HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-10-05; City Council; 15423; Carlsbad Convention and Visitors Bureau.
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CARLSBAD CONVENTION AND VISITOR’S BUREAU
REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDING July 31,1999.
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CITY ATTY. a
CITY MGR %I!4\
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Accept the Report
ITEM EXPLANATION:
On October 21, 1997, the City Council authorized the Mayor to execute a two (2) year
agreement with the Carlsbad Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (CCVB) for community
promotion purposes. The contract is for the period November 1, 1997 and will run through
October 31, 1999. The total authorized contract amount for 1998-1999 is $370,000,
including $120,000 for operation of the Visitor’s Center. Services CCVB will provide to the
City, and that are specified in the contract, are as follows:
A. Manage and coordinate a marketing program that positions Carlsbad as a prime
destination in Southern California
B. Generate awareness of Carlsbad in those geographic regions of the United States
which provide the largest number of visitors to Carlsbad each year.
C. Operate the Visitor’s Information Center.
D. Provide familiarization tours/travel writer program.
E. Promote local community events, including the San Diego Marathon, the Carlsbad
5000, the Carlsbad Triathlon, the La Costa Golf event, and the Toshiba Tennis Classic.
F. Develop private funding for advertising co-op programs, central reservations fees, and
other participatory fees to support a full-time, aggressive tourism marketing program.
G. Establish a corporate/group sales incentive program.
Each quarter, CCVB is required to provide the City Council with a report of its activity and
expenses. CCVB has submitted their latest report summarizing their activities for the
period May 1, 1999 through July 31, 1999(EXHIBIT 1).
CCVB Report Highlights:
1. The number of visitors served at the Carlsbad Visitor’s Information Bureau offices was
down by 15% (11,768 down to 9945) from the same period last year.
2. The number of telephone inquiries were down by 6%( 7356 down to 6933) from the
same period last year.
3. CCVB processed a total of 38 qualified leads totaling more than 1016 room nights.
4. CCVB’s volunteer program provided an additional 1116.75 hours of service during the
period.
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’ PAGE 2 OF AGENDAZILL NO. 15: L(23
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FISCAL IMPACT:
The City’s Agreement, including funding adjustments, with the Carlsbad Convention and
Visitor’s Bureau established $370,000 as the total amount of funding for the twelve (12)
month period from November, 1, 1998 to October 31, 1999. The contract includes
$120,000 for operation of the Visitor’s Center, and $250,000 for programs.
Payments from the City for programs during this period totaled $66,982. The CCVB also
raised an additional $15,040 from other sources that include hotel co-op ($13,772),
regional partners ($500), and miscellaneous sales ($768).
Expenditures for the period totaled $89,293. Visitor Center operations totaled $30,000 or
33.5% of the expenditures. Expenditures included $34,592 for Advertising, $5,139 for
Brochures, $14,349 for Trade Shows and the Travel Writer’s Program, $1,713 for
Video/CD ROM, and $3,500 for consulting services.
EXHIBITS:
1. Report from the Carlsbad Convention and Visitor’s Bureau for the period of May 1,
1999 through July 31, 1999, dated August 30, 1999.
-
v August 30,1999
Cynthia Haas
Economic Development
City of Carlsbad
2075 Las Palmas
Carlsbad CA 92009
Dear Cynthia:
Attached is the financial report and a synopsis of major activities of the Carlsbad
Convention and Visitors Bureau for the period May 1 - July 31,1999.
A notable accomplishment is the continued growth in activity of our Internet web page.
The number of hits per week exceeded 39,000 for the first time in early August.
If you have any questions, please call me.
Please notify us when this will be placed on the Council Agenda so we can be present to
answer questions.
