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06-26-2023, MCTDC minutesMontgomery County Tourism Development Council (MCTDC) Multi-Purpose Room (2nd Floor), Montgomery County Government Center Christiansburg, Virginia 9 – 10 a.m. Minutes Monday, 26 June 2023 1. Call to Order Sam Bishop called to order the regular meeting of the MCTDC at 9:01 am. 2. Present David Rotenizer, Regional Tourism, Executive Director Cheyenne Kees, Regional Tourism, Tourism Program Assistant (Minutes) Sam Bishop (v), Chairperson – Christiansburg Town Council Bob Miller, Montgomery County Planning Commission, Member Mary Biggs (v), Montgomery County Board of Supervisors Craig Meadows, Montgomery County Administrator Steve Baffuto, Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce (v) Cody Thompson (v), Vice Chairperson, Blacksburg Restaurant Representative, Zeppoli’s Restaurant & Wine Shop Angie Hill, Montgomery County Randy Wingfield, Town of Christiansburg, Town Manager Ann Cassell, Blacksburg Partnership, President Tom Norman (v), Courtyard Marriott, General Manager Lauren Colliver (v), Blacksburg Town Council Representative Emily Gibson, Virginia Tech Representative, Director of Local Government & Community Relations in NRV 3. Absent Logan Kessinger (v), Hampton Inn Christiansburg, General Manager Heather Browning, Town of Blacksburg, Public Information Director Connie Hale (v), Buffalo and More, Owner Scott Sink, Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce (v) Alessandro Pugliese, Christiansburg Restaurant Representative, Sandro's Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria (v) Jennifer Harris, Montgomery County, Public Information Officer Christina Edney, Town of Christiansburg, Public Relations Director 4. Consensus of Agenda a. Sam Bishop calls for a motion to approve the agenda. Mary Biggs motions to approve. Tom Norman seconds. All say aye. The motion is approved. 5. Approval of Meeting Minutes a. Sam Bishop calls for a motion to approve the minutes. Mary Biggs motions to approve. Tom Norman seconds. All say aye. The motion is approved. 6. Old Business 7. New Business a. No new business to discuss. 8. Updates: a. Lodging i. Tom Norman shares that through May, the STR reports show an increase in occupancy. June is trending down a little. He mentions that the hoteliers are missing the mandatory orientation at Virginia Tech. ii. Craig Meadows shares that the Days Inn on Roanoke Street was closed. b. Food & Beverage i. Cody Thompson shares that two new restaurants are open in Blacksburg, the Boardwalk and The Burg, both on Draper Road. ii. Steve Baffuto shares that Noodles and Co. have opened in Christiansburg. c. Chamber of Commerce i. Steve Baffuto shares that he will be filling in for Scott Sink for the Montgomery Chamber of Commerce representative on the council. He shares that the Chamber’s Lunch and Learn for small businesses will take place soon and will have 45 people attending. They hope to bring in a different topic each month to help provide small businesses with resources. This month they will discuss marketing, a popular topic with the small business community. A big food drive aims to provide needy children in the area 3 meals a day throughout the summer months. d. The Blacksburg Partnership i. Ann Cassell shares that Brew Do will be held on September 16th, 2023. She also shares that Southern Lady Magazine is doing a series of articles about College Towns and that Blacksburg will be the 4th one selected for the July/August issue. e. Virginia Tech i. Emily Gibson shares that optional tours are going on right now. Move in is August 14th. Classes begin August 21st. f. Local Government i. Craig Meadows shares that he is retiring on November 1st and that Angie Hill, the current Deputy County Administrator/CFO will take his place in November as the new County Administrator. ii. Lauren Colliver shares that the Solstice Festival went well in Blacksburg. Friday Night Concert series begins this weekend. Other updates include the upcoming Steppin’ Out festival and July 4th celebrations. iii. Randy Wingfield shares that Noodles and Co have opened at Marketplace, and Spoons Frozen Yogurt and Poke Bowl are hoping to open within the next week or two. The Town of Christiansburg has hired Amanda Hepert as a Small Business Solutions Manager. The town council has approved a body shop in front of the Park and Ride and has also approved 209 units behind Lowe’s for high-end apartments. He also shares that the July 4th celebrations will begin downtown at 10 am and until 4 pm, and fireworks at the park at 9:15 pm. The Huckleberry Park should be open by July. iv. Tom Norman asks about the occupation of the old Chick-fil-A once they move to their new location being built. Randy Wingfield shares that he isn’t certain what will go there. He also shares that a Bojangles, a car wash, and a tire place will go across the street. v. Emily Gibson asks about Academy Sports. Randy Wingfield confirms it is coming. 