TDC Minutes 12/18/2023December 18,2023
MINUTES OF TI{E COLLIER COLINTY
TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COTINCIL MEETING
Naples, Florida, December 18,2023
LET IT BE REMEMBERED the Collier County Tourist Development Council, in
and for the County of Collier, having conducted business herein, met on this date at
9 a.m. in a REGTILAR SESSION in Building F of the Govemment Complex,
Naples, Florida, with the following members present:
Chairman: Commissioner Bill McDaniel Jr.
Vice Chairman: Clark Hill
Susan Becker
Councilman Michael McComas (via Zoom)
Amanda Cox (via Zoom)
Councilor Jared Grifoni (viaZoom)
Nancy Kems
Ed "Skl'Olesky
Councilwoman Beth Petrunoff (excused)
ALSO PRESENT: Sandra Rios, CVB PR & Communications Manager
Jeffrey Klatzkow, County Attomey
Buzzy Ford, Tourism Digital & Social Media Coordinator
Marissa Baker, Manager, Paradise Coast Sports Complex
John Melleky, Arts & Culture Manager, Tourism Dept.
Amanda Townsend, County Museums Director
Jack Wert, former Tourism Director
I
Anyone who needs a verbatim record of the meeting moy request a video recordingfrom lhe
Collier Coun4, Communications & Customer Relations Department or view il online.
l. Call to Order
Chairman McDaniel called the meeting to order at 9 a.m.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
3. Roll Call
A quorum of seven was established by four members present in the board room and three via
Zoom; an eighth member arrived later.
Ms. Rios said Naples Councilwoman Petrunoff has an excused absence and Marco Island
Councilor Grilbni, Everglades City Councilman McComas and Ms. Cox are participating via
Zoom-
Vice Chairman Hill made a motion to allow Councilor Grdoni, Councilman McComas and
Ms. Cox participate remotely due to exlraordinary circumstances. Second by Mr. Olesky.
The motion passed unanimously, 4-0.
4. Agenda and Minutes
A. Changes and Approval ofToday's Agenda
Q.,lo Changes)
Vice Chair Hill made a motion to dpprove lhe dgenda. Second by Ms. Becker. The motion
passed unanimously, 7-0.
B. Approval of prior TDC Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting November 20, 2023
Ms. Becker mode a motion to approve the November 20,2023, meeting minutes. Second by
Mr. Olesky. The motion passed unanimously, 7-0.
5. Presentations
A. Executive Director Update [Sandra Rios]
Ms. Rios provided aftscallear report:o This year had its share of interesting challenges and some noteworthy successes that put
us on a solid trajectory moving into 2024.o Fiscal year 22-23 saw an overall tourism tax revenue of over $44 million and we
welcomed over 2.1 million visitors to Florida's Paradise Coast.. Campaigns targeting the Canadian market during the shoulder season saw significant
results and Canada is now our No. 1 intemational market. We expect that to continue
into 2024.
o We expect an increase in visitation from UK, German and European visitors.o The impact of our culinary campaigns during the summer months and into September
resounded positively with our dining partners.
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December 18, 2023
December 18,2023
o Our Arts & Culture Awards for the inaugural year of iArte Viva! showcased our
capability to initiate collaborative partnerships and drive community engagement. Now
in its second year, we look forward to its continued success.
. The efforts from our sales team generated new business for the region and allowed us to
focus on market segments with the highest productivity and business potential.
o The outlook for meetings in 2024 is positive, with resorts and hotels increasingly
looking toward group sales to drive revenue and fill seasonal gaps.
o Our public relations team generated 2,567,167 ,736 media impressions for an ad
equivalency value of $20,366,936. (That's eamed media versus paid media.)
o Our Paradise Coast Sports Complex efforts and outcomes were outstanding, achieving
over $2 million in revenue. With a continued focus on strategic bookings and a robust
calendar of events, we expect that success to continue next year.
o Year-over-year numbers for occupancy and visitation are skewed due to residual effects
from Hurricane Ian. There were no visitor tracking interviews in October 2022.
o October data reflects a 36.38% increase in visitation, but occupancy was down because
there were 13oZ more units available in 2023.