-Executive Director
Enclosure
Carlsbad Convention 81 Visitors Bureau
P.O. Box 1246*Carlsbad,California 92016-1246
TEL (760)434.6093* FAX (760)434.6056
www.carlsbadca.org/
City of Carlsbad
County of San Diego
Regional Partners
Hotel Co-op
Marketing Partnership
Depot Sales
Misc. Promotions
Total
Carlsbad Convention & Visitors Bureau
Accounting of Funds
For the Quarter Ended July 31,1999
Income
For the Quarter Contract to Date
$ 66,982.19 $ 248,169.84
500.00
13,772.24
38414.62
40,816.91
164.51
2,464.10 767.80
$ 82,022.23 $ 295,029.98
Visitor Center Operations
Personnel:
Management
Staff Salaries
Benefits
Payroll Taxes
$ 2,650 $ 7,926
13,800 40,555
1,024 2,975
5,400 15,850
Total Personnel $ 22,874 $ 67,306
Overhead:
Utilities
Outside Services
Maim/Rental
Equipment Allocation
Office Supplies
Postage
Travel
Insurance
Conferences
Memberships
Telephone
Items for Resale
Misc. Fees
805
265
425
1,500
850
100
240
666
600
1,250
425
2,233
1,736
1,403
1,613
1,983
532
1,049
1,483
4,009
1,933
3,474
975
271
Total Overhead $ 7,126 $ 22,894
Equlpment Purchases:
Items Cost
Total Equipment
For the Quarter Contract to Date
Total Visitor Center Operations: $ 30,000
E:\ConVis\Financial Reports\Quarterly Report\Convis Accounting of Funds Jul31- 99
$ 90,000
Advertising/Promoting Events:
Management Allocation
Equipment Allocation
Ads
Production Costs
Promotion
Telephone/Postage
Supplies
Subtotal
Trade Shows/FAhl trips:
Management Allocation
Booth Fees
Travel Costs
FAM Expenses
Equipment Allocation
Telephone/Postage
Supplies
Subtotal
Brochures:
Management Allocation
Equipment Allocation
Design & Printing
Subtotal
Video/CD-ROM:
Management Allocation
Production Costs
Subtotal
Consultant:
Management Allocation
Fees
Subtotal
Marketing Partnership
Subtotal
Total Program Expenditures:
Total Period Expenditures:
Program Expenditures
Accounting of Funds
For the Quarter Ended July 31,1999
TOTAL EXPENSES
For the Quarter Contract to Date
$ 8,000
3,000
20,616
106
$
2,100
766
$ 34.592
25,000
3,000
60,563
4,680
2,500
5,000
2,368
$ 103,111
$ 6,000
2,170
1,704
1,028
1,824
1,123
500
$ 14,349
$ 21,000
7,220
8,575
2,034
8,525
1,223
1,816
$ 50,393
$ 1,750
3,389
$
$ 5,609
5,139
20,125
$ 25,734
$ 1,713
- $
$
$ 3,500
$
1,713
$ 1,713
$ 1,713
3,500
$
$ 11,260
$ 11,260
$ 59,293 $ 192,211
$ 89,293 $ 282,211
E:\ConVis\Financial Reports\Quarterly Report\Convis Accounting of Funds Jul 31-1999
‘I
Visitor Information Summary
May 1,1999 -July 31,1999
CA resident Out of CA Foreign Total for
Visitors Visitors Visitors Month
1999 1998 1999 1998 1999 1998 1999 1998
May 1,579 1,635 1,246 1,349 347 202 3,172 3,186
June 1,392 I, 708 1,538 1,478 342 183 3,272 3,369
July 1,618 1,719 1,385 3,276 498 218 3,501 5,213
3 months total 4,589 5,062 4,169 6,103 1,187 603 9,945 11,768
Above figures represent one member of family and/or group.
Phone inquires Mail outs Travel Agent
Mail outs
1999 1998 1999 1998 1999 1998
May 1,919 2,290 1,473 1,914 466 273
June 2,521 2,486 1,512 2,908 295 222
July 2,493 2,580 1,311 1,789 221 255
3 months total 6,933 7,356 4,296 6,611 736 750
CVKmancial reports/quarterly report/activities/Visitor Information Summary-chart May-Jul99.doc
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ADVERTISERS INQUIRES May 99 June 99 July 99
IAAA 51
Arizona Daily Star 3 62
Association Meetings 50
1 Calif Tourism Visitors Guide 1 458 I 359 I 237 1
Corp Meetings & Incentives
Insurance Conference Planner
50
51
Internet 209 123 136
LA Times Magazine 532 44
LEGOLAND insert 40 18 28
Los Angeles Magazine 247 40 15
Medical Meetings 50
No Recollection 250 237 224
Orange Coast Magazine 3 5 8
Orange County Register 4
Ouick Guide 1 1
Riverside Press Enterprise 1
SD Visitors Guide 5 13 16
Sunset Magazine 2
I Travel 50 & Bevond
Travel Agent Magazine 343 60 32
Vacation Magazine 238 79
Programs to Attract Groups
This area has undergone significant developments during this period with the hiring of
Cecelia Jernegan as the new public relations director on May 1 and Frankie Laney as
sales coordinator on July 1. Cecelia has more than a decade of experience in hotel sales
and marketing and Frankie was employed in group sales at the Ontario CVB and for a
group tour operator.
Cecelia has formalized our system of processing inquires from groups. As in the past,
inquires are analyzed and forwarded to the properties best able to handle the inquiry.
