HomeMy WebLinkAboutOut-of-State Trvl - DskSide Briefings w-Ntl PublicationsSTAFF REPORT
CITY OF PALM DESERT
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
MEETING DATE: April 26, 2018
PREPARED BY: Thomas Soule, Tourism & Marketing Manager
REQUEST: AUTHORIZE OUT-OF-STATE TRAVEL FOR THE TOURISM &
MARKETING MANAGER TO CONDUCT DESKSIDE BRIEFINGS
WITH NATIONAL PUBLICATIONS IN NEW YORK CITY
Recommendation
By Minute Motion that the City Council:
1. Authorize out-of-state travel for the Tourism & Marketing Manager to
conduct desk -side meetings with national publications in New York City, in
June 2018; and
2. Approve the expenditure in an amount not to exceed $8,500 to cover travel
costs, agency fees and any other associated costs.
Funds are available in Professional Other, Account No. 1104417-4309000.
Committee/Commission Recommendation
At its regular meeting on September 5, 2017, the Marketing Committee reviewed the
City's Public Relations (PR) plan, including desk -side visits to New York and unanimously
voted to recommend its adoption.
Strategic Plan
The implementation of a PR program impacts the following Tourism & Marketing priorities
as specified in the 2013-2033 Strategic Plan:
• Priority 3: Attract new and developing travel/tourism markets.
• Priority 4: Support the city's tourism industry through enhancement of its
marketing efforts with an allocation of additional city resources.
Executive Summary
Approval of staff's recommendation will authorize out-of-state travel for the Tourism &
Marketing Manager to conduct desk -side visits with national publications in New York
City, as part of the PR plan previously authorized by the City Council.
April 26, 2018 — Staff Report
Authorize Out -of -State Travel, June 2018
Page 2 of 2
Background
At its November 16, 2017 meeting, the City Council approved an amendment to contract
C34642 with H&L Partners to provide a Public Relations program for the City of Palm
Desert. That PR plan includes desk -side briefings in New York City with national
consumer print publications, conducted by staff and H&L's Vice President of PR and
Social Media.
In 2017, staff conducted a number of desk -side briefings in New York City with national
consumer print publications including Conde Nast Traveler, Good Housekeeping, Travel
& Leisure, Essence and Martha Stewart Living.
The goal of such meetings is to build relationships with targeted journalists that can be
leveraged for future coverage. Each 30-minute briefing is tailored to highlight Palm
Desert's assets based on the individual outlet's editorial themes and reader interests,
while highlighting Palm Desert as an easy direct -flight destination from major cities such
as New York City. Regular visits with national publications help establish Palm Desert as
a destination worthy of coverage, while enabling the City's team to pitch articles that better
fit within each publication's editorial calendar.
Last year's meetings were a strong start, and this year's plan is to check in with
publications staff that we met with last year, while adding new publications to the mix,
such as Food & Wine Magazine and others that relate directly to the City's signature
events, Fashion Week El Paseo and Palm Desert Food & Wine.
Fiscal Analysis
Funds are available in Professional Other, Account No. 1104417-4309000.
LEGAL REVIEW DEPT. REVIEW FINANCIAL REVIEW CITY MANAGER
N/A
Robert W.
Hargreaves
City Attorney
Martin Alvarez
(,(4-tf i9c?
Director of Economic Janet Moore Lauri Aylaian
Development Director of Finance City Manager