dollars are leveraged to bring in more dollars that helps bring in more investment to St. Joseph County. DeCleene concluded by inviting everyone to the Tourism Awards Reception to be held May 29 from 4:00 p.m. at Notre Dame Stadium. VSBM partners with Barnes & Thornburg on the Tourism Invest- ment Award which VenueND received in 2018 so they are the host site in 2019. Century Center: Jeff Jarnecke reported that 2019 Q1 performance of $298,302 was incredibly successful driven by consumer events. Century Center is controlling at 21% of budget currently. The Food and Beverage and Cost of Goods Sold is 24% which is under the 30% or less requirement for SMG. Salaries is the majority of the Cost of Goods Sold. Staff are working hard to end the year in the black the same as in 2018. The room night goal for 2019 is 18,000 vs 14,217 actual room nights in 2018. Leanna Belew reported on 2019 Q1 sales and room nights. Actualized room nights increased 114% from 421 in 2018 to 902 in 2019. There are 13,939 definite and tentative room nights on the books for 2019; 8,184 in 2020; and 6,943 in 2021 compared to 14,217 total room nights in 2018. The number of events increased 25% from 93 in 2018 to 116 in 2019. New contracts signed and returned decreased 27% from 108 in 2018 to 79 in 2019. New contracts issued increased 2% from 139 in 2018 to 142 in 2019. Estimated rent from new contracts decreased 7% from $114,070 in 2018 to $105,575 in 2019. Attendance decreased 7% from 64,492 in 2018 to 59,750 in 2019. Site visits increased 2% from 99 in 2018 to 101 in 2019. The Net Promoter Score was 80% with the goal of 80%. The return rate was 42% with the goal of 50%. Century Center partnered with Visit South Bend Mishawaka for a sales blitz to Indianapolis to roll out the South Bend/Evansville co-op program. Jacob Hamman attended the Indiana Tourism Conference in Noblesville with Visit South Bend Mishawaka. Julie Nowak booked Misty Harbor Boats to help replace the Godfrey Dealers Show. Jarnecke reported on the $1.26 million capital improvement projects for the building that have been allocated for 2019 and an additional $500,000-$600,000 that were carried over from 2018 and 2017. Projects in progress include landscaping outside the building, storage deck, new signage and graphics.