. Direct spend was up 44.7%o from 2022,landing at $ I 25 mitlion, with an economic
impact of $173,785 million, a34.7%o increase from 2022.
. Restaurants and shopping had the largest year-over-year increases due to the leisure
visitors' tendency to spend more in these categories versus visitors who were in-county
assisting with recovery efforts in 2022.
r Across all metrics, we're starting to see a normalization and shift in visitation, with
increases from the traditionally robust Midwest market, along with the Northeast and
Southeast regions and a slight decrease from in-state travelers. The international markets
are seeing the strongest increases in activity.
o Continuing challenges include increased cruise activity, Florida fatigue, and possible
decreases in first-time retum visitation due to the high ADRs (average daily rate) that
some first-time visitors may have experienced.
r The booking window shows the median trip-planning time settling at just over 60 days.
. Social media takes a clear lead in advertising recall at 57o/o, followed by online articles
and travel reviews.
. The No. 1 trip activity in October was dining at 76%, foltowed by beach visits at 57%.
o Visitor recommendations continue to remain positive, with 83% of visitors stating they
definitely would recommend the Naples area.
o But the value for the travel dollar's rating was slightly lower at 8.8 out of 10, down from
our highest rating of 9.4. That was most likely due to the one in three first-time visitors
who experience the high ADRs.
o Our winter ad campaigns will launch in January, with a focus on the Chicago and
Cleveland markets. We'l[ recap those campaigns next month.
o 2024 will see the openings of several new resorts, including Compass by Margaritaville,
which will add 120 suites; AC Hotel Naples 5th Avenue (Marriott) at Naples Square,
with 150 guest rooms, which just opened; and Great Wolf Lodge, with 500 suites, which
will add 770 rooms to our annual inventory.
. We value all ofyou as council members, and thank you for supporting our efforts as we
continue to make Florida's Paradise Coast the premier destination ofchoice for the
disceming traveler.
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December 18,2023
B. Southwest Florida Int'l Airport (RSW) Presentation FY23l24 review, including new airlift
information, passenger count and an update on future expansion. [Carol Obermeier, RSW director of
Air Service Development]
[Ms. Obermeier detailed a PowerPoint presentation.J
Chairman McDaniel asked what what Porter and Lynx are.
Ms. Obermeier replied:o Porter is an airline out of Toronto that flies an El95E2 aircraft, a new aircraft with a
three-class configuration, about 128 seats. It's a nice product, very reasonable and they
serve free food, wine and beer.. Lynx is a relatively new airline that flies a Boeing 737 Max, with about 188 seats. It's a
ULCC (ultra low-cost carrier) that offers very good deals.. Lynx comes in four times weekly and Porter comes in daily.. Along with Air Canada and WestJet, they're the four new Canadian carriers. They're
nominally coming back and forth from Canada.. They're all in Toronto and WestJet has Toronto and Ottawa.r We had Montreal with Air Canada, but due to crew issues and aircraft delivery, they're
not bringing back Montreal this year. We anticipate them coming back next year.
[Ms. Obermeier continued her presentation.]
Ms. Becker said she'd heard there was a good response to RSW's rally fbr extra holiday parking. The
plans for the extra parking lot and the $40 flat fee were brilliant.
Ms. Obermeier said RSW needed to do something. We used to offer remote parking at a ballfield but
they didn't allow it, so we had to think outside the box to find areas. She thanked her, saying she'd tell her
senior staff.
A discussion ensued between Chairman McDaniel and Ms. Obermeier:
o Chairman McDaniel questioned the airport spending a lot of money on creature comforts when trip
generation triggers the expansion of the runway. Ifyou had more places to put more planes, that
would increase trips. He asked ifthe expense was warranted.
r Ms. Obermeier said they don't move forward on those plans without the airlines' go-ahead. We
meet with them because they're paying for it. Airlines pay the landing fees and terminal rent and if
that goes up, that's ajustification.
. It generates concessions because RSW's airline-use agreement is a 60-40 split, so we reconcile
everything at the end of the year. RSW gets 60% of what's left over and they get 40%, so the more
money we make, the more they make.
o With the revenue we're going to make from parking and concessions, it's going to warrant that.o She agrees with his comment because she's a big proponent ofgates and airlines realize that.. Chairman McDaniel noted that she began her presentation by saying RSW is capacity constrained.
