6. Receive, consider and act upon the First Amendment to the 2025 Service Agreement between The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau and The Woodlands Township (C-2025-0064A)

[6. Receive, consider and act upon the First Amendment to the 2025 Service Agreement between The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau and The Woodlands Township (C-2025-0064A)]

NICK WILDER. THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN NELSON. YES.

SO THIS WE OPERATE WITH THE SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH THE TOWNSHIP AS THE OFFICIAL DESTINATION MARKETING AND MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION FOR THE TOWNSHIP.

AND THAT SERVICE AGREEMENT COVERS A WHOLE LOT OF AREAS.

BUT THERE'S SOME AREAS THAT WILL COME UP FROM TIME TO TIME THAT MAYBE THAT'S NOT WITHIN THAT SERVICE AGREEMENT.

WE HAVE A PARTICULAR ITEM THAT IS NOT WITHIN THE SERVICE AGREEMENT THAT WE NEED TO ASK FOR AN AMENDMENT ON.

THE PROCESS WOULD BE TO HAVE AN AMENDMENT HERE AT THIS BOARD AND THEN TAKE IT ALSO, THEN TAKE IT TO THE TOWNSHIP BOARD AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING AFTERWARDS. IN THAT PARTICULAR ITEM WAS AN AN ITEM, AN OPPORTUNITY THAT CAME UP AT THE APRIL BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT PLACING ADVERTISING ON ELEVATORS OVER AT MARKET STREET.

AND SO WE HAVE THE APPROVAL WITH MARKET STREET TO DO THAT.

AND WE HAVE DONE THAT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO MARKET STREET ON THIS WITH OUR NEW BRANDING THAT WE HAVE.

WE WILL WE WILL BE PUTTING UP SOME NEW MESSAGING ON THAT.

IT REALLY LOOKS GREAT. WE'RE GOING TO SHOW THAT HERE IN JUST A MOMENT. YOU DID SEE THAT IN APRIL.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE IT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER.

DIRECTOR BAILEY DID ASK FOR IF WE COULD PUT THESE SAME TYPE OF MARKETING MESSAGES ON TOWNSHIP PROPERTY.

SO TOWNSHIP ELEVATORS THAT ARE LOCATED AROUND THE TOWN CENTER AREA, AND WE AS A 500 AND 1C6 ORGANIZATION AS A NONPROFIT, CAN'T JUST GO AND START PUTTING OUR MESSAGES ON DIFFERENT PLACES WITHOUT VARIOUS PERMISSIONS.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT THIS PROCESS IS TODAY, IS TO ASK FOR AN AMENDMENT WITHIN OUR SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP.

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK ASHLEY WHITE, OUR DIRECTOR OF MARKETING, TO SHOW YOU WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

AND SO SHE'LL COME UP AND EXPLAIN THAT AND THEN WE'LL I'LL COME BACK AND THEN WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THE SERVICE AGREEMENT.

AND IN THAT PROCESS. GOOD MORNING. AS NICK MENTIONED, WE DID GET APPROVAL FROM MARKET STREET TO PUT ELEVATOR CLINGS.

THEY'RE THE ONES ON THE LEFT IS THE MOCKUP OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

YOU'LL SEE IT SHOWCASES THE BOATHOUSES WITH THE KAYAKS.

AND THEN ALSO DINING ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE IS ACTUALLY WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING FOR.

THE OTHER ELEVATORS ARE THAT ARE IN THE TOWN CENTER PARKING GARAGE, AS WELL AS IN THE WATERWAY SQUARE AREA.

SO IN TOWN CENTER PARKING GARAGE, THERE ARE TWO ELEVATORS.

THERE'S ONE THAT IS CLOSEST TO THE PAVILION THAT THE CONCERT GOERS WILL USE.

AND THEN THERE'S ALSO ONE THAT GOES INTO THE WATERWAY MARRIOTT.

AND THEN IN THE TOWN CENTER SQUARE OR EXCUSE ME, IN THE WATERWAY SQUARE AREA, THERE ARE FIVE PARKING GARAGES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT PUTTING ELEVATOR CLINGS ON. THERE IS GOING TO BE ONE AT THE WOODLOCH FOREST LOCATION, ONE IN WATERWAY SQUARE THAT IS THE GLASS.

