HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-01-12; Carlsbad Tourism Business Improvement District; ; Appointments to Visit Carlsbad BoardCARLSBAD TOURISM BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
Meeting Date: Jan. 12,2022
Subject: Appointments to Visit Carlsbad Board
Recommended Action
Adopt a resolution approving appointments of two members to the Visit Carlsbad Board.
Item Explanation
At its May 19, 2021 meeting, the Carlsbad Tourism Business Improvement District (CTBID)
Advisory Board entered into an agreement with the Carlsbad Convention and Visitors Bureau
(dba Visit Carlsbad) to provide tourism promotion services for the CTBID for the period July 1,
2021 through June 30, 2022. A provision in this contract was that the CTBID Advisory Board had
to approve any changes to the Visit Carlsbad Board.
In a letter dated Dec. 16, 2021 from Visit Carlsbad CEO, Kim Sidoriak, to CTBID Advisory Board
Chair, Tim Stripe, the Visit Carlsbad Board is recommending that Kent Seiders, Head of Marketing
for Legoland California Resort, and Yolanda Hartley, Director of Sales for Home 2 Suites by Hilton
Carlsbad, be appointed to the Visit Carlsbad Board.
Fiscal Impact
None.
Environmental Impact
This action does not constitute a "project" within the meaning of the California Environmental
Quality Act under California Public Resources Code Section 21065 in that it has no potential to
cause either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect
physical change in the environment.
Exhibits
1. CTBID Advisory Board resolution
2. Letter dated Dec. 16, 2021 from Visit Carlsbad CEO, Kim Sidoriak, to CTBID Advisory Board
Chair, Tim Stripe, recommending that the CTBID Advisory Board approve the appointment of
Kent Seiders, Head of Marketing for Legoland California Resort and Yolanda Hartley, Director
of Sales for Home 2 Suites by Hilton Carlsbad to the Visit Carlsbad Board
3. Bio Kent Seiders
4. Bio Yolanda Hartley
5. List of Current Visit Carlsbad Board Members
DocuSign Envelope ID: 1B93C9B3-5ED3-474B-904D-853FED2871CF
RESOLUTION NO. 2022-1
A RESOLUTION OF THE ADVISORY BOARD OF THE CARLSBAD TOURISM
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT APPROVING THE APPOINTMENTS OF
TWO MEMBERS TO THE VISIT CARLSBAD BOARD OF DIRECTORS
EXHIBIT 1
WHEREAS, the Carlsbad Tourism Business Improvement District (CTBID) Advisory Board entered
into an agreement with the Carlsbad Convention and Visitors Bureau (dba Visit Carlsbad) to provide
tourism promotion services for the CTBID for the period July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022; and
WHEREAS, the agreement requires the CTBID Advisory Board to approve any changes to the
Visit Carlsbad Board of Directors; and
WHEREAS, the Visit Carlsbad Board is recommending that Kent Seiders, Head of Marketing for
Legoland California Resort, and Yolanda Hartley, Director of Sales for Home 2 Suites by Hilton Carlsbad,
be appointed to the Visit Carlsbad Board.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, as
follows:
1. The above recitations are true and correct.
2. The following persons are approved to serve on the Visit Carlsbad Board:
Kent Seiders
Yolanda Hartley
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the Advisory Board of the Carlsbad
Tourism Business Improvement District on the _g_ day of January
to wit:
• 2022, by the following vote,
AYES: STRIPE, GRAY, CHAPIN, CANEPA
NAYS: N/A
ABSENT: RAUCH BECERRA I
ABSTAIN N/A
tr~ Sfvipt-
TIM STRIPE, Chair
~ra~,
/,-u.AVIOLA MEDINA, City Clerk Services Manager
(SEAL)
v&ir.. carl·sbad --. . ' '
December 16, 2021
Cheryl Gerhardt
Finance Manager
City of Carlsbad
Dear Cheryl,
EXHIBIT 2
There are currently two vacancies on the Visit Carlsbad Board of Directors. At the December
3rd meeting, the Board recommended moving the following two replacement candidates for
approval at the January 12 CTBID meeting:
Kent Seiders
Head of Marketing
Legoland California Resort
Kent has been with Legoland California resort since 2016, has an MBA from Cal State San
Marcos and serves on the Digital and Content Committee for Visit California and is a Diversit)'
& Inclusion Champion for Merlin Entertainments. Prior to his current role at Legoland CalifornLa
Resort, Kent worked in the United Kingdom for two years at Thorpe Park Resort in London.
