In his monthly report, CAPC Executive Director Mike Maloney said that because lodging bookings have been down a bit for this time of year, he has taken steps to “increase the looks at Eureka Springs and convert them into bookings.” He used the theme of “Shop, Play, Eat, Stay” on electronic billboards in Rogers and Tulsa. The July CAPC newsletter, which goes out to 50,000, carried the message, as did all manner of digital outreach though various social media platforms. New for the CAPC is using leisurelist.com, a site that displays everything going on in Northwest Arkansas, and Maloney was confident the city would see positive results.
He also mentioned Eureka Springs was named Best Weekend Getaway in Citiscapes Magazine, 417 Magazine, the Joplin Globe and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Maloney also reported that the Saturday night show for Blues Weekend returned to the Auditorium with Carolyn Wonderland and Coco Montoya, and Music in Basin Park by Selwyn Birchwood and Brick Fields were well attended.
On the upside of a downhill note, a sizable crowd, including representatives from the Walton Family Foundation, showed up for the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new gravity trails at Lake Leatherwood, an event Maloney said “reverberated through the halls of Little Rock.”
Final business
- Commissioners approved the revised Marketing Support Guidelines, which are available on capc.biz. Changes will be effective January 1, 2019. Commissioners also voted to adjust the budget so that $7000 could be moved to the marketing support budget.
- Maloney said he had retained an attorney to develop a non-binding letter of intent in preparation for a formal contract between the CAPC and the Chamber of Commerce for purchase of ads in the next Visitor Guide. Maloney said he would present the letter at a July 19 special meeting. Terms of the one-year formal contract are still being developed.
- Commissioners voted unanimously to recommend to council that Carol Wright be re-seated to the commission. There is still one vacant seat.
- Finance Director Rick Bright said figures through June 30, which represent collections through the end of May, indicate year-to-date collections are 3.6 percent above the same period in 2017. Maloney said Bright would develop spreadsheets showing three-years of data so they can track trends and maybe discern the value of their ad buys.
There will be a special meeting Thursday, July 19, at 2 p.m. Next workshop will be Wednesday, July 25, at 4 p.m.