May Meeting Notes

Meeting held at Fox and Hound Restaurant


May Meeting Notes
Kip Damrow opens meeting with a moment of Silence for Shannon Weeks of the Best Western downtown, who passed on.
Good News - Finances have been cleared up and signed over to us. We have $7500 amongst two different banks at our disposal
Hospitality for the Homeless - Another shipment has been put together since last meeting. August will be time for soliciting hotels for donations. Kits are assembled by company in Norfolk (project for boyscouts, etc)
Bring It Home Campaign - Reach out to business owners to have their trade industries come to Wilmington. Potential Avenues - Business Journal and Chamber of Commerce Newsletter.
Action Point - Get involved!! Muriel and Mikie Wall attended the Executive Golf Tournament in Greenville and talked up Wilmington’s New Convention Center
Muriel Pearson as a stand-in for Kim Hufham- Update on CVB
CVB is dealing with budget cuts
room occupancy down 7.39%
Action Point - write to CVB to give them more information on updated occupancy
CVB just attended the Legislative Conference in Raleigh
Save Our Summers Update - Holdup appears to be in New Hanover County teaching system? Update to follow.
Email Link to everyone - NC TIA? Monique Baker
Heather Buchman- Pace Communications
Clarifying the “official” Visitor’s Guide of the Cape Fear CVB
They would like to take it from an “out-of-market” publication to “in-market” publication. Enhanced content will add value
Stephanie with Wilmington Hammerheads
Youth Passes for Soccer Games are available either online at www.wilmingtonhammerheads.com or by calling office, or at Moes
Any non-profit that wants to use a game as a fundraiser up to $2500, the office will pre-print tickets for that purpose
Miss USA will be at Sharks Game - Friday, May 29th throwing out first pitch and singing national anthem, Hammerheads game Saturday May 30th singing national anthem
If there are any restaurants who would like to sponsor Miss USA Homecoming on Wednesday, May 27th, contact Jane Davis
Kip has suggested meeting bi-monthly and has noted a slowdown in attendance.
Tom Jones - Wilmington Today spoke about his publication.
Update on the Soccer side of things - Annual Soccer Tournament had 290 teams, ten over the original goal of 280. Had to turn away 25 teams due to soccer field availability, not hotel rooms. Next year they will try to split age groups amongst two weekends to accommodate for graduation traffic.
Two more opportunities in the future - a series of tournaments
ACTION POINT - Keep looking for tidbits from hospitality network and send them to Hospitality Writer for Business Journal