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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Lodging Tax Advisory Committee - 02/13/2014 Special Meeting Lodging Tax Advisory Committee February 13, 2014 Start Time 3:00 pm Centennial North & South Conference Rooms Committee Members Present: Bill Boyce, Andrew Hutchison, Barbara Smith, John Casey, Blane Webber Others present: Ben Wolters, Julie Pulliam, Andrea Keikkala, Paula Barry Chair Jamie Bill Boyce called the meeting to order at 3:05 pm, Introductions were done. A motion to approve the minutes from the meetings held on August 22 & 29, 2013 was by Barbara Smith and seconded by Andrew Hutchinson. Motion passes. Budget Through the month of November 2013 the revenue is greater than we expected in 2013 and is greater than we received in 2012. Expecting to receive $214,000 in Lodging Tax revenue for the year. Expenditures are consistent. Started the year with a fund balance of $95,000 and are anticipating ending the year $131,000. Going into 2014 the budget has been established estimating Lodging Tax at $196,000. Carrying forward the same annualizing budget Lodging Tax has each year. Anticipating having growth in the ending fund budget by the end of 2014 of $18,000. See attach budget report. Wolters stated he feels that the end budget is not correct. We will confirm. For 2014 if the board would like Wolters to explore any services out of the Seattle Southside Visitor Services budget which has $60,000 in the account. If not those funds should be directed toward implementing the branding and marketing campaign which will come out of the research and presentations from the two marketing groups Muldrow Arnett and Genesis Marketing. Smith asked what would the hoteliers want to see Webber said he feels the biggest benefit comes from some of the Seattle Southside services they have a more direct impact for us so we would like to look at some of the al-a-cart service they would be able to offer for his hotel specific. If we could look at it for all the hotels and pull the expenses out of this account that would be his choice. He would hope to see that option. Wolters stated he is waiting for direction from the committee on what the committee would like him to explore as a new relationship with Seattle Southside or individual services they could offer. Smith would like to know what are the choices and costs. The website is a high priority for accessibility of looking for the Kent area and being available. Wolters will follow up with the committee's feedback, are there any other specific products or services? Smith said she wants something in writing, Wolters agreed. Chair Boyce clarified - Wolters is gathering some information so he can go and make a decision. Boyce asked what is John Casey and Andrew Hutchinson's feedback is. Casey stated he remembered the $60,000 was what we decided to leave it at last year. It would be good to have Ben go and talk to them about what services they could offer. Andrew said he does have a strong feeling he would like to most definitely want to have web presence for tourism for Kent. The Marketing presentations from Genesis said there would be that web presence in their presentation. That is the roll that Southside had had for us. I think it would be more effective for my hotel to be Kent focused in the web presence. 1 Lodging Tax Advisory Committee Minutes of February 13, 2014 Page: 2 Wolters stated Seattle Southside will continue to work with ShoWare because they see them as being a draw for the area. Wolters add Des Moines became a recent member of Seattle Southside at the contracted amount of $10,000 for the full presence. Wolters has also been in contact with Derek Speck, Ben's counterpart in Tukwila. He is Katherine Kertzman's boss with Seattle Southside and is more than willing to work with Kent. Chair Boyce agreed with Hutchinson and said it is better to have something instead of nothing and it is better to not leave a void. Boyce asked Wolters if he received his direction and Wolters replied yes. New Business Lodging Tax ASKS: Smith commented we should get the work out to the groups to get their ASKS in for the first part of the year. Pulliam will put out a notice. Smith asked for ASK form to send to the Historical Society. Hutchinson said he has a contact with a softball group and he will be contacting them with the information. Wolters stated we will still work with Seattle Southside on the larger softball tournaments. Branding/Marketing: Wolters handed out the two work plans from the agencies that will be doing the Branding/Marketing for Kent Arnett Muldrow and Genesis Marketing. Invites for the roundtables went out Wednesday and Lodging Tax Committee members should have received them. The round tables will be done by Arnett Muldrow in an intensive 3 day exercise. Genesis Marketing will be going with what has been proposed and putting it into a developing the marketing presence and developing a campaign. Also do some follow up work with Arnett Muldrow. Genesis will come in after and explain to use how to roll this out using the web and other tools. Boyce said he sees it is already budged for at $60,000. There are two contracts $20,000 for Arnett Muldrow and $15,000 to Genesis Marketing. Wolters said he will be checking in with Arnett Muldrow prior to the roundtables. V Lodging Tax Advisory Committee Minutes of February 13, 2014 Page: 3 Kent Downtown Report - Nothing Chamber Report - Nothing Good of the order - Nothing Assignments for next meeting - None Next Regular Meeting Date - (Committee will meet every other month on the 3rd Thursday of the month 4 pm.) Next regular meeting will be 4/17/14 Adiournment - The meeting was adjourned by Chair Perry at 4:03 pm Subrriittedby G uli Pulliam, dgina Tax Secretary Approved at meeting of March 27, 2014