But, now a tracking system is in place to make sure the group is not lost if the initial
property or properties cannot accommodate the group. Through the tracking system, we
will learn of it and continue to work with the group to seek alternatives (see attached
samples).
During this period we advertised in two publications aimed specifically at travel
professionals. These were:
Religious conference Manager
Technology Meetings
On May 14-19 Steve Link manned the Carlsbad booth at POW WOW in Miami.
Sponsored by the Travel Industry Association of America, this show is only open to
international tour operators.
During the three month period we processed 38 qualified leads involving 3009 people
seeking 1016 hotel rooms (schedule attached).
8
GROUP INQUIRIES
MAY/JUNE/JULY
1999
IGRAND TOTAL I 3009 1 IOlSl
Phone: 760-434-6093
SALES LEAD
Cadsbad Convention and Visitors Bureau
Today’s Date: 7/20/99
Lead Source: Letter sent to Bureau
Contact:
Title:
Address:
Millie Conrad
Reunion Planner
829 E. Pitkin
Fort Collins, Colorado 80524
Phone:
Fax:
E-mail:
no phone number given
no fax number given
abmillie@aol.com
Rate Range: did not give a range of rates
Meeting Dates: Famiiy Reunion from June 9 -. 12,200O.
Contact: Cecelia Jeruegan
Day
Date
Rooms Reauested
*Decision date and factors: Would prefer to be close to the beach: would like
kitchenettes in the rooms and will need a total of 10 BEDROOMS.
Meeting Requirements: None that I am aware of from the information in her letter.
Please sign and fax back (434-6056) or c-mail back at cjconvis@carlsbad.org
you received this lead: Thank you. Signature:
Will respond: Will not respond:
Fax to: Beachwalk Villas 720-7173; Beach Terrace Inn 729-1078; BWBeach View
Lodge 4345404; Carlsbad Inn 729-4853; Quality Inn 438-8181; Inns of America
931-0970; Ocean Palms 72910579; Residence Inns;431-0777; Ramada Inn; 438-4547; Seashore on the Sand 434-4281 and Tamarack Beach 434-5942.
Trace date: 7/30/99cj o;Ye mailed convis brochure and I e-mailed her back)
CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU P.0 Box 1246, Carlsbad, California 92018 E-mail: m http:ihww.carlsbadca.org
Phone: 760-434-6093 ex. 102 Contact: Cecelia Jernegan Public Relations
SALES LEAD FROM CARLSBAD CONVIS
Today’s Date: 7112199
Lead Source: Telephone call to ConVis
Contact: Mr. Steve Lind
Company: Prudential Insurance
Title: 3111 Camino De1 Rio North Suite 800
Address: I Mission Valley, California 92108
Phone:
Fax:
E-mail:
619-280-9000 Extension 3453
Rate Range:
Meeting Dates:
Day I Date
Rooms Requested
Decision date and factors:
Meeting Requirements: This client is looking for meeting space to hold seminar.
The date is August 5*, 1999. He is looking for theatre style for possible 40
attendees. The meeting will be at two different times. One meeting starts at 3:00
pm and second meeting starts at 7:OO pm. He needs the meeting room set from lpm
until 9 pm. He will need only coffee and water; no other f&b needs. I did not ask
about AV needs.
He would like to be called by any one who has availability by 5:00 pm today July 12,
1999,
NO SLEEPING ROOMS.
MEETING SPACE ONLY.
7/12/99 Sent to Olympic, Ramada, Tamarack Reach, Raintree
Trace: 7/13/99
Called client and he booked at the Olympic
816199
Trace to call and see how meeting went.
CONVENTION&VISITORSBUR&AU P.0 Box1246, Cadsbad,Califomia 92018
E-mail. mtism http:i/www.cartsbdca.org
VOLUNTEER HOURS IMay 99 IJun 99 lJul99
Lavern Anderson I 12.001 12.001 12.00
Bob Bader 0.00 0.00 5.50
Sandra Bolmer 0.00 0.00 6.00
Bruce Broker 0.00 6.00 4.00
Cathv Broker 0.00 6.00 6.00 \ Luana Callaway 7.00 6.00 8.00
Suzanne Carneiro 0.00 0.00 2.50
Mildred Cooper 6.00 6.00 10.00
June DeVito 5.50 3.50 0.00
Eddie Powell I 8.001 7.501 0.00
Leslie Pornanter 0.001 0.001 6.00
Maddie Rutan 0.00 0.00 6.00
John Seufert 9.00 20.00 20.00
Jenny Snelson 9.00 8.00 0.00
Frank Stasio 6.00 4.00 8.00
DeeDee Stevens 5.75 0.00 6.00
Helen Thomason 8.00 13.25 14.00
Mary Trolson 11.00 36.00 21.00
Lydia Vrielink 33.00 37.25 39.50
Liz Wright 0.00 0.00 4.00
TOTALS 295.75 429.80 391.20
Activities May 1 - July 31,1999
May
May 1
May 1
May 2
May 2
May 2
May 3
May 3
May 3-14
May 3
May 4
May 4
May 11
May 17
May 14-19
May 19
May 24
Phoenix magazine featured the Coaster as a means of visiting the coastal
communities and Carlsbad’s Barnstorming Adventures in their May issue.