ONE THAT IS RIGHT BEHIND THE STAGE WHERE THEY DO THE WATERWAY NIGHTS CONCERT SERIES. THERE IS ONE AT THE WATERWAY AVENUE AVENUE BRIDGE, AND THEN ANOTHER ONE ON SOUTH WATERWAY AVENUE THAT'S ALSO NEAR WATERWAY SQUARE PARK.

AND THEN THE FINAL ONE IS GOING TO BE AT THE MALL TURNING BASIN, WHERE THEY HAVE THE SWAN BOAT RENTALS.

SO THAT IS THE OVERVIEW OF WHAT THE LOCATIONS AND THIS IS THE PROPOSED DESIGNS.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I'M GOING TO TURN IT BACK OVER TO NICK.

THEY LOOK TERRIFIC. THANK YOU. OKAY. SO THAT'S WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE.

SO HERE'S THE PROCESS. THE PROCESS IS WE WOULD NEED A MOTION AND SECOND, AND A VOTE FOR AMENDING THE SERVICE AGREEMENT BETWEEN VISIT THE WOODLANDS, THE WOODLANDS CONVENTION VISITOR BUREAU, AND THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP. AND THEN AGAIN, WE NEED TO TAKE THIS ALSO TO THE TOWNSHIP BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

OKAY. DO I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE 2025 SERVICE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE WOODLANDS CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU AND THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP TO INCLUDE PRESENTED ARTWORK FOR THE TOWNSHIP ELEVATORS.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RESPOND BY SAYING I. I'M SORRY, MADAM CHAIRMAN.

YOU DO NEED A MOTION. OH. YOU DID SECOND. OKAY.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. SORRY. THANK YOU. YOU HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

THANK YOU. OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR, RESPOND BY SAYING AYE.

AYE AYE. MOTION CARRIES. OKAY. BUDGET. TIME. RECEIVE, CONSIDER AND ACT UPON THE PROPOSED

[7. Receive, consider and act upon the proposed 2026 Budget and process for Visit The Woodlands]

2026 BUDGET AND PROCESS FOR VISIT THE WOODLANDS AND AGAIN, NICK WILDER.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIRMAN NELSON. YES.

SO THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF THE TOPIC THAT WE STARTED AT THE APRIL BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING.

STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY OVER THE LAST MONTH TO REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT OUR BUDGET FOR 2026.

[00:10:06]

IT REALLY SCRUBBING THROUGH IT, GOING THROUGH EVERY SINGLE LINE ITEM AND HAVING DISCUSSION ABOUT EVERY LINE ITEM AND WHAT IT IS.

I MEAN, DO WE NEED THAT? DO WE NOT NEED THAT? CAN WE MOVE SOME THINGS? AND SO WHAT WE'RE PRESENTING TODAY IS A BUDGET THAT IS SLIGHTLY LESS THAN LAST YEAR.

I WILL HAVE WITH THAT AS A JUST A LITTLE CAVEAT OR LITTLE ASTERISK, IF YOU WILL.

WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE SALARY AND BENEFITS WILL BE.

THAT'S A DETERMINATION THAT IS MADE BY THE TOWNSHIP BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN AUGUST OF WHAT THAT WOULD BE.

SO WE DON'T HAVE A NUMBER TO PLUG IN THERE FOR SALARY AND BENEFITS.

WITHIN YOUR PACKET. I DETAILED OUT HERE BY LINE ITEM, I DO HAVE A PRESENTATION THAT I WOULD LIKE TO WALK YOU THROUGH THIS.

THE OVERALL BUDGET IS A LITTLE LESS THAN $4 MILLION, AND THAT'S WHAT IT IS THIS YEAR AS WELL.

AND SO WE'LL WALK THROUGH THIS PROCESS. BUT I WANT TO SET THE STAGE FIRST.

AND AMBER, IF YOU COULD CALL UP THAT PRESENTATION THAT'D BE GREAT.

THANK YOU. OKAY. SO THIS IS OUR BUDGET OVERVIEW.

WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. HERE WE DO EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.