Yolanda Hartley
Director of Sales
Home 2 Suites by Hilton Carlsbad
Yolanda has been with Home 2 Suites since August 2020 and has worked in the San Diego
County tourism industry since June 2006, including 4 years as National Sales Manager for Sen
Diego North Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Resumes for both candidates are enclosed. Please let me know if you have any questions or
concerns and we look forward to presenting these candidates for approval at the January 12
CTBID meeting.
Thank you,
Kim Sidoriak
President & CEO
Visit Carlsbad
EXHIBIT 3
Kent Seiders
Carlsbad, CA 92008 • (949) 301-3429 • kentseiders@gmail.com
Summary:
International marketing director with 10+ years' experience in the direct-to-consumer and
entertainment sectors, with a proven track record of leading cross-functional teams to execute award-
winning integrated marketing campaigns.
Professional Experience:
Head of Marketing, June 2016 -Present
LEGOLAND California Resort -Carlsbad, CA
Oversee all direct-to-consumer integrated marketing and team of 10+, for the Resort's theme park,
aquarium, two water parks, and two onsite hotels.
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Launch integrated marketing plans to promote new product launches, online product and
services sales, and special events that have secured three consecutive years of record-breaking
EBITDA growth for Merlin's largest franchise to date
Oversee media planning and advertising campaigns for all media channels, ensuring awareness
and conversion KPI targets are hit and are optimized annually
Brief and project manage creative production and content strategy for Resort's key priorities,
inclusive of photography, video, and advertising units in collaboration with creative, media
planning, and research agencies
Generate and test data-led ECRM, mobile-app, and social media campaigns to drive awareness
and commercial KPis, delivering an average of+ 15% website traffic, +SOK email acquisitions,
and +4% direct bookings growth annually
Leverage third-party partnerships, IPs, and trade clients to increase awareness, drive sales, and
expand reach to the likes of LEGO, Warner Brothers, Coca-Cola, and more
Senior Brand Manager, Sept 2014 -May 2016
Thorpe Park Resort -London, UK
Managed all direct-to-consumer integrated marketing campaigns and in-house brand team of five, for
the theme park, onsite hotel, and special events program.
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Achieved budgeted EBITDA growth after five years of business decline with full creative re-
positioning, innovative new product launches, and re-branded seasonal event strategy
Managed and delivered advertising campaigns for all paid channels in partnership with
advertising, digital, and creative agencies
Oversaw creative production and launched refreshed brand toolkits featuring new content
strategy, photography, video, logos, fonts, tone-of-voice, and more leading a new 5-year brand
development and repositioning strategy
Pitched, secured and executed national on-pack and digital partnerships including the largest
on-pack promotion in the Resort's history (50MM distribution)
Oversaw and executed all marketing research in-house and through third party agencies, to
evaluate brand tracking, test new ride and hotel concepts, and refreshed repositioning
Leveraged third-party partnerships and IPs, to create new ride experiences, increase awareness,
and drive sales to the likes of Lionsgate Horror Films, Rovio's Angry Birds, ITV's I'm A
Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, Ministry of Sound, and more
Membership & Promotions Representative, Feb 2012-Sept 2014
LEGOLAND California Resort -Carlsbad, CA
Managed and implemented the Resort's direct marketing and ECRM strategies to recruit and sustain
sales of annual pass membership programs.