He noted it seems counterintuitive that we were spending hundreds of miltions of dollars on
creature comforts and not expanding the capacity constraints, which would equate to more trips
and equate to a new mnway.
o Ms. Obermeier said she's had the same conversation about doing the gates first with senior staff,
but four years ago, we didn't have this amazing growth and weren,t capacity constrained.o The network planners said it was great that RSW is doing 330-331 million and questioned how
many gates RSW had. That's Phase 2.
o Network planners target the flights and they're scheduling to certain areas that are less busy.
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Four or five years ago, they didn't realize this, and we're already in the planning stage. It's hard to
pull back on the planning ofthe gate phase or switch them out when you're up to the 100% design
phase and are ready to break ground. It's going to be a challenge for a while.
One of our next biggest markets is a UK flight. We have an incentive program. Collier and Lee
counties and the CVBs support is needed because airlines want to know what kind of community
support there is.
We'll waive landing fees, terminal rates and charges for flights and we offer incentives. We have a
marketing incentive of$500,000 but that's for outbound.
The CVB is very important to market in Europe, so people can know about South Florida, commit
to plans and take a flight.
Vice Chair Hill said he loves the hospitatity approach and admires how proactive RSW is and how far out
it's looking. Is that a singular TSA-checkpoint unique phenomenon. or is that happening elsewhere?
Ms. Obermeier said it's happening elsewhere. More airports are doing it, especially with the revenue
involved with concessions. To have concessions is a big revenue generator. If we get a lounge at the old
terminal, if we had a lounge over on B Concourse lor intemational, you'd have to come in and out and go
through the TSA. It's so much easier, so more airports are doing this with new and existing construction.
Chairman McDaniel said you'd think you'd spread them out. You'd have more facilities. But in one
central location, you could get log-jammed.
Ms. Obermeier replied:
o That's intuitive thinking because those are the growth pains we'll have for a while.
. Senior staffis looking at that constantly and that's been noted.
o The airlines were 100o% on board with this and their agreement will now be a 10-year use
agreement, so that will help with our bond funding. Everybody is signing on for these projects.o RSW gets a lot ofDOT funds and grants, but it's mostly CPE (cost per enplaned passenger) that's
going up. If they didn't wanl to do it, they wouldn't have. We have their blessing.
6. Consent Agenda
All matters listed under this agenda item are routine and action will be taken by one molion
wilhout separate discussion on each item. Ifdiscussion is desired by a member ofthe TDC,
those items will be movedfrom the Consent Agenda and considered separately under New
Business or Old Business.
A, Beach Park Facilities
(None)
B. Tourism Division
(None)
7. New Business
A. Coastal Zone Management
(None)
B. Recommendation to approve the expenditure of the Tourism Developmcnt Tax
Promotion funds to support the Novcmher 2023 Doral Gold Cup event, up to $12,000; to
rryaive any irregularities in the process for items such as lack of written application pre-
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December 18.2023
December 18.2023
approval or TI)C and Board approval; and makc a finding that thcsc erpenditures
prtrmote tourism.
Ms. Rios read the recommendation and asked Ms. Baker to detail it
Ms. Baker toltl lhe TDC:
. The Doral Cup event was hosted from November 46 to November 5th at Paradise Coast Sports
Complex and North Collier Regional Park.
. There were over 1,900 athletes,400 spectators and 855 room nights, so direct spending was
estimated at $1.4 million, with a total economic impact of $2 million.
o The irregularity we're asking to be waived is that this application was tumed in in September.
Typically, we require it to be turned in 90 days ahead of time.
. The prior director received this application in September and decided to move forward with the
application, with the intention of coming to an earlier TDC meeting because we also require TDC
pre-approval for these funds.
. Those are the two inegularities we're asking you to approve.
o This promoter has been hosting events in Collier County for more than l0 years. He hosted the
Labor Day Cup event, the Memorial Day Cup event and the Dimitri Cup from 2003-2019, when
he'd bring in 50 teams over three weekends.