WE'D LIKE TO TRACE IT BACK TO SOME METRICS THAT WE MONITOR AND TRY TO ACHIEVE EVERY YEAR.

AND SO THE ONE AT THE TOP IS THE MOST IMPORTANT IN OUR BOOK.

AND THAT IS THE HOTEL TAX COLLECTION. WE ALSO LIKE TO SEE THE THE RETAIL SALES TAX.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE INVOLVED ON THE RETAIL SALES TAX SIDE.

WE KNOW WE OUR MARKETING AND SALES CONTRIBUTE TO THAT.

BUT REALLY OUR PRIMARY FORM OF MEASUREMENT IS THAT HOTEL TAX COLLECTION.

BUT THEN WE LOOK AT OTHER THINGS LIKE OUR GUIDES THAT ARE DISTRIBUTED, THE CIRCULATION OF PATHWAYS, OUR SITE TOURS, LEADS THAT ARE WORKED, THE GROUPS THAT WE SERVICE, OUR MEETINGS THAT WE BOOK IN WORKING WITH OUR HOTEL PROPERTIES, OUR WEBSITE INQUIRIES, OUR WEBSITE PAGE VIEWS, OUR ADVERTISING IMPRESSIONS, WHAT OUR ADVERTISING PROGRAM DOES, AND THEN OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AUDIENCE AND HOW WE TRY TO INCREASE THAT.

AND THIS IS THE TIMELINE FOR THE BUDGET PROCESS.

SO HERE WE ARE IN MAY. WHAT WE NEED TO DO AS A STAFF AFTER THIS MEETING TODAY AND BY FRIDAY IS TO INPUT THE OPERATING BUDGET AND ALSO CAPITAL BUDGET. IF THERE'S SOME CAPITAL ITEMS THAT WE NEED TO PUT INTO THE BUDGET BY FRIDAY.

AND SO WE NEED APPROVAL TODAY TO GO FORWARD TO PUT THAT BUDGET IN.

AND THEN WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS OVER THE NEXT IN JUNE AND JULY.

OTHER DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP ARE ALSO PUTTING THEIR BUDGETS IN.

PRESIDENT SHARPE AND HER TEAM WILL LOOK THROUGH THE TOWNSHIP BUDGET AS THOSE PROCESS GOES.

AND THEN IN AUGUST, THE TOWNSHIP BOARD OF DIRECTORS THEN WILL LOOK AT THE ENTIRE TOWNSHIP BUDGET, WHICH ALSO INCLUDES VISIT THE WOODLANDS. SO THAT'S JUST WHAT THE PROCESS IS.

AND THEN SOMETIME IN EARLY SEPTEMBER, THAT BUDGET WOULD BE APPROVED FOR NEXT YEAR.

OKAY. SO AGAIN AS I MENTIONED, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IN 2026 AT THIS POINT.

SO IT'S ABOUT 3.879 MILLION, WHICH IS SLIGHTLY LESS THAN WHAT THE 2025 BUDGET IS AT THE 3.978.

AGAIN, WITH THAT ASTERISK, WE'RE NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT THE SALE OF THE SALARIES AND BENEFITS FOR THE EMPLOYEES.

WHAT THAT WILL DO TO IT MORE THAN LIKELY WOULD TAKE IT OVER THE 4 MILLION MARK.

YES, IT WILL BE AN INCREASE OF BETWEEN 85 AND 90,000 ON SALARY AND BENEFITS.

OKAY. SO THAT WOULD TAKE YOU TO TO RIGHT, RIGHT ABOUT THAT.

AGAIN THIS IS YOUR BUDGET, YOU KNOW, FOR THIS BOARD SETS BUDGET AND PROCESS AND POLICY.

RIGHT. SO IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO ASK ON THAT PROCESS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

WE AS STAFF, WE WANT TO BE AS, AS, AS REALISTIC AS POSSIBLE TO ACHIEVE THE NUMBERS THAT WE JUST WENT OVER OF THE PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WELL, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT IT OF HOW THAT IS BROKEN OUT.

SO THIS IS MORE OF VISUALLY TO TAKE A LOOK AT.

YOU HAVE THE SPREADSHEET THAT YOU SAW THAT WE STARTED THE CONVERSATION WITH.