• Redesigned and implemented annual loyalty marketing strategy and campaigns resulting in a 28%
increase in unit sales in debut season
• Retained an average 30% renewal rate for members and drove incremental commercial spends with
highly targeted digital awareness and conversion-driving campaigns
• Project managed promotions and partnership opportunities with third party franchise partners,
including Warner Brothers and Lucasfilm for all LEGOLAND attractions globally
Marketing Management Trainee, Sept 2010-Feb 2012
Merlin Entertainments Group, Various Locations
Selected to represent the United States region in Merlin's global management trainee program
"Accelerate". Delivered special projects and drove business results in three six-month training
assignments including:
• National Promotions and eCommerce, Madame Tussauds New York-New York City, NY
• Operations and Retail Manager, Madame Tussauds Las Vegas -Las Vegas, NV
• Marketing & Sales Coordinator, Grand Opening of LEGOLAND Florida Resort -Orlando, FL
Committees:
• Digital & Content Committee -Visit California, 2020 -Present
• Diversity & Inclusion Champion -Merlin Entertainments, 2020 -Present
Notable Awards:
• MBA Graduate Fellowship -California State University, San Marcos, 2020
• Leader of the Year-LEGOLAND California Resort, 2019
• 30 and Under Emerging Leader Award-California Travel Association, 2018
• Best Digital Campaign -LEGO LAND Castle Hotel -Experian, 2018
• Best Email & Social Integration -LEGOLAND Castle Hotel -eTourism Summit, 2018
• Best in British Digital-Derren Brown's Ghost Train -National UK BIMA Awards, 2016
Education:
Master of Business Administration (MBA), December 2020
• General Business and Analytics
• California State University, San Marcos
Graduate Teaching Assistant, October 2020 -May 2021
• Master's Level Marketing & International Marketing Courses
• California State University, San Marcos
. Bachelor of Science in Business Administration -Marketing, May 2010
• Specialization in Integrated Marketing Communications
• San Diego State University
EXHIBIT 4
Yolanda Hartley
Cell: (760) 504-9202, Email: yolandahartley@gmail.com
STRENGTHS
• Enthusiastic, self-motivated, detail oriented, goal-oriented and multi-tasker
• Strong teamwork skills and motivation, demonstrate leadership, and strategic thinking
• Revenue and yield strategies, maximized profitability, strategic sales and marketing planning
EXPERIENCE:
Home2 Suites by Hilton, Carlsbad, CA
Director of Sales, August 2020 -Present
• Prepare and manage the overall sales and marketing efforts for opening a new property during the Covid-19
pandemic. Property opened June 2020
• Innovate and execute strategies to uncover new opportunities to build customer loyalty, increase occupancy
and maximize revenues
Hyatt Place San Diego Vista/Carlsbad, Vista, CA
Director of Sales, August 2017 -August 2020
• Managed the overall sales activities, increased the group sales by facilitating city-wide room blocks for
events, strengthened relationships and secured contracts with transient market segments
• Market share analysis review to position the property to maximize revenue growth
• Prospected and generated new business, explored untapped markets, through phone solicitation, sales calls,
site inspections, community participation, and attended industry related events
Hospitality Softnet, Inc., San Diego, CA
Business Development, Task Force Sales, June 2012 -July 2017
• Provided sales support to hotel sales teams across multiple brands to gain market share and assist with
revenue growth objectives
• Prospected and uncovered new transient, group, meeting and catering sales opportunities
The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe, Rancho Santa Fe, CA
National Sales Manager, September 2010-June 2012
• Responsible for the management and growth of group sales to meet monthly room night goals
• Prospected and generated new group, meeting, and catering sales leads
San Diego North Convention & Visitors Bureau, Carlsbad, CA
National Sales Manager I Business Development Manager, January 2006 -August 2010
• Promoted & solicited group meetings for a collection of hotels & resorts in the northern San Diego region
• Managed the growth and development of the association, corporate, incentive, and government market segments
• Hosted familiarization tours for qualified potential customers to our region
Bell Harbor Conference Center, Columbia Hospitality, Inc., Seattle, Washington
Director of Sales, November 1998-June 2005
• Responsible for the management of 100,000 sq. ft. of conference meeting space
• Prepared monthly sales forecast, booking pace reports, and annual budget
• Developed and implemented sales and marketing strategies to maximize exposure, and ensure profitability
University of Washington, Conference Management Department, Seattle, Washington
Conference/Trade Show Manager, March 1994 -June 1998
EDUCATION:
Bachelor of Arts, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
COMPUTER SOFTWARE EXPERIENCE:
Proficient with Microsoft Office, Delphi, Hotel SalesPro, Opera and Reserve Hotel Property Management Systems,
Hilton OnQ Property Management Systems
REFERENCES:
Available upon request.
Board Member
Troy Wood
Chairman
Michelle Zwirek
Treasurer Secretary
Rob Stirling
Vice Chairman
Christine Davis
Director
Julie Zahner
Director
VACANT
Director
VACANT
Director
Company
Park Hyatt Aviara Resort
Omni Resort La Costa
Cape Rey Carlsbad Beach
Carlsbad Village Business Association
Sheraton/Westin Carlsbad
Address Phone Email
7100 Aviara Resort Drive, 92011 (760) 603-6872 troy.wood@hyatt.com
2100 Costa Del Mar Road,
92011
6450 Carlsbad Blvd., 92008
400 Carlsbad Village Drive
92008
N/A
(760) 438-9111 mzwirek@lacosta.com
(760) 476-0800 rob.stirling@caperey.com
(760)644-2121 info@carlsbad-village.com
(760)827-2420 jzahner@sheratoncarlsbad.com
EXHIBIT 5