. This application was brought to the TDC last year, in JluJy 2022 for the September 2022 event,
and was approved for up to $12,000, but the event was canceled due to Hunicane Ian.
. Staff approves recommending this item.
Chairman McDaniel asked if they'd be retroactively approving a reimbursement for an event that already
occurred.
Ms. Baker said that was correct. It already transpired and it's based on actual room nights.
Vice Chair Hill moved to recommend approving lhe expenditure of Tourism Development
Tax Promotion funds to support the November 2023 Doral Gold Cup event, up to $12,000; to
waive any irregularities in the process for items such as lack of wrilten applicotion pre-
approval or TDC and Board approval; ondfound lhat lhis expenditure promotes tourism.
Second by Ms. Becker. The motion possed unanimously, 8-0.
C. Recommendation to approye the Sccond Extension and Amendment to the Sponsorship
Agreement between Collier County and Spirit Promotions for the 2025-2029 U.S. Open
Pickleball Championships and make a finding that this item promotes tourism.
Ms. Rios read the recommendation.
Ms. Becker noted that the fiscal impact was $345,000.
Ms. Rios said that was correct. The County Manager's office wants the TDC to understand that the
payment ofTDC lunds to Spirit over the new five-year term is subject to further discussion and potential
adjustment when it goes to the Board of County Commissioners for approval. Mike Dee, manager of
Spirit Promotions, will answer questions and outline it.
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December 18,2023
Mr. Dee loltl the TDC:
o This is an important day for the future of the U.S. Open Pickleball Championship and pickleball.
o He addressed the TDC briefly in June with Cfuis, Evan, Terry and Graham, who provided the
report on 2023 events, key statistics and numbers.
. Since then, they met with county staff, County Manager Amy Patterson, Assistant County
Manager Daniel Rodriguez and Parks & Recreation employees to craft a short- and long-term
vision for the U.S. Open Pickleball Championship and the future of East Naples Community Park,
which has become synonymous with the U.S. Open Pickleball Championship. It's become a
picklebalt destination nationwide.
o 2023 was a record setting year for the toumament, with 2,800 amateur athletes participating. over
250 professional athletes,40,000 spectators, an all-time record, and a $14 million economic impact
to the county, as measured by Zartico.lt was composed ofover 9,000 room nights and countywide
spending, notjust East Naples.
o Participants and spectators came from all 50 states. Over 20 countries were represented, so it's
become a significant toumament. RSW is a huge asset.
o We're honored to be the new owners. We merged with Spirit Promotions almost a year ago. Chris.
Ivan and Terry Graham are now pa( ol it.
o The county recommended this extension as an intermediate step toward a longer-term strategy and
funding strategy for the U.S. Open and East Naples Community Park.
o We love Naples. He relocated here and his co-founder is a full-time county resident. We moved
here to be a part ofthe county's pickleball movement longer term.
o We talked about the future, the expansion ofattendees and participants without expanding the
number of days, just more efficient technology and event management. We can increase
participants from 3,000 to 4000 and attendees proportionately to over 50,000. We believe we can
get (hat this year based upon pre-promotions.
o The championship cou( enhancements and championship court is fine, but only seats about 1,000,
so we've started conversations u.ith county staff about a private-public partnership and funding
strategy to improve that over time to get over 3,000.
. There's a lot of competitive activity with pickteball facilities nationwide, so we need to continue to
invest in this and keep it competitive with facilities evolving nationwide. We're prepared to bring
our checkbook to do that in April for the public-private partnership with the county.
o We'll dramatically expand media this year, with four times the television hours on CBS and CBS
Spofis Network, and will continue to expand OTT streaming. The numbers are astronomical.. We'll start a long-term master plan and funding strategy for NCP and the U.S. Open based on the
private-public partnership.
. It's probably the state's most significant pickleball facility, with over 60 courts and multiple
toumaments year-round, so we need to take a fresh look. There are opportunities for parking,
trallc and other operational conditions that would make the park work better, while keeping it a
community park. We recognize the importance of that.o The five-year extension is an intermediate step, a bridge to get us from where we are today to a
brighter, better future.