The ConVis hosted the publisher last fall.
Steve Link attended an America West Airlines ceremony at Palomar
Airport.
Cecelia Jemegan was hired as the new director of public relations.
The staff worked at the Village Faire. The Old Depot served as the Faire
Headquarters as well as the Carlsbad Police Dept. Command Post.
A group of 60 travel writers and spouses arrived for a two-day conference.
TJ Stroben, the ConVis intern specializing in media relations (a Cal State
San Marcos student) escorted a portion of the writers on a tour of
LEGOLAND.
Lee Lees, Visitors Center supervisor, attended a banquet at Four Seasons,
Aviara as part of the travel writer conference.
TJ Stroben attended a breakfast at La Costa Resort and Spa as part of the
travel writer conference and then escorted a portion of the writers on a
tour of LEGOLAND.
Rick Smock, ConVis chairman of the board, Steve Link and councilman
Matt Hall attended a breakfast meeting of the CCIM at La Costa Resort
and Spa.
Steve Link and Cecelia Jemegan conducted 37 half hour tours of the depot
for Carlsbad third grade classes.
Steve Link and Cecelia Jemegan met with Louise Lowe-Deluca the
marketing director of the Hilton Gardens, hotel that is under construction,
to discuss marketing programs.
Diana Aaron’s farewell luncheon at the Raintree restaurant was attended
by 76 people.
Steve Link and Cecelia Jemegan met with representatives of the California
Division of Tourism.
Tom Giblins Irish Pub hosted a party for the Visitors Center volunteers.
Cecelia Jemegan worked with KPLM-FM in Palm Springs. They are
conducting a special month long Carlsbad getaway promotion. We
provided two night stays at Carlsbad Inn, Andersen’s Inn and Ramada Inn
Suites for their drawings.
Steve Link, Rick Smock (Beach Terrace Inn) and Janet Taylor (Ramada
Inn Suites) manned the Carlsbad booth at POW WOW in Miami, Florida.
Sponsored by the Travel Industry Association of America, this is the most
prestigious travel show in the U.S.
Janet Fioriti, GM of Marriott Residence Inn and Tom Johnson, Hi Tek
Multimedia were the featured speakers at the Hotel/Motel Committee
meeting. Four Seasons Resort, Aviara hosted the luncheon.
Cecelia Jemegan worked with the editor of Travel 50 and Beyond. The
writer was here last fall. We provided slides and additional input for a
story on Carlsbad that will be published in the Fall issue.
May 26
May 27
June
June 1
June 9
June 9
June 14
June 16
June 22
June 23
June 24
June 25
June 28
June 28
June 28
June 29
June 29
June 30
June 30
June 30
July
July 1
July 1
July 1
The Board of Directors met.
A volunteer training session was held in the depot.
Orange County Woman magazine featured Carlsbad in their June issue.
ConVis hosted the writer in March.
Steve Link appeared before the County Board of Supervisors to present
two grant proposals for Community Enhancement Funds.
Cecelia Jernegan provided material to a travel writer for Phoenix Home
and Gardens magazine.
The ConVis volunteers were given a tour of Grand Pacific Palisades
Resort.
Cecelia Jernegan attended ceremonies inaugurating NCTD bus service to
LEGOLAND.
Tracey Drapkin, T.I.G. Tennis Classic and Rick Reyes, Carlsbad Police
Department were the featured speakers at the June Hotel/Motel committee
meeting. La Costa Resort and Spa hosted the luncheon.
Steve Link mailed slides and material to Jan Doets America Tours, the
largest tour operator in the Netherlands. They devote a page to Carlsbad
in their tariff book.
The Board of Directors met.
Steve Link provided material to a travel magazine in British Columbia that
plans to feature Carlsbad in their September issue.
Steve Link met with Nora George (O’Rourke engineering) who is doing a
traffic study for Carlsbad.
Steve Link met with a travel writer from Palm Springs. His visit was
hosted by Pelican Cove Inn.
