Lodgers Tax Committee

Lodgers Tax Strategic Planning Meeting El Morro Events Center, February 12, 2019, 11:00am Meeting called to order at 11:20am Committee Members Present: Yogash Kumar, Anna Connell, Jeremy Boucher Staff in attendance: Jennifer Lazarz Not present: Steven Harper, Cindy Tanner Discussion overseen/led by: Bill Lee, Chamber of Commerce Expectations: What is Tourism? • Tourism is comprised of individuals and families- travelers coming from at least 75 miles outside of Gallup • Events that are unique to our area that create quality of life but also appeal to drawing tourists from outside the area • Economic Development and driver- hospitality and tourism is 20 percent of the workforce in McKinley County (statistic from NM Hospitality Association) What does Lodgers Tax Comprise: Lodgers tax allocation is 60% events, facilities, and attractions, 40% is marketing/advertising/promotion What is positive and making a difference? • Gallup is on the map- we are getting noticed • Transparent and responsible allocation of funds- we needed a CVB/DMO to supervise the funding for the best interests • Our focus on events has been good for a quality of life • Tourism is bringing the community together • The tourism efforts have been expanding overall knowledge about what is going on and there is more interaction between event promoters themselves • Social media plan • Perception shift due to strategic focus in marketing • Relationship building- state, regional, national, international • Educating elected officials on importance of all hospitality pieces working hand-in-hand o Beer wine licenses for restaurants, tap room, microbrewery • Education on outside marketing has brought more visitors from outside and given event organizers improved results • Altering the perception of “change”- it’s not a bad word • No longer feel good marketing- it is now data driven • Strong public private partnership (City/Chamber, City/Hospitality Industry) What is Absent or Missing that we would like to see worked on? • Investment from the private sector in the tourism industry • Need tangible tourism businesses • Digital Concierge- Monitors in the hotel lobbies to get the information out that is wirelessly synced • Updating information kiosks/updating what we have • Tipping point- not reached yet where we can expand, retain, and create start-up business • Data pipeline to organizations who foster business development • Succession planning- plan for department growth  o For succession planning purposes: Jennifer needs to write a department description and breakdown of exactly what is happening and what she does/what needs to happen for department growth • Investment in tourism infrastructure- aesthetics- Proactive not reactive Break out conversation: What is tourism infrastructure? o Rex Museum o Red Rock Park o We the people park/playground of dreams o Park loop that is supposed to light up o Curb appeal- green spaces that are visible, beautification efforts o On-off ramps/entrances into Gallup o Route 66 through Gallup o Alley ways Looking at the Zoning- What it is zoned for defines what makes it tourism infrastructure Committee agreed that they need a separate meeting to define what around Gallup should be considered ‘tourism infrastructure’ and then set up ideas/goals for projects that lodger’s tax could put funding into. The meeting is scheduled for February 26 th at 1:00pm at the El Morro Events Center. What is preventing us from getting there? • Intentional consistent strategic planning amongst stakeholders • “Talked about it means did it” • Applicants to lodger’s tax should be brought in to talk about • Community buy-in for what tourism is about • Lack of human resource • Sports tourism- the issue is a lack of paid event promoters and organizers, the cost of the fields themselves- needs to be treated like convention sales What are our goals? Goal Who Timeline to first report Staff Department Growth Committee, Jennifer does prep work ASAP no later than March 12 city piece for the committee council Digital Concierge Jennifer/Yogash Hi-tech show in June 17-20 in Minneapolis Explore Availability of Digital Travel Jennifer/Yogash May Publications Tourism Infrastructure List Committee and Jennifer February 26 Community Buy-in/Business Bill and Jennifer On-going Development/Data pipeline Strategic Planning session Committee, Jennifer, Bill January 2020 Sports Tourism Study Jennifer March 2019 Jeremy- motion to approve minutes, Anna- seconded. All in favor. Meeting Adjourned at 1:45pm