Ms. Becker said she learned today that each event brings in $345,000 and she would have liked to have
seen the annual impact and number ofevents. That would clarifu our interest in the expenditure.
Ms. Rios said they' take that into consideration, discuss it with the County Attomey and review the
application again.
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December 18,2023
Mr. Dee said we're also working with Parks & Recreation to bring other tournaments here throughout the
year in November, another great shoulder month like April is for the U.S. Open. We think there's a great
opportunity to add another major event for 2024. That does not have any TDC subsidy. That's a straight
rental to bring additional heads and beds in fall.
Ms. Becker said that's a[[ the more reason to specify that this is for this annual event.
Chairman McDaniel noted that it's a five-year agreement, but it's a $345,000 a year expense.
Vice Chair Hill said it is a big expense. He did the calculations and the investment is 1.26Vo olthe retum.
The retum-per-dollar spent on this is about $79.6 and the actual expense net is $176,616 when you take
into account the Tourist Tax collected. When we add the infrastructure, we don't have an estimate on what
CBS is worth, but it's worth a lot. This was Jack Wert's vision and it was a good one. He's here today.
That should be clarified before it goes to the Board of County Commissioners.
Chairman McDaniel noted that the TDC is an advisory board to the Board of County Commissioners and
asked the county attomey to address the concems ofthe vice chair and Ms. Becker before the contract
goes to the board.
Attorney Klatzkow asked if this is the contract going to the board.
Mr. I)ee said there is still some ongoing dialogue, but the material aspects of this is what goes before the
board. The dialogue continues with Assistant County Manager Rodriguez on a few minor points.
Attorney Klatzkow cautioned that ifthere are material changes, the contract has to come back to the
TDC.
Chairman McDaniel said to only make insubstantial adjustments.
Mr. Dee said the spirit of the conversation has been to keep it business as usual within the constraints of
the existing agreement and then work on a more comprehensive longer-teml strategy going forward. There
have been costs passed along that we incur now. In addition to the $345,000, we paid Parks & Rec over
$60,000 in fees related to the event.
Ms. Cox said she agrees with Clark's comments on the retum on investment on cost of sales. It's
important to note that when it goes to the board that they know those do not fully embed the advertising
and promotional retum on this investment. It was a great framework.
Ms. Becker moved to recommend approving the Second Extension and Amendment to the
Sponsorship Agreement beth'een Collier County and Spirit Promotions for the 2025-2029
U.S. Open Pickleball Championships and made a Jinding that this item promotes tourism.
Second by, Ms. Kerns. The motion passed unanimously, 8-0.
8. Old Business
(None)
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December 18.2023
Marketing Partner Reports
These reporls (Marketing Partner Reports - Downs & St. Germain Research; Paradise
Advertising & Marketing, Inc.; Lou Hammond Group: Convention & Visitors Bureau PR
Team; Collier County Tax Colleclor - tourist tax collections; Miles Partnership - Ll/ebsite
Analytics, Digital & Social Media; Paradise Coast Sports Complex, and County Museums) are
provided to TDC members on d county website link. The Research Data Services report is
presented monlhly, and other reports are presented al TDC meetings on an qs-needed basis.
TDC members may request o presenlation by the marketing portner represenlalive or by
lourism staf at each TDC meeling.
Part 1. Marketing Partner Report
A. Downs & St. Germain Research - Joseph St. Germain, president
[Mr. St. Germain detailed a PowerPoint presentation on October numbers.]
Vice Chair Hill said he noticed there are two trends, the gender mix and more females.
Mr. St. Germain said that tends to even out more with a larger sample size on a monthly basis. Females
are more tikely to be whom we talk to in a travel party. Overall gender will be close to 50-50, but we're
more likely to speak with females when we survey travel parties because they answer on their behalf.
Vice Chair Hill asked when he expects it to really start to come back.
Mr. St. Germain said he's heard many different things, from later in summer 2024 to around 2025. It
depends. It's in that range, according to articles.
Chairman McDaniel asked what they were coming back from.
Vice Chair Hill said the numbers are far lower than historical numbers, as far as percentage, about 22%o
of total visitation. We're still down in the low teens.