Steve Link conducted two half hour tours of the depot for the Carlsbad
Montessori School and the Carlsbad Boys and Girls club.
Steve Link attended a Carlsbad Arts Office meeting concerning the
possibility of sponsoring a film festival.
Steve Link attended a follow-up meeting concerning the film festival.
Cecelia Jernegan attended a meeting of the San Diego ConVis Travel
Industry Sales committee.
A volunteer training session was held in the depot.
Steve Link and Cecelia Jernegan met with Myrtle Blackwell, marketing
director for America West Airlines.
Steve link provided material to Diversions magazine in New York. They
want to feature Carlsbad in a future issue.
National Motorist magazine featured LEGOLAND and Carlsbad in their
Summer issue. ConVis hosted the writer in March.
The North County Times published an article about the Visitors Center.
Norine Sigafoose assumed the chairmanship of the ConVis, replacing Rick
Smock.
Frankie Laney was hired as the group sales coordinator. This is a new
staff position.
%.
July 2
July 6
July 7
July 13
July 16
July 16
July 19
July 20
July 22
July 23
July 24
July 27
July 28
July 29
Steve Link met with Julie Lanthier Bandy, restaurant marketing
coordinator, Karl Strauss Restaurants, about the new restaurant opening in
Carlsbad.
Sent Carlsbad video to FOX-TV Sports. They will include excerpts in a
program they are producing on LEGOLAND that will air on August 7.
Cecelia Jernegan provided material to a travel writer from New York.
The Marketing committee met.
Steve Link and Tom Johnson, Hi Tek Multimedia, were interviewed by
KDCI-TV on the CD-ROM project.
ConVis hosted a party for the volunteers at the TGIF Jazz concert at
Magee Park.
Steve Link met with Terry Selk, California Division of Tourism to discuss
the state’s help in promoting golf factory tours.
Cecelia Jernegan and Frankie Laney attended the San Diego ConVis
Quarterly Breakfast.
Steve Link submitted the narrative for the Carlsbad chapter of the Quick
Guide (Fall issue).
A copy of the Carlsbad video was sent to the San Diego Water Authority.
They will include excerpts in a video they are producing about the San
Diego region.
Steve Link and mayor Claude “Bud” Lewis presented welcoming
comments at the Thai Festival in Holiday Park.
A copy of the Carlsbad video and related literature was provided to a New
Zealand travel agency that plans to promote trips to Carlsbad.
the Board of Directors met.
The North Coastal Marketing Group met to discuss regional promotions
for the coming year.
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NORTH '2am-n TIMES
SUNDAY. MAY 16.1999
AROUND CARLSBAD Carlsbad
rail Station
needs ’
tidying
do it.”
BARBARi -- 9 What
There’s absolutely no excuse. What I’ve been hearing are comments such as: ‘?t’s such a disgrace!” “How can they let it go so long?” ! “Can you believe they don’t take care of it?” and “Give me a paint brush. I’11
these resi- dents are talking about is the old railroad sta- tion, one of Carlsbad’s trea- sures that is now the home of the Carlsbad Convention & Vis- itors Bureau. It’s the city’s responsibility to maintain the building and its surrounding area, and although a colorful array of flowers has been planted this spring, the building itself, as one resident said, is a disgrace. Paint peeling in chunks. Discolorations. Fad- ing. What a sight for visitors. What a sight for the Carls- bad third-graders, who during California History Month this month have been touring the depot. The depot where sol- ,diers left for war and honey- mooners waved goodbye to their families and friends. The depot where Carlsbad teens boarded the train for 10 cents to go to school in Oceanside. The depot where there’s graffi- ti on the wall from 1897, 10 years after the depot was built. The depot where 550 pounds of food was sent to from Los An- geIes to a family for a charge of 75 cents. The depot that has
been home to a railroad club, an art league and the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce. Earlier this year, the city went out for bids for painting the building. But the one bid received was too high. So, now the job is out for bids again, this time in two sections. One for sandblasting, the other for painting. The cost is bound to be above average, since the painting has not been kept up for years. Seems logical. More work, more money. The Convention & Visitors Bureau, however, has been doing a phenomenal job painting a rosy picture of Carlsbad for our visitors. The bureau’s Web site, for instance, which had about 15,000 hits a week last year, had more than 30,000 a week with the opening of Legoland Phones have been ringing off the hook since the Flower Fields started blooming this year. Tourists have lined up outside before the doors open in the morning ready to pick up brochures and ask ques- tions about our city. And, in the middle of keeping up with the influx of visitors and showing us off at trade shows, the bu- 1 reau’s staff is in the process of producing a CD-ROM, which will be available this fall. It’s great the bureau can give the tourists all the information they need and entice others to visit Carlsbad. However, we
! need to show our visitors that we are responsible and take pride in our city and its treasures. This, of course, will be done when the depot is painted this year, finally. Then maybe we’ll have positive comments from our residents. Comments like: “Job well done. Keep it up.”
