Minutes - 10/03/2002 - Hotel Convention and Visitors CommitteeOak Brook Hotel, Convention & Visitors Committee
Minutes of Thursday, October 3, 2002 Meeting
Upper Level Conference Room
Oak Brook Village Hall
Present: Chairman John Merrill
Chuck Fleming
Ralph Maxson
Tony Mira
Absent: Laurie Adams
Terry Kelodzie
Ted Selogie
Steve Thayer
Also Present: Acting Village Manager Michael Crotty
Skip Stritmatter, DuPage Convention & Visitors Committee
Meeting was called to order at 2:01 p.m.
APPROVAL OF AUGUST 8, 2002 MEETING MINUTES
Moved by Ralph Maxson and seconded by Tony Mira to approve the minutes of
the August 8, 2002 meeting as submitted. Motion passed 4 -0.
OLD BUSINESS:
Chairman Merrill indicated that the Marketing Subcommittee was moving
forward with the development of the 2003 Marketing Campaign, and that
the Committee would like to incorporate tie -ins with Oakbrook Center.
NEW BUSINESS:
A. Release of Third Quarter Tax Receipts to DCVB: Motion by Chuck
Fleming, seconded by Ralph Maxson to recommend that the Village
Board release 20% of the 3rd Quarter 2002 tax receipts to the DuPage
Convention and Visitors Bureau. Motion passed 4 -0.
B. Discussion: Advice Concerning Use of Hotel Tax Receipts for
Beautification: Acting Village Manager Crotty indicated that during its
discussion concerning the 2003 — 2007 Five Year Financial Plan, the
Village Board raised the possibility of using hotel tax receipts for
beautification efforts in the Village, and also indicated its interest in
obtaining the opinion of the Hotel, Convention and Visitors Committee as
to whether or not beautification would be considered an acceptable use of
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Oak Brook Hotel Convention & Visitors Committee
Meeting Minutes: October 3, 2002
these funds (i.e. serve to promote overnight stays in the Village of Oak
Brook). Mira indicated that he had never had any guest complain about
the appearance of the town, and stated that whether or not using hotel tax
receipts for Village beautification would depend on what was planned.
Mira also questioned whether using hotel tax receipts for Village
beautification meant that responsibility for the beautification would rest
with the Committee. Fleming indicated that from his standpoint, he
considers the question of what brings people to Oakbrook Center. He
indicated that he believed it would be difficult to place a direct correlation
between plantings and overnight stays in Oak Brook. He also indicated
that he would be concerned about spending hotel tax funds for
beautification on residential streets, but if the funds were used to create
some special amenity that would be a public relations statement in a
central area, the idea may be more appropriate. Maxson indicated that the
issue poses more questions than answers, and that he is concerned that
funding will be taken away from marketing efforts. Chairman Merrill
suggested that if hotel tax receipts were used for beautification, that fact
could be used as a public relations boost by publicizing that the Hotel,
Convention and Visitors Committee are participating in the effort. But he
also noted that it would be difficult to tie overnight stays to such an effort.
He also indicated that given the current economic downturn and its effect
on the hotel industry, every dollar that can be earmarked for marketing
efforts may be better spent on such marketing.
It was the consensus of the Committee that Chairman Merrill prepare a
letter from the Committee indicating its opinion on the matter, and that
Acting Village Manager Crotty would make that available to the Village
Board.
OTHER BUSINESS: Chairman Merrill asked the hotel general managers to meet with
their sales directors to discuss their wishes for the 2003 Marketing Campaign.
ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Chuck Fleming and seconded by Ralph Maxson to adjourn the meeting
at 2:48 p.m. Motion passed 4 -0.
ATTEST:
Michael A. Crotty
Acting Village Manager
APPROVED: November 7, 2002
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Oak Brook Hotel Convention & Visitors Committee
Meeting Minutes: October 3, 2002