Mr. St. Germain said that's not just in Collier County, but statewide.
Chairman McDaniel said it's national. Just because the media tells us the economy is better, fuel has
decreased a bit, but that's politically motivated. Interest rates haven't come down, inflation is still up, as is
insurance. They're all the extemal expenses people must live with daity, and travel is being impacted.
Mr. St. Germain agreed.
Ms. Becker noted that statistics show 6% of the people will come back. Yesterday, she was assisting
tourists lrom Argentina who were circulating all around the state. They took a deep breath and said that in
Naples, they felt they could eat off the sidewalk.
B. Paradise Advertising - Kristen Murphy, VP, Partner DevelopmenVClient Services
[Ms Murphy detailed a PowerPoint presentation.]
Chairman McDaniel commented on a photo of corkscrew swamp, urging everyone to visit.
Mr. Olesky said they can take airboat rides there.
Ms. Becker said many people go there yearly.
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Vice Chair Hill said he also noticed an increase in interest in restaurants, food and beverages in Collier
County. It's making a difference. We're foodies.
Mr. St. Germain said that's coming from last month's Sizzle Dining marketing, but it's also a trend
we're seeing in many different destinations, particularly ones like Collier with a great culinary scene. A
significant percentage come here for that.
Decemher 1 lt. 202i
Councilman McComas asked if the Stone Crab Festival promotion will be available for them 1o
see next month.
Ms. Murphy said Sandra will tell them when that goes live.
Ms. Rios said they had difficulty getting live video because the stone crabs had not yet migrated
south.
Ms. Kerns said she thought June was the wedding month.
Ms. Comerer said National Wedding Month is in February.
Chairman McDaniel said his theory is that it's in June because we were predominantly an agricultural
community years ago and that's when crops are in the ground and there's not a lot of work to do with
daylight savings time. It's an agricultural cycle.
[Movedfrom later in the meeting]
Ms. Townsend noted that according to the old Farmer's Almanac, June is traditionally the
wedding month because it's named after the Roman goddess Juno, who was thought to bring
happiness and prosperity for people who were married in her month. The full moon after the
summer solstice is called the honey moon. You frequently have a full moon in June, so hence
the word honeymoon.
Part 2. Marketing Partner Reports
D. Collier County Tourist Tax Collections
(Included in the packet lor TDC review)
E. Miles Partnership - Enriquctu llalandru
[This item u,as heard after 9.B.]
Ms. Balandra answered questions from lhe prior meeting (Action ltems):o Councilwoman Petrunolf asked about industrv standards for websites.
Members of the Miles team agreed there's not a set number of industry standards for
convention visitor bureaus-
That's because there are many different factors that affect them, from destination size,
larger, bigger states, cities and smaller counties, the budget, amount ofmoney they can
put into media that points all the traffic and interactions to the website, along with
seasonal interest.
Some northem states, with the changing ofthe leaves, have higher interactions during
that time versus all our beach destinations.
a
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C. Lou Hammond Group - Mackenzie Comerer, VP PR
[This item was heard after 9.E]
[Ms. Comerer detailed a PowerPoint presenlation, "Services Conducted in November 2023."
Ms. Kerns asked if that's in terms of planning or having weddings.
Ms. Rios said it's primarily focused on engagement, the engagement window between December and
February. June is a very common wedding date.
Ms. Comerer said February is a very popular time for engagements, so it's National Wedding Month. It's
a celebration of the excitement that weddings bring.
December 18.2023
[Ms. Balandra detailed a PowerPoint presentation, " Paradise.com November 202 3 " J
[There were no questions.J
F. Paradise Coast Sports Complex/Sports Facilities Companies - Marissa Baker, Adrian
Moses, J.P. Terrasi.
[Mr. Moses and Mr. Terrasi delailed PowerPoint presentations.]