NORYMCOUNTYTIMES .~. _-
THURSDAY, MAY 20: 1999
Convention bureau
names PR director
Cecelia Jernegan has been named public relations director of the Carlsbad Convention and Visitors Bureau. She re- placed Di- ana Aaron, who served three years at the bu- reau before accepting a position at the Carls-
Cecelia Jemegan bad Mar-
dence Inn. riott Resi-
Jernegan last served as di- rector of sales and marketing for the Hassayampa Inn, a his- torical hotel in Prescott, Ariz. She graduated from the Uni- versity of Wyoming in Laramie and now lives in Carlsbad.
Carlsbad Business Journal l Mcry 1999
ConVis reprints 50,000 visitors guides
T he Carlsbad Convention and Visitors
Bureau has completely redesigned its
l&page brochure on things to see and do in
the Carlsbad area. More than 50,000 were
printed.
“You might think 5O,OOO would be a two
or three-year supply,”
said Lee Lees, super-
visor of the ConVis
Visitor Information Center. “But we are dis-
tributing them at a rate of more than 1,000
a week to people interested in visiting Carls-
bad.”
The ConVis mails brochures to people
responding to advertisements and to inquir-
ies on the ConVis website. They also dis-
tribute them at a dozen travel shows annu-
ally. Carlsbad hotels and LEGOLAND
California are also using the brochures in
their promotions.
The Flowers Group in San Diego designed
the brochure. It includes an overview of
Carlsbad’s attractions, a description of ma-
jor happenings, a short history of Carlsbad,
and a calendar of events.
“The brochure colorfully depicts
Carlsbad’s attractions,” said Lees. “If some-
one is contemplating a vacation at one of
California’s beach communities, this bro-
chure will entice them to choose Carlsbad.”
Carlsbad Business Journal * June, 7 999
i ~~ Co~h% names new PR direct’or
T he Carlsbad Convention and Visitors Bureau has selected
Cecelia Jernegan as the new Public Relations Direc-
tor. Since 1996, Jernegan was the Director of Sales and Mar-
keting at the Hassayampa Inn in Prescott, Arizona. The Inn
is a renowned, AAA j-Diamond Historic Hotel, built in 1927.
Prior to this, Jernegan worked for the Griffin Group Ho-
tels, in sales at the Scottsdale Hilton and Merv Griffin Dude
Ranch. She also worked for two management companies that
specialized in revitalizing underachieving hotels.
During this time span, Jernegan served on committees for
the Chambers of Commerce, Downtown Business Associa-
tions, and Convention and Visitors Bureaus in Phoenix,
Tempe, Mesa, Scottsdale, Wickenburg and Prescott. Cecelia /ernegan
Jernegan attended the University of Wyoming. Her husband, J.L. Jernegan III was
born and raised in Fallbrook and has fulfilled a dream by returning to North County.
Jernegan replaces Diana Aaron, who after three years at the bureau has accepted the
position as Account Manager at the Marriott Residence Inn scheduled to open this
summer on Faraday Avenue.
e &bad Business Journal l July, 1999 T
Carlsbad attractions are now promoted on CD=ROM
Through the use of the latest CD-ROM The Carlsbad Convention and Visitors Bu-
technology, Carlsbad will soon make a dra- reau (ConVis), in partnership with Hi-Tek
matic advance in promoting its attractions. Multimedia, Inc. will
produce thousands of
Carlsbad CD-ROMS
piiiiq
for distribution. Also involved in the project
is JM Television Productions of Carlsbad.
The CD-ROM will be a powerful guide
containing full-motion video, high-quality
photos and graphics, digital sound and more.
The user will be able to click and choose to
see video or slides of all of Carlsbad’s at-
tractions. At the same rime, viewers will be
able to get detailed information on every-
Carlsbad Boukvard Resort
Hotel has new developer
BY Suzanne Evans
-Diversified Consulting Concepts
Inc., original owners of the
Carlsbad Boulevard Resort Hotel,
is going forward with building
the exclusive hotel on the east
side of Carlsbad Boulevard
between Beech Avenue and
Christiansen Way and will engage a new developer.
Josh Nordan, vice president of
the managing general partner. said
his company is in charge of the
project, and there will be some
changes to the plans for the interi-
or, but not the exterior of the
hotel. “The project is going for-
ward, and some rooms may be
smaller but more exclusive than
originally planned.” Nordan said.
