HomeMy WebLinkAbout07222019 City Council Laydown - Report from Chamber of Commerce I007 zZ
Report to COUNCIL JULY 22, 2019
Seward Chamber of Commerce. CVB, Cindy Clock Laytiewri
• New Chamber members this month: TOTAL 415 members
(( qAd. e))
Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge
Alaska Lift
Seward Mermaid Festival, LLC
Ticket sales for the June Halibut Tournament were flat, remaining consistently over the past 13
years at approximately $25K. The Seward Chamber Board of Directors have decided to take a critical
look at our signature events to determine what makes sense for us as an organization going into
2020 and beyond.
• Implementation of our Customer Relationship Management software is progressing nicely.
Members received an electronic letter from Aisha Bouziane letting them know that the member portal
to Chamber Master — our old member software program is now closed. Aisha and the chamber staff
will be providing training on Simple View this fall. Seward.com's interim website is almost ready, with
the entirely new site on track — also for this fall/winter.
• Despite some challenges — heat, dust & smoke - the Mt. Marathon Race & 2-Day July 4th Festival
Was a very successful event. Our IT Wizard is in the process of getting all the Junior Racers their
refunds by the end of the month. The MMRC and the Board feel very strongly that cancelling the
Junior Race was the right decision. A huge thanks to Jen Leahy for delving deep into the aspects of
Air Quality Index to get us the most accurate information.
Kris Harris is surveying the festival vendors to gather their input on the 2020 event. She heard back
from the Girdwood Forest Fair organizers that they are NOT going to move the dates for the fair next
year. It's scheduled for July 4th & 5th, obviously a conflict.
• The August First Friday Art Walk is on the 2nd
• Next Chamber Lunch, Thursday, Aug 8th when we'll hear from the City Manager, Scott Meszaros
• I've submitted copies of the marketing contract and the 2013 Resolution endorsing the
Seward Chamber as the designated DMO - Destination Marketing Organization. The bed tax
collected since its inception has risen by leaps and bounds. The City is no doubt thrilled with
these numbers since the bed tax is split between us.
We are anticipating continued growth and look forward to getting the 2018 numbers from
the Chief Financial Officer.
Under item 3 New Business on tonight's agenda, The Chamber Board believes it would be more
productive to have a focused conversation between Visit Seward (a program of the Seward
Chamber), City Administration, and PACAB about renewing the agreement between the
Chamber/Visit Seward and the City to provide destination management and marketing services.
Our goal would be to negotiate a new agreement with City Administration (and with the support of
PACAB) in September so that the Council could consider authorizing it this fall during the annual
budgeting process.
As part of a new agreement, there will likely be opportunities for community engagement as we
embark on creating a sustainable tourism management plan.
Hotel/Motel Room Tax contribution t.' -,eward Chamber of Commerce
for Marketing and Economic Development Services
2019 Mid-Cyde Budget:Orig.Budget$252,923 vs$260,454(actual)=$7,531 addtl Council appropriation request
Hotel/Motel Room Tax:
9'0 Change %Change
Hotel/Motel Room Tax from One-half Funding to Year of from
Year Collections Prior Yr of Red Tax Chamber of Commerce Contribution Prior Yr
2020
2019
2018
2017 520,907 3.09'0 260,454 252,923 2019 0.0%
2016 505,845 10.3% 252,923 252,923 2018 10.3%
2015 458,605 8.7% 229,303 229,302 2017 8.7%
2014 421,981 3.4% 210,991 210,991 2016 3.490
2013 408,256 7.4% 204,128 204,128 2015 7.4%
2012 380,210 13.6% 190,105 190,105 2014 11.8%
2011 334,824 2.0% 167,412 170,000 2013 3.5%
2010 328,396 15.1% 164,198 164,198 2012 8.7%
2009 285,313 -21.2% 142,657 151,000 2011 -16.6%
2008 362,004 5.5% 181,002 181,002 2010 5.5%
2007 343,162 10.5% 171,581 171,581 2009 10.5%
2006 310,570 9.1% 155,285 155,285 2008 9.4%
2005 284,656 18.8% 142,328 142,000 2007 16.8%
2004 239,660 11.4% 119,830 121,600 2006 13.1%
2003 215,145 -1.1% 107,573 107,500 2005 -1.1%
2002 217,482 3.8% 108,741 108,700 2004 3.8%
2001 209,458 104,729 104,700 2003 -1.2%
2000 213,619 106,000 2002
1999 163,330 90,000 2001
1998 148,211 35,000 2000
1997 76,588 70,000 1999
1996 53,461 - 1998
28,000 1997
12,782 1996