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Home My WebLink AboutMinutes - Marketing Cmte 03-16-2010 4 � --- l'ALM DESEIZT PALM DESERT MARKETING COMMITTEE APPROVED MINUTES Tuesday, March 16, 2010-2 p.m. Administrative Conference Room I. CALL TO ORDER Sara O'Flynn called the meeting to order at 2:03 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Members Present: Members Absent: Sara O'Flynn, Chair Theresa Maggio Emily Bird-Hrivnak, Vice Chair Michael Shimer Lee Morcus Kimberly Bower Stephanie Loog Marlane Wolf ,� � Staff/Others Present: � � r J Dick Kelly, Councilmember �= �; �, ��-, Jim Ferguson, Councilmember � �- ��- � `"" J . Justin McCarthy, Assistant City Manager � ; � � Kristy Kneiding, Marketing Manager � � � Donna Gomez, Visrtor Center Manager C � � David Hermann, Management Analyst � � � Ruth Ann Moore, Economic Development Manager t� v Piper Close, Full Gallop Marketing a w ` - � i Jane Stanley, Recording Secretary z C� C V ,� J � ,� w G7r III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS " �' � v � �� = _ UC � 7 " F; 7c" c None. � � v � � � �= E= �" � � w w �'' sv: � �c IV. CONSENT CALENDAR Ud � � � � � e' > C A. MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF FEBRUARY 16, 2010. Marlane Wolf moved, by Minute Motion, to approve the minutes of the February 16, 2010, meeting as presented. Motion was seconded by Emily Bird-Hrivnak and carried by unanimous vote. V. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER None APPROVED MINUTES PALM DESERT MARKETING COMMITTEE MARCH 16, 2010 VI. NEW BUSINESS A. MAGAZINE PROPOSAL FROM THE DESERT SUN Rich Ramhoff, publisher of The Desert Sun, introduced a proposal for a high-end magazine focused on Palm Desert. The previous Palm Desert area magazine, 92260, was well-received, but had ceased publication. He is asking for input and discussion from the committee. Dominique Shwe, Desert Sun Advertising Director, gave an overview of the potential magazine. Content would focus on Palm Desert as a sophisticated city; continuing to progress; a great place to live with world-class shopping, dining and premier entertainment. The format would be the same as the former 92260 magazine. There would be a place on the Desert Sun website for the content as well as links to Palm Desert's online vehicles. The piece is directed towards both full and part time residents and visitors. The publication would allow full penetration into Palm Desert with key distribution areas such as shopping, high traffic areas, hotels, delivery to Palm Desert homes and direct mailing to non-subscribers. The proposal is $27,500 per issue, four issues per year, and includes editorial content and advertising generated by the Desert Sun staff. Palm Desert staff would supply up to 8 pages of content. Ms. O'Flynn stated that this would be a large investment and the proposal would need to be analyzed against all the print and electronic opportunities available. Mr. McCarthy mentioned that if the committee endorsed moving the proposal forward through the budgeting process, then the balancing questions could be worked out Jim Ferguson stated that with Palm Desert's recent joining of the BID in the CVA, the return of part of the TOT could be invested in marketing. He noted that Council would like input from the committee as to whether this proposal would have substantive priority as a marketing vehicle for the City as they work through the budgeting process. Mr. Morcus stated that besides shopping and dining, within Palm Desert are other compelling activities such as energy conservation, sustainability, education, and commitment to the arts. He encouraged focusing on these important items. Ms. O'Flynn moved, by Minute Motion, to endorse the concept of this Palm Desert magazine and continue to provide input moving forward. Mation was seconded by Stephanie Loog and carried 5-0. 2 APPROVED MINUTES PALM DESERT MARKETING COMMITTEE MARCH 16, 2010 B. AIRPORT INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATION BY MARK KIEHL, DIRECTOR OF AVIATION — MARKETING AND DEVELOPMENT Mark Kiehl updated the members on airport activity and how business has fared in the current economy. The airport has undergone a recent renovation, with all the businesses now open. The Palm Springs airport accommodates 1.5 million passengers per year from about 550 places worldwide. One-quarter of the travelers list meetings and conventions as the primary reason for their visit. Market demand has held up well; down 5% over last year, with five months in a row of year-over-year growth. Mr. Kiehl offered to give the committee members a tour of the airport. VI1. CONTINUED BUSINESS A. PALM SPRINGS HOTEL WEEK Omar Haddedou and Karine Garnes from HotelWeeks.com reported that three Palm Desert hotels and three Palm Desert restaurants have contracted with Palm Springs Hotel Week, scheduled for May 14 - 28, 2010. With two months until the promotion, Mr. Haddedou expects increased participation. The palmspringshotelweek.com website will be active the whole year. The requested sponsorship opportunities include a palmdeserthotelweek.com page as part of the Palm Springs Hotel Week website, promotion in newsletters, on TV and radio in the feeder markets. Mr. Haddedou answered questions from Committee members. Ms. Wolf expressed concerns about budget constraints and sponsoring a first-time event. Ms. O'Flynn agreed and mentioned that this event is not planned in the budget_ Stephanie Loog felt that Palm Desert's approach is to self-promote instead of tagging onto a Palm Springs event. Lee Morcus said that within the Coachella Valley, Palm Springs is viewed as a city, but outside of the valley Palm Springs is viewed as a desert resort area. Sara O'Flynn moved, by Minute Motion, to deny sponsorship and evaluate the success of this year's event. Motion was seconded by Emily Bird-Hrivnak and carried 5-0. VII1. OLD BUSINESS None IX. REPORTS FROM CITY COUNCIL LIAISONS A. Dick Kelly stated that he was at the meeting because Councilman Robert Spiegel could not attend. Mr. Kelly introduced Mayor Pro-Tem Jim Ferguson. Mr. Ferguson represents Palm Desert on the CVA and will be replacing Mr. 3 APPROVED MINUTES PALM DESERT MARKETING COMMITTEE MARCH 16, 2010 Kelly on the Marketing Committee. Mr. Kelly reported that Eddie 011mann is the new manager at Westfield Mall. Today would be Mr. Kelly's last Marketing Committee meeting. X. REPORTS AND REMARKS A. Ms. O'Flynn thanked Mr. Kelly for keeping the meetings interesting and said he would be missed. Fashion Week is foremost for EI Paseo, starting March 21 st and finishing March 28th. The big event will be Saturday night, featuring Colleen Quen. The Gardens also has complementary events during Fashion Week. B. Ruth Ann Moore commented that Fashion Weeks started five years ago with three nights and is now up to ten nights. It is anticipated that every event in the tent will be sold out. XI. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS A. Visitor Center Report - Donna Gomez stated that visitors and sales continue to increase. B. Ms. Kneiding gave each member present a letter regarding mandatory ethics training information. She also gave everyone a package of Palm Desert Dream Dates harvested from the Date Grove in the Civic Center Park. XII. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 3:47 p.m. � � - �.��a,�� Jane Stanley, Recordin Secretary 4