“The configuration of rooms.
number of rooms. and rates will
be (somewhat) different. but the hotel will only be better.”
Figures. such as the S 13 million
project estimate. 9370.000 annual
transient occupancy tax. and $95
room rate currently released in a
city staff report may change. but
the hotel will be “a very pretty
project.” Nordan said.
Carlsbad City Councilmember
Ramona Finnila said the hotel “will
be an asset to the village, to improve
the north part of downtown.”
“Renderings of the hotel, room
options and underground parking
are really attractive,” said Steve
Link, Director of the Carlsbad
Convention and Visitors Bureau,
adding that the new hotel “will
enjoy a pretty good occupancy
rate as people come over in droves
from Palm Springs to avoid the
IOO-degree weather.”
Nordan had high praise for city
staff engineers and architects who.
along with Housing and
I&development director Debbie
Fountain and Craig Ruiz, deserve accolades, he said.
Nordan added his company
was going to build the hotel 10
years ago when the real estate
market fell. He said he could
not disclose the name of the
hotel developer under consider-
ation (taking the place of the
former developer. Heritage
West), but said: “We are in very
close negotiations with the
builder.”
thing from accommodations and restaurants
to special events. If the user’s computer has
Internet capability, the CD-ROM will au-
tomatically link to the Internet. With a
simple click, the user can switch from view-
ing the CD-ROM to viewing the web page
of the Carlsbad ConVis or any of the web
pages of local businesses listed on the CD-
ROM.
“We will mass produce CD-ROMs to be
distributed to tour operators, meeting plan-
ners, travel agents, travel writers and others
who can send people to Carlsbad,” said Rick
Smock, ConVis board chairman. “The CD-
ROM will provide them with a user-friendly
visual tool to sell Carlsbad to their clients.”
“This CD-ROM will put Carlsbad on the
cutting edge of technology and enable us to
better compete with the world’s major des-
tinations who already use this tool,” said
Steve Link, ConVis executive director.
For information about advertising on
Carlsbad’s CD-ROM, contact ConVis at
434-6093.
* . . .
‘.
Carfsbad Business Journal l wwwcarkbad.org l August, 1999
Sigafoose elected ConVis chairman
N orine Sigafoose, co-owner of Sea
shore on the Sand beach condos,
has assumed the chairmanship of the 15-
member board of directors of the Carlsbad
Convention and Visi-
tors Bureau. She re-
places Rick Smock,
manager of Best Western Beach Terrace Inn.
“This is an exciting time to be involved
with the hospitality industry in Carlsbad,”
said Sigafoose. “There are several hotels ei-
ther under construction or on the drawing
board and every month we learn of a new
restaurant or two in Carlsbad’s future.”
“The ConVis has a score of marketing and
promotional programs to bring visitors to
Carlsbad. I enjoy being a part of the
THURSDAY, JULY 1,1999
)) &aHcotlNTyTulEs I..’ ._~ .--- .-.- -- Carlsbad visitors bureau
looking for volunteers
SANDRA HAZELTINE
STAFF WRITER
CARLSBAD - As the mercury rises, so does the number of tourists seeking information on where to go and what to see in Carls- bad. Their search usually takes them to the Carlsbad Convention and Visitors Bureau in the downtown village, where a staff of volunteers fields such re- quests as where to find a nice sit-down dinner, and what freeway exit leads to Legoland California. To prepare for the annu- al summer migration of tourists, ConVis officials are looking to increase their volunteer staff. These “front-line people” do everything from answering the center’s toll-free infor- mation line, to stocking brochures and fielding re- quests from tourists who stop at the ConVis Infor- mation Center in the San-
bad Village Drive. “Basically, volunteers sell the city,” said Cecelia Jernegan, ConVis’s spokes- woman. “There front-line people who give informa- tion on hotels, restaurants, transportation and amuse- ment parks.” ConVis has about 30 ac- tive volunteers who aver- age about four hours a week. While most of them are retired, the agency does not have an age limit - volunteers just need to enjoy dealing with people, Jernegan said. “I love the people con- tact,” said volunteer Mary Fischer, who moved back to Carlsbad in November after spending the last nine years in Arizona. “I love to see people and greet people. I thought this would be the best way for me to get reacquainted with the city.” Mary Trolson, a veteran volunteer who has been with ConVis for two years,
organization’s accomplishments.”
The other new officers are: Beverly Jenks,
Sales Manager, La Costa Resort and Spa,
vice-chair; Anita Boeker, Marketing Direc-
tor, Carlsbad Company Stores, treasurer;
and Diane Scheer, Executive Director, Carls-
bad Village Business Association, secretary.
