Sault Ste. Marie Convention & Visitors Bureau
Board of Directors Meeting
March 5, 2015
9:30 a.m.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Jim Anderson, President, Plaza Motor Motel
Rob Rodenroth, Vice-President, HIE, BW, ABVI, Superior Place (via telephone)
Tony Wizauer, Treasurer, Budget Host Crestview Inn
Michelle Ellis, Secretary, Super 8
Patti Paris, Director, HIE, BW, ABVI, Superior Place
Dan Dasho, Director, Community at Large Member
Don Gerrie, Director, Community at Large Member
CVB MEMBERS PRESENT
Linda Hoath, Executive Director
Debbie Beaumont, Office Manager
GUESTS PRESENT
Steve Welch, S&D Concepts
Allen Richards, Kewadin Casino Hotel & Convention Center
Steve Welch, S&D Concepts, Inc. gave a presentation to the Board in regards to a Marketing piece he is working on to target Group Tour Companies. (See attached)
Jim Anderson, Board President, called the Sault CVB board meeting to order at 10:10 a.m. at the Sault CVB office.
MINUTES
Rob made the motion with Patti seconding to accept the minutes from the January 29, 2015 board meeting as presented. Motion carried with all in favor.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Tony reported that all the bills are paid with the biggest expense being TwoSix Digital in the amount of $26,000.00 and there is plenty of money in the bank. We are set better this year than last year. Good start to the year, room charges are up 5.21% which is 3% over budget. Total expenses are down 12%. The Smith Travel Report shows we are up in ADR by 13% but down 8% in occupancy. Linda had put a new report in this month, the hotel click-through report. Rev Par we are up 9.3% over last year. Don made the motion with Patti seconding to accept the consent agenda as presented. Motion carried with all in favor.
ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA
- S&D Concepts, Inc. to New Business
- Ice Fishing to New Business
- Dan Dasho, Cloverland Electric, to Director’s Report
REPORTS
Director’s Report – See Report – Dan Dasho gave an update on the Cloverland Electric issue. The mines have returned to Wisconsin Electric as on February 1st. Because of the grass root effort on everyone’s behalf the news is good. At this point it looks like the rates will not go up.
ED Attachment A – See Report
Unique Visitors – See Report
Mailing Statistics – See Report
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
- Open Ballots – Tony and Patti opened the sealed ballots for the new two director seats. The two new Directors will be Julie Wiater and Patrick Foumia. There were seven for Patrick and five for Julie. The candidate with the most votes gets the longest term. Julie’s seat will expire on December 31, 2015. Patrick’s seat will expire on December 31, 2016. Rob made the motion to with Tony seconding to accept the nominations as presented. Motion carried with all in favor.
- Board of Directors Insurance Policy – A copy of the policy is attached for the board to look over. Debbie will call and add two board members to the policy and will find out if there is a cost to add the two members. The board members are to look over the policy and if there are any questions please e-mail them to Debbie and she will get the questions to the insurance company.
NEW BUSINESS
- Sponsor Hotels/Motels for the Sault Marathon and Gus Macker – Send an e-mail to all hotels and motels to see any property would like to be the sponsor hotel for either of the events.
- May Election to raise sales tax from 6% to 7%. There was a discussion on this matter. The Sault CVB Board of Directors is against the tax increase because of the way it is written.
- Monthly CVB Update for Members – E-mail to all the members letting them know the monthly signed board minutes are up on-line.
- S&D Concepts, Inc. – The cost of the proposal is $23,667.00. Steve Welch would do all the work as well as the printing and mailing. Everyone agreed it is a really good idea. The cost is way too high. The CVB pretty much does exactly what Steve is proposing. The board suggested possibly being a sponsor but do not buy into this. Linda said that this is not in the 2015 budget. Linda recommends we try to be a sponsor. We do not want to own it. She will talk to Steve further and let the board know.
- Ice Fishing – Jim brought up the fact that we need to have an ice fishing tournament in the winter. He had a guest who told him about a tournament in Wa-wa where the top prize is $100,000.00. This is an event that needs to be investigated.
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP COMMENTS – Nothing at this time.
FYI – Please see all the attached and if any questions please call the office.
The February board meeting will be held on Thursday, April 2, 2015 at 9:30 a.m. at the Sault CVB office. Rob Rodenroth and Dan Dasho are excused absent from this meeting due to prior commitments. Rob may be able to call in.
Rob made the motion with Tony seconding to adjourn the board meeting and go into a closed session. Motion carried with all in favor.
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Jim Anderson, PresidentMichelle Ellis, Secretary