BUT THE WAY THAT WE BREAK THIS DOWN IS VERY FOR VARIOUS CATEGORIES HERE THE GENERAL EXPENDITURES, CONVENTION, SALES, MARKETING AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS.

WE'LL JUST WALK THROUGH THOSE BRIEFLY, EACH ONE OF THOSE LINE ITEMS ON THE GENERAL EXPENDITURE.

THIS IS WHERE THE SALARIES AND BENEFITS IS LOCATED IN THE CONTRACT SERVICES AND ALSO INCLUDES OUR LEGAL SERVICES OFFICE SPACE.

WE PAY FOR SOME OFFICE SPACE HERE AND THEN SOME OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE IN THIS GENERAL EXPENDITURES.

PARDON ME. STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS. THIS IS A BIG PORTION OF OUR BUDGET HERE, AND THIS INCLUDES THINGS LIKE IRONMAN, LPGA, ART FESTIVAL AND OTHER PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE HAVE.

I THINK VISIT VISITOR SERVICES AS WELL IS IN THIS PROCESS.

OUR TOURISM INITIATIVES, MARKET RESEARCH, THOSE ARE OUR MARKETING TOOLS OF OF OF WHAT WE HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE GOING.

[00:15:05]

SPECIAL EVENTS, BOOTH DEVELOPMENT FOR THE TRADE SHOWS THAT WE DO IN OUR MARKETING BUDGET.

WE'RE LOOKING AT VERY SIMILAR BUDGET TO THIS YEAR INTO NEXT YEAR, THE $650,000 IN ADVERTISING.

WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THIS IS WHILE THAT NUMBER IS NOT AN INCREASE, IT WILL TAKE A LOOK AT DOING NEW AND DIFFERENT IDEAS FOR NEXT YEAR.

AND WE'LL BRING THOSE BACK IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER OF WHAT WHAT THAT MIGHT BE AS FAR AS NEW OPPORTUNITIES.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY IN THERE TO DO NEW THINGS.

I DON'T WANT TO GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT KEEPING THE BUDGET THE SAME THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING NEW.

WE ARE GOING TO DO LOTS OF NEW THINGS IN 2026.

BUT WITH THIS BUDGET, THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, THOSE ARE OUR AD AGENCY COST.

AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THE OTHER COSTS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITHIN MARKETING.

AND THEN THE NEXT SLIDE HERE IS CONVENTION SALES.

THIS IS JOSIE AND HER TEAM GOING OUT TO ALL THE PLACES LOCALLY AND AROUND THE COUNTRY AS WELL OF WHAT WE'RE DOING TO SELL THE WOODLANDS.

INCENTIVE FUNDS ARE IN THIS ITEM THAT'S AT 40,000.

WE'RE KIND OF PRESSING UP AGAINST THAT BUDGET RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE SEEING THAT GROW A LITTLE BIT. BUT WE FEEL LIKE THOUGH GOING FORWARD, THIS IS THE RIGHT NUMBER TO HAVE IN THERE OUR SITE TOURS, BID FULFILLMENT, OTHER ITEMS SUCH AS THAT. I WILL SAY THAT THIS BUDGET DOES INCLUDE THE ADDITIONAL COSTS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE MEMORIAL.

HERMANN IRONMAN TEXAS. THAT AGREEMENT WAS EXTENDED TO 2030.

AND IT DOES INCLUDE MORE COST FROM US TOWNSHIP.

IS IS ON THE AGREEMENT, BUT VISIT THE WOODLANDS IS PAYING THE COST FOR THE FACILITIES FOR THE USE OF THE TOWN, GREEN PARK, THE WATERWAY AND THOSE KIND OF ITEMS. SO THERE IS AN INCREASE OF ABOUT $45,000 TO OUR BUDGET, BUT WE ABSORB THAT WITHIN SOME OTHER COST CUTS THAT WE FOUND IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR.

AND THEN I THINK THAT WILL DO IT. AMBER. NEXT SLIDE IS THE END.

THE END. OKAY. THAT'S THE END. SO THAT'S WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING.

THERE ARE SOME THINGS IN THERE THAT WE HAD TAKEN A CONSIDERATION ON.