Four new directors were elected to the
board. They are Michael Flickinger, Gen-
eral Manager, Grand Pacific Palisades Re-
sort; Eric Friedrichsen, co-owner,
Beachwalk Villas; Bob Seddlemeyer, Vice
President, Golf Course Hotels Inc.; and
John Thill, General Manager, JM Television
Productions. The board sets the policy for
the Convention and Visitors Bureau and
oversees the bureau’s $400,000 budget.
said: “I really love Carlsbad and this is my way of showing my appreciation.” Earlier this year, business at ConVis doubled with the March opening of Legoland California. In the weeks prior to the family-oriented theme park’s debut, the center’s phone lines were jammed with inquiries for hotels and park directions. Volunteers field some 200 calls a day. To keep up with the de- mand, ConVis’s staff also grew. According to the agency’s quar- terly reports, 14 volunteers staffed the center during the second quarter in 1998 (Febru- ary to April), putting in about 386 hours. This year, for the same peri- od there were 38 volunteers who worked a total of 1,116 hours, the report states.
The number of hits to the agency’s Web site also in- creased and has remained steady since, said Steve Link, ConVis executive director. “We were typically getting 22,000 hits, but the week before T;;go$nd$zne$ it jumped to ,, *
‘“Ndw it’s around 31,000 to 33,000.” Volunteers receive three days of training to get acquaint- ed with the telephones, refer- ence material, and the visitor center in general, Jernegan said. In addition, they attend monthly training sessions and field trips to industry-related locations that typically gener- ate the most questions from tourists. Recent excursions included Legoland California, the Gemo- logical Institute of America, and the Grand Pacific Pal- isades Resort and Hotel. The group is considering a trip to McClellan-Palomar Airport next month.
‘1 . ’ . .
. .,
Encinitas Chamber of Commerce
138 Encinitas Blvd. Encinitas. CA 92024
North Coast News
; p&SIDENf&M&~& :a-‘~..~:E;-;,.:.~~:~~ .j:’ ;,-;’ ‘.. ?+, ; ._ .., s - ,. .I *...,_. ‘,,:r;:.d. ,. I;_ -: ‘; ‘1’4 * ’ ,_ :,: *‘< :7, h ,.;r,,q _ < I ., _ /. .I , - e, ,, 1
John has tutored and
trained our own Wendy
Evers to be a fine in-house
web master. Wendy, John
and others have done a
fine iob in creating a first
class web page. The
Chamber now has many
members who have the
skills and experience to
launch first-class web
pages if you are interested.
tions to legislative informa-
tion. You can even get a
panoramic view of
Moonlight Beach! Future
projects include a demo-
graphics package and a
link allowing for the on-
line booking of hotel and
motel reservations in
Encinitas. The speed of advanc-
ing technology is frighten-
ing. It seems as if once you
buy a computer or software
that it’s obsolete before you
get home and hook it up.
Doesn’t it drive you crazy to
install a new this or they find us, they find
that - and when you go you and our city.
to register your pur- “The Chamber is cd Updating search
The next thing we
learned was that the web
page needed to provide
the public and our member-
Finally, what good is
a web page if no one
can find you. We have
taken efforts to keep our
web page discoverable
by search engines. When
Information CentruI
chase on-line they try
even got a chance to
use the version you
to sell you the
upgrade before you
always will be engines and tag words
‘Information Central.‘” has begun, and as all things it is a work in
few minutes to explore
your Chamber’s web
progress.
page at www.encinitas-
ca.org. Your comments
I invite you to take a
and thoughts will help us
build Encinitas’ very own
Information Central. You
can even let us know
what you think rrght on
line.
bought!
The chamber has been
working very hard to keep
on the cutting edge of tech-
nology with our web page.
We started about three
years ago with our first try
at a web page. tots of mis-
takes were made and thank-
fully we learned from each
of them. The first thing we
learned was that when you
design a web page you
should seek out help from
one of the best! We found
John Prelgovitch, a web
page guru of sorts who
made the Carlsbad
Convention and Visitor’s
Bureau web page sparkle.
He has shared his experi-
ence in the visitor and busi-
ness service industry by
working with us as a con-
sultant for about two years.
ship with information that
they need and can use.
The Chamber is and
always will be “Information
Central.” If we don’t have
it and it’s important to our
business members, resi-
dents or to visitors, we will
either get the information
for you or point you in the
right direction. Now
much of the information
that we provide
is right on our
web page.
From member-
ship listings
with hot links to
your web page
to tide and
weather
reports. From
local event
listings and
tourist attrac-