[There were no questions.J
G, County Museums - lzanda Townsend
[Ms. Townsend detailed a PowerPoinl presentation on November visilation.J
Ms. Becker told Ms. Townsend that an I I or l2-year-old boy and his mother came to the historic district
and were here for a football event at Paradise Coast Sports Complex. They asked where they could find
cultural activities. She pulled out the county museum brochure and handed it to the boy, who said he
loves museums. Ms. Townsend said she loves that little bov and thanked her for the storv.
ll. Tourism Staff Reports
(Provided in the agenda packet)
12. Council Member Discussion
Vice Chair Hill thanked Commissioner McDaniel for his leadership this year as he helped guide us
through recovery after Hurricane Ian. It was a challenging year, and we appreciate all that you've done
for the TDC.
Chairman McDaniel thanked him, saying it was a pleasure and honor.
Ms. Kerns asked for an update on the search for a new tourism director.
Ms. Rios said the job posting closed on December 7th and they received 9l applicants they're reviewing.
We'll tell you in January. They expect to start interviews in January after the holidays. She believes they
narrowed it down to 1 1 candidates. We hope to have detailed information in January.
Ms. Becker reminded everyone that it will continue to snow on Third Street every Thursday, Friday and
Saturday at 7 p.m. through the end ofthe year.
Mr. Olesky thanked everyone for doing a great job.
ll
o Our season is from about October to April, so those change throughout the year.
o Ultimately, we want to be able to base your performance year over year, knowing that
your budget is steady, and we can compare it year-over-year, if there are small changes,
so we know what the performance is for Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades.
o Councilwoman Petrunoff also asked about traffic from St. Louis.
o St. Louis is the No. 5 location by number ofusers. but it has a lower engagement rate ofabout 3%o.
. The majority ofusers are going to the beaches page. They're split between Chrome and Safari
browsers.
. When it comes to growth of that location, there was an increase starting on July 4, so they may
have been pulled in by Fourth ofJuly marketing or other campaigns. Most came in as organic, but
it increased since July 4th. St. Louis looks like a geographic location of interest for Naples.
December 18,2023
Chairman McDaniel said he had an update. He was in Tallahassee about two weeks ago. You may
recall that he was thinking about a statutory amendment or reimbursable program for people who
generate TDT revenue to help offset some ofthe housing expense. There isn't a state bill, but a local bill
that's coming from Monroe County. He's working with Collier's lobbyists and that legislator to try to
refine it. He didn't think it was acceptable. 11 may work for Monroe County, but it needs to be refined
before it comes forward, so he's retuming to Tallahassee in January or February to see how it's
progressing. He wished everyone a Merry Christmas and happy holidays.
Ms. Kerns asked about the next meeting date. noting that it said lanuary 22, or January 16.
Ms. Rios said we're still looking at options because it was historically scheduled for the fourth Monday
of every month. We believe we're going to keep it on the third Monday, but there's an option to have it
on the first Wednesday. We looked at the calendar and the Council Chambers is available on that date for
the full year, but it's up to the incoming chair to decide. For now, it appears it will be the third Monday,
Iarruary 22.
Ms. Kerns said the biggest downfall for that date is there is little participation from Naples City
Councilwoman Petrunoff, who has council meetings on that day. That participation is critical because ol
the role the City of Naples plays in tourism. And our tourism reports are delayed, which puts a strain on
staff to get the reports ready.
Ms. Becker agreed.
Chairman McDaniel said the outgoing chair is Chairman Rick LoCastro. I realize you don't like what I
did to change the meeting date, but I had to do it for my personal and BCC schedule to manage my
commission duties and my schedule. Wednesdays were not available then. He urged the TDC to discuss
it with the incoming chairman and noted that Councilwoman Petrunoff may be resigning her city
position. City Council meetings are on this day, and he noted that Ms. Becker also didn't like the day.
[Members wished everyone a Merry Christmqs ond a Happy New Year.]
13. Next Scheduled Meeting Date/Location
9 a.m. TUESDAY, January 16,2023
Collier County Government Center, Administration Building F, 3rd Floor,
3299 East Tamiami Trail, Naples
There being no further business for the good of the County, the meeting rr.as adjourned
by order of the chairman at I I a.m.
COLLIER COT-INTY
TOURIS'T DE LOPMENT COTINCIL
Bill Mc ante I ,1r., Ch7irman
These minutes were approved by the council/Acting Chairman on
or as amended
| -lb: -A4
(choose one) as presented.
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