HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-04-23 MemorandumTO: Kenai CVB Board of Directors
FROM: Mya Renken, Executive Director
RE: Executive Director's Report
DATE: April 23, 2007
MEMORANDUM
Administration
1 Staff update
Chip has taken a position with HiSpeed Gear. His last day is April 27, 2007
We are recruiting for a new part time Administrative Specialist and one full time and
one part time Visitor Information Assistant.
We were informed that Cassandra, who worked for us for two summers, got married
last month in Idaho.
ACS has quarantined our e -mail for more than a week due to virus activity. We are
able to send email via the webmail system but are busy upgrading our anti -virus
software and running scans to see where the virus settled.
KCVB
o Destination Marketing
Tina and I attended Travel Indsutry of America International PowWow in Anaheim,
CA.
April 22, 2007, Sunday attended Females in Tourism Brunch and sat with
representatives from Shop America Alliance (who have just signed an
agreement with Museum Stores) and with the Executive Director of U.S.
Cultural Heritage Tourism Marketing Council. Caught up with Julie Heizer,
Deputry Director, Industry Relations for U.S. Department of Commerce.
Met with international tour operators and updated Alaska -based receptive
operators about new and improved products being offered by KCVB's
membership.
Tina was in the ATIA booth and I was in Anchorage CVB's booth.
Fulfillment numbers for visitor inquiries appears to have jumped significantly. We will
need to be allocating additional funds to postage line item, particularly since postage
rates are increasing about 30% in May.
o Visitor Center Services
Retail area has been re- designed to allow for more light into the area and for better
flow of retail traffic.
We will increase our hours of operation in May and move to our full summer hours in
time for Memorial Day week -end.
Carmen, our volunteer extraordinaire, is working on receiving new rack cards for all
of our members for placement in the Center's racks.
o Cultural Center Programs and Exhibits
Sticks and Stones: Structured Alaska
Gala is May 11, 2007 at 5:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m.
The Arts Committee selected Paradisos as the caterer.
Beer, wine, cohoritas and a specialty mixed drink created just of the art show
are all on the menu.
Snug Harbor Seafoods is providing the oysters once again!
The caterers will be assisted by the KCHS Cross country ski team.
Collateral materials are in development for the show.
Premier Alaska Tours is sponsoring the pARTy Coach down from
Anchorage, which will include a mini -film festival hosted by Bob Curtis
Johnson of Bob's Shorts.
Captain Cook exhibit
Official opening is May 26, 2007, the 229 anniversary of Cook's voyage up
Cook's River
We have two interns from KPC assisting Natasha on the exhibit.
The exhibit will include text boards about Cook's amazement about the tides
in Cook Inlet and explanation of why he would have thought the inlet was a
river.
o ATIA
Attended ATIA Marketing Committee meeting in Juneau on April 10 and Legislative
Fly -In on April 11.
Met with Representatives Chenault and Olson and Senator Wagoner to discuss
ATIA's funding and the funding formula.
Testified in front of the Senate Finance Committee in support of ATIA's funding
request of $18.5 million core funding and $8 million independent traveler campaign.
o Miscellaneous Projects
KPTMC met and approved the branding campaign, which will be presented to the
Board on April 30, 2007.
Was unable to attend the Kenai Brown Bear Committee meeting as it conflicted with
KPTMC's branding campaign review and Board meeting.
Patrons
o Will be meeting jointly with the Arts Committee on the second Monday following the KCVB
Board meeting.
o Money Market account created for Patrons organization.
o The 501(c)(3) designation allows us to purchase deeply discounted software from TechSoup
so we are upgrading all of our software on those computers /systems that would be used in
support of the Patron's mission.