9. Other 10. Executive Director’s Report a. Cheyenne Kees shares a demonstration of the new Virtual Visitor Center. b. Mary Biggs asks about a visual kiosk at the airport. David mentions this is a good future idea. c. Lauren Colliver asks about salons and nail places being populated on the Virtual Visitor Center. Cheyenne Kees answers that they populate but haven’t been approved since they aren’t necessarily a tourism asset. d. Steve Baffuto asks about what is being done to announce the launch. David Rotenizer confirms that a PR Campaign with iTi will be launched shortly. e. David Rotenizer shares the Executive Director’s Report. Please see attached. i. Randy Wingfield shares that tomorrow’s council meeting agenda for the Town of Christiansburg has the Tourism program on there for discussion and hopes the vote to leave the program will be rescinded. ii. David Rotenizer shares that the FAM tours for the ARPA funding will hopefully come in the Fall and possibly the Spring. iii. David Rotenizer shares that the website will have a Partners tab for videos like the Virtual Visitor Center launch. This page will have separate information for Partners to help them. iv. David Rotenizer shares about the success of the launch of the Visit NRV website and new branding. This program was also recorded, and the video will be shared with partners. v. David Rotenizer shares about additional ARPA projects that will be completed this year. He mentions that the Digital Audit Training will work perfectly with the Virtual Visitor Center to help our businesses have greater visibility. vi. David Rotenizer shares an update on the Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 Study. Rotenizer adds that the Vice President for Research with Americans for the Arts will be here November 28-29 to announce the results of the AEP6 study. vii. Virginia Rail Heritage region, the resolution passed unanimously by the House. Delegate Ballard played a big role in moving it through. viii. David Rotenizer announces that Cheyenne Kees has resigned from her position as Administrative Assistant, and her last day will be July 5th, 2023. 11. Sam Bishop mentions that Steve Baffuto will be taking the place of Scott Sink, and Craig Meadows confirms that the governing bodies need to approve it. 12. Bob Miller mentions that Montgomery Museum is doing a rail symposium on July 13th at 4:30 pm. Ray Smoot will talk about the history of the VA railroad. The director of Virginia’s passenger rail service will speak. Sam Bishop adjourned the meeting at 9:48 a.m. Upcoming Meetings of MCTDC 25 September 2023 8 January 2024 Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Montgomery County Regional Tourism EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT Montgomery County Tourism Development Council Quarterly Meeting 26 June 2023 Status of Tourism Office: • Moved to new office. Former Blacksburg Police Department • Town of Christiansburg slated to withdraw from Regional Tourism Program Marketing: • ARPA funded – Tourism Fam Tour / Media Tour– RFP closes 29 June. • DXP (Digital Experience Platform) – Virtual Visitor Center. Launched May 10. Video made • Visit NRV Rebranding/Website – revealed and launched May 11. Video made • Updated Visitor Guide – print and digital. 2,500 first print exhausted. 5,000 being printed • Social Media relaunched November Facebook – 2,544 Followers (up from 2,349 in March) Instagram – 1,064 Followers (up from 1,044 in March) • March Blitz at Lambsburg Welcome Center (5,780 door count, 1.845 USA, 438 Canada) • Writer – Outdoors/Hiking, Blogs – www.GoHikeVirginia.com / Northern VA magazine • Other ARPA Projects: Digital Audit and Training Position Message and Strategy Update Outdoor Recreation & Sports Inventory Virginia Travel Guide Spread Research: • AEP6 (Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 – economic and social impact of local non-profit arts and culture). Over 1,322 audience surveys collected (165% of threshold over 800) (25% of surveys BIPOC events) 43 Organizational surveys completed (4 started not completed / 121 not started). • NRV Travel Study – will email to MC TDC this week Product Development: • Destination 2026 • Virginia’s Rail Heritage Region (HR 473) • Mobile Visitor Center • Virginia Tech – Montgomery County Executive Airport Other: • Go To Town trademark renewed • Conferences (2023 State Agritourism Conference, 2024 VT Sorority Reunion, Caterpillar Intl) • Presentation to Virginia Tech and Radford University tourism classes • Support to DCI, DBI, Main Street Connect, and Blacksburg Partnership • New Chapter: Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association Announcement: