Meeting Notice

Public Statements

Rick Murray, owner of Crown and Anchor and Mussel Beach had a couple of questions for the Board. He wondered if all the awards had been granted. He was told that the decisions had been made at the January 30^th meeting and the list of awards must now go before the BoS on April 14^th for their approval. Rick also would like the VSB’s marketing plans sent out to the PBG. He was told that both the PBG and the Chamber have representatives on the Board (Mick Rudd and Rob Tosner) and they keep their organizations informed.

Rick had just received an offer for advertising from a British magazine that was a bit too expensive for him to take advantage of but he felt there might be less expensive alternatives for USA travel in the center pages for the VSB. Rick was told that - in terms of advertising – the VSB does have a 5-year plan. The marketing moneys spent are detailed online and Rick can access them there. The Tourism Director offered to sit down with Rick and talk about his advertising ideas. He feels we should court the people with the euros who get favorable exchange rates in the U.S. Michelle thinks that this is a good opportunity to advertise – given the value of the euro.

Year Rounder’s Festival

Char Priolo spoke next as one of the organizers of the Year Rounder’s Festival. In 2006 the committee was denied a promotional grant and received a marketing grant instead. She said that primarily the VSB wanted to market to the 2^nd home owners. She was the entertainment coordinator and she is requesting that the VSB continue their funding; they basically ask for the custodial and the police costs. The Tourism Director indicated that the file record has an allocation of $700 from the FY 2007 marketing budget. The event was not well attended this year because of the bad weather - one big torrential rainstorm. Howie Schneider had been organizing it but in recent years a group has been together to perform this task. Char commented that it was far better attended when it was an alcohol related event. The Tourism Director would like to see other participants, i.e., the Cape Cod Chamber who couldn’t make it this year.

Motion: Move to fund $700 from the 2007 marketing budget to fund the Year Rounder’s Festival.

Motion: Rob Tosner Seconded: Kathleen Fitzgerald Vote: 5-0-0.

Marketing

Tourism Director request for approval: Discover New England trade show is an introduction to the agents who do the international marketing. The registration is $450 and the show will take place in Connecticut.

Discussion about trade shows reporting. The Tourism Director indicated that trade shows are either business-to-business, business to consumer or a mix of both. There is a great deal of information to be processed from the trade shows and more attendance feedback is coming in from the trade show organizers. The tourism office needs staff support to enter the consumer leads into the database.

Motion: Move to authorize up to and not to exceed $750 for expenses to have the Tourism Director attend the 2008 Discover New England trade show.

Motion: Mick Rudd Seconded: Laurel Guadazno Vote: 5-0-0.

Tourism Director request to approve trade show: The Ft. Lauderdale Convention and Visitor’s Bureau is hosting the PTO on April 12 and 13^th at the pride festival in Fort Lauderdale. Michelle said that perhaps you might get an airline to pick up the cost of the ticket.

Motion: Approve the participation in the Fort Lauderdale pride festival for April 12^th and 13^th.

Motion: Rob Tosner Seconded: Kathleen Fitzgerald Vote: 5-0-0.

The Tourism Director requested input from the board regarding the rack cards for cape wide distribution under the contract with the Best Read Guide. The feedback on the current rack card has not been overwhelming however, the three-fold calendar of events is the brochure being well received. Board recommended developing a calendar of events that has been abbreviated. Mick said that in reality people want information. It’ll cost you less and just highlight the important happenings.

Motion: Move to have the Tourism Director proceed with the rack card redesign and have a sample of it for VSB approval at the next meeting.

Motion: Rob Tosner Seconded: Laurel Guadazno Vote: 5-0-0.

Review of letter from Campus Provincetown - advertising in their annual course offerings. Done last year as a joint ad with the Adams Grant.

Motion: Approve the insertion of our ad in Campus Provincetown for $150.00.

Motion: Michelle Haines Seconded: Mick Rudd Vote: 5-0-0.

Provincetown Magazine also wanted the VSB to take an ad in their publication. There was quite a bit of discussion about this; part of the problem is that it’s only circulated in Provincetown and doesn’t give us a whole lot of exposure. It was decided that more information was needed before a firm decision could be made.

The Tourism Director presented an idea to co-op television advertising with Comcast who are willing to present to the board. Bay State Cruises has expressed a strong financial interest in participating with the other travel partners who are also doing marketing. She’d like to know from the Board – could we participate in this financially? A proposed project amount of a $40k ad campaign was discussed by the board. The Tourism Director pointed to the use of the film from the VNR’s as a basis for the ads. The campaign could piggyback on the ongoing marketing efforts for car-free vacations.

Rob asked quite a few specific questions, i.e., so this would be generic Provincetown – with no specific events?, so these ads will be run on TV?, etc.

Michelle indicated she had spoken with Michael at Bay State - we do have all the materials but let’s get the newscasters to push Provincetown. There are so many people competing and we’d like to see kicker stories – continue the meetings with Comcast but push for news stories about Town.

Rob said that he was on NECN a few years ago and they solicited him. The Tourism Director indicated that NPR has an advertising proposal for a radio campaign.

Informational piece from Rockland County (Nyack, NY) is having a gay and lesbian pride festival and they want us to co-sponsorship; they have a very large gay community.

Town Meeting

David Gardner announced the change in location of the town meeting due to the closing of the Town Hall auditorium. It also means that none of the rentals for shows, Film Festival, etc. can be held in the Town Hall.

VSB budget article: Mick thought it might be useful for one of us sitting in the audience to say that – working with the BoS we increase our support of town, etc. It was then thought by most of the members of the VSB that it would be wiser to say nothing in the hopes that bigger issues in Town would be questioned.

Meeting Minutes

The minutes of the last meeting will be available at a future meeting.

New Business

Discussion about media inquires –the Tourism Director indicated the calls are forwarded to FOCUS Communications. They meet weekly to discuss follow up and will include these contacts in their next media report.

Rob next commented on the negative messages being reported in the media about Provincetown, i.e., H2b means some restaurants will have to have adjusted hours or close due to a lack of help, the programs for Town Hall have to be curtailed due to the condition of the building, poor economic situation, cost of gasoline, etc. Rob said that we have to turn around the negative messages!

Motion: Lisa should work with FOCUS and get a news release out for the 1^st of April showing enthusiasm for what is going on in Provincetown.

Motion: Michelle Haines Seconded: Laurel Guadazno Vote: 5-0-0.

Old Business

Michelle suggested that everyone should visit a website www.adirondack.com

MOTION: Move that the Visitor Services Board vote, pursuant to MGL C. 39, §23B, clause 3, to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing staffing of the Tourism Office; and not to convene in open session thereafter. [Roll Call Vote]

Motion by: Rob Tosner Seconded by: Kathleen Fitzgerald

Laurel Guadazno - Yea Michelle Haines – Yea Mick Rudd - Yea

Yea 5 Nay 0 - Motion Passes -

The Board went into Executive Session at 4:42 p.m.

THE NEXT MEETING DATE WILL BE APRIL 1 AT 3:00 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

E. Rogers Gaudiano

Approved by_________________________ on _________2008

Rob Tosner, Chair