Brown County Indiana Lodging Association MinutesMinutes of the Lodging Association held at the Abbey Inn owned by Andy Szakaly. It was on Oct 19/04 at noon.In attendance: Julie Lee, Patty (Zody) Frensemeier, Allen Hazelbaker, Ed Wrightsman, Andy and Nancy Szakaly, Syd Nickels, Teresa James, Jeanne Robinson, Harry and Annabelle Hopkins, Jaydene Laros, Tim Sparks, George Lovett and Letty Newkirk. We also had Stephanie Yager and a representative for Blake Wolpert, both candidates for County Commissioner. The meeting started by introductions. Letty and Andy spoke about the CVB meeting that they had just attended. The Association will get names to the CVB committee who are willing to represent our group on the CVB board. Patty brought up innkeeper’s tax. She said that her office pays, to the Treasurer, one lump sum under the name of Hills O’ Brown log cabins. She then sends a separate ledger sheet on individual tallies to the CVB. How can a list be compiled on who is delinquent and who is not if the Treasurer only gets totals? Stephanie is currently the Treasurer and said that is done by the CVB. They are supposed to keep this information and make a list and enforce the payment of innkeeper taxes. Stephanie said that the small lodgings pays approximately 20% of the CVB budget, which happens to be around $500,000. There will be a Nov 9th meeting of the CVB at 8:30 a.m. to discuss advertising. Patty has a list of current approved tourist homes and she will get that list to the Treasurer and see if the Treasurer can compare this list with who is paying and who is not. That may also tell the treasurer who is paying that is not a legally zoned tourist home. Stephanie also spoke, as the Treasurer, on the new assessment being complete. She stated that some rentals would be greatly affected. She mentioned that there is a 45-day appeal process, starting the day that you get your tax statement in the mail. PAY CLOSE ATTENTION WHEN THOSE ARE RECEIVED. Allen stated that the Visitor’s guide does not go out to as many people as most people in our group had originally thought. The group spoke about buying one advertisement as a lodging group and splitting it between all of us. Discussion was held further on this after the meeting. George Lovett mentioned the Chamber and that he thinks they are going downhill fast. He also mentioned that the annual Chamber dinner is being held at the Season’s and that association is not a member of the Chamber. The dinner will be $25 each and all proceeds go to the Seasons. The room was not at all happy about this and several mentioned that they are not going for this reason. Ed Wrightsman mentioned he he uses “one call” and that has saved him money on his 800 number. Webervations – several people have started using this program and love it. McGinley’s have told Patty that it really has helped their business. Harry Hopkins shared his treatment of ladybugs. He treats his owns houses and it costs him about $20 so he told people what the chemical was and told Owners they could save themselves a bunch of money. It really keeps the ladybugs outside also. Hearing no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:15 p.m. Next meeting planned for the Artist Colony Inn and the date to be announced on the Lodging website. Patty (Zody) Frensemeier, Secretary |
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Minutes of the Lodging Association held at the Twin Oaks Lodge owned by
Doug and Diane Bowman. Meeting was on 20 Sep 04 at 6 p.m.
In attendance were Julie Lee, Patty (Zody) Frensemeier, Allen Hazelbaker, Rick Hofstetter, Ed Wrightsman, September McCabe and Timothy O'Bryan, Bill Austin, Teresa and Dirk James, Andy and Nancy Szakaly, Ken Umphrey and Harry Bond. The meeting started by talking about "webervations". Nancy spoke in general about the system and how it will show the availability in our places at the click of a finger. It would be good to have and post on the www.browncountylodging.com website. It would also be good to have in the Chamber, if we get a computer installed for visitors to see what is available for that night. Nancy said that she would speak individually to Owners who might be interested in this system. The group rate will be $55/year for lodging owners to have an account. Andy was going to check on a cheaper credit card rate if we went in as a whole. He will check with P.A.I.I. (professional association of innkeepers, inc.). He will report back in on this subject. Harry Bond, who is running for county council, spoke a bit about who he is. If he appoints someone to a board, he wants to know a bit about them and what they represent. The lodging group expressed how they felt about wanting a representative on the CVB board. Patty spoke about the Chamber meeting with Jenni Voris, Chamber director. It seemed positive and she spoke highly of allowing a computer in the Chamber office for the guests to look at cabins. Diane spoke highly of the Chamber and others in the meeting did not. A lot of "old feelings" still out there towards the Chamber. Diane spoke of some useful information she learned at the CVB meeting. They have a lot of info that could benefit us and she passed it around the room. She stated that the CVB would like to know our availability and any specials that we might be offering as they give that to walk-in visitors. Any info that we can scoot their way would be helpful to them. Patty asked around the room for ways that Owners have been getting more weekday business. Allen mentioned that he asks the guests to fill in a form while here listing birthdays, anniversary, etc. He puts the form into a drawing for a free night through the week. He feel that helps his business. Hills O' Brown Property Management offers weekday specials on their website for cabins trying to promote weekday bookings. Someone said we should let the Realtors know that we have weekday specials (as they have clients here through the week) and they stay overnight. Let them know that you have places for them to stay. The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m. Bowman's provided drinks and snacks and a tour of Twin Oaks. Accomplishments for this meeting were: 1. Got some ideas from Owners for weekday business 2. Got some people started and others rolling on webervations. 3. Andy checking on cheaper credit card rates. Next meeting date set for the Abbey Inn at noon on the 19th of October. Bring your own brown bag lunch. Patty (Zody) Frensemeier Secretary |
Answer: The five member Convention & Visitiors Commission decides how to spend more than $500,000 collected every year by the lodging properties in Brown County. This commission is appointed by the County Council and the County Commissioners. Here is a list of candidates for Council & Commissioner seats in this fall's election:
The Brown County Lodging Association supports the appointment to the Convention & Visitiors Commission of an owner of a "family friendly" lodging establishment (less than 20 guest rooms). |