WE DID LOOK AT YOU KNOW, SOME MORE MARKETING.

WE DID LOOK AT SOME MORE SALES APPROACH, BUT WE, WE FELT LIKE JUST AS YOUR STAFF THAT WE WANTED TO KEEP THIS FAIRLY CONSERVATIVE.

YOU KNOW, I THINK WHEN I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE UNIT OF MEASUREMENT, WHICH IS OUR BIGGEST UNIT OF MEASUREMENT, AND THAT'S THE COLLECTION OF THE HOTEL TAX. AND I KNOW I KEEP TALKING ABOUT SUNDAY NIGHTS, BUT OUTSIDE OF THAT, IN A COUPLE OF OTHER AREAS, WE REALLY ARE PUSHING THAT LIMIT.

I THINK I JUST DON'T WITH THE CURRENT HOTEL PROPERTIES THAT WE HAVE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GET THAT BUDGET OR THAT COLLECTION TO 12 MILLION TO 15 MILLION.

I MEAN, THAT'S THE TEN. FIVE IS A VERY HEALTHY NUMBER WITH THE EXISTING PROPERTIES THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

AND SO THAT'S WHY IF I FELT LIKE WE COULD ADD SOME MORE THERE ARE SOME KEY AREAS, THERE ARE SOME KEY TIMES THAT I THINK THAT WE COULD ADD TO.

SO I'M NOT SAYING IT'S MORE SALES AND MARKETING DOLLARS, BUT AT THIS POINT, THIS IS WHAT THAT WE'RE PROPOSING FOR 2026.

THANK YOU. ONE THING THAT I KNOW YOUR TEAM AND I HAVE DISCUSSED IS A VEHICLE THAT RIGHT NOW I KNOW THAT YOU'RE USING YOUR OWN CARS.

I THINK IT'S $0.70 PER MILE THAT'S BEING SPENT.

WE'RE SENDING CARS TO PICK UP LEADERS THAT ARE COMING IN FOR CONVENTIONS.

AND IT'S ALSO A TRAVELING BILLBOARD IF WE HAVE A WRAPPED CAR.

SO I KNOW IN OUR CONVERSATIONS WE WERE LOOKING AT SHOULD WE BUDGET FOR A VEHICLE SOMEWHERE AROUND THE $65,000 RANGE? AND I DON'T KNOW, JOSE, IF YOU WERE ABLE TO PULL SOME NUMBERS TOGETHER.

BUT I DID ASK, WHAT ARE WE ACTUALLY CURRENTLY SPENDING ON $0.70 A MILE? AND AS YOU ALL SAID, YOU'RE USING YOUR OWN CARS.

YOU HAVE TO KEEP THEM CLEAN, EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY HAVE KIDS AND DOGS AND EVERYTHING.

SO MOVE OVER. YEAH. WHATEVER ANALYTICS YOU HAVE, I THINK WE MIGHT WANT TO LISTEN TO THAT.

I'LL HAVE EITHER JOSE OR. YEAH. COME ON. YEAH, WE CAN DO IT IN TANDEM.

I'LL JUST PASS THESE OUT. IT'S JUST SOME STATS ON WHAT SHOWS WE'RE GOING TO.

HOW MANY SITE VISITS WE. OKAY. THAT'S RIGHT. SO ROUGHLY, YOU KNOW, AS AS CHAIRMAN NELSON MENTIONED, WE DO PRIMARILY 21 PLUS TRADE SHOWS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THAT ARE TEXAS BASED.

YOU KNOW, TRAVELING ACROSS TEXAS, LOADING UP VEHICLES AND TAKING ITEMS 9500 MILES REPRESENTED IN THAT TRAVEL.

BUT ONE OF THE BIGGEST POINTS THAT WE FEEL THAT REALLY IS THE FIRST IMPRESSION AND REPRESENTATION OF THE WOODLANDS IS THAT SITE VISIT.

WE ALWAYS SAY THAT SITE VISITS AND FAM TOURS ARE OUR BIGGEST SELLING TOOL BECAUSE IF WE CAN GET THEM HERE,

[00:20:01]

WE CAN SELL JUST ABOUT ANYBODY. THE WOODLANDS SELLS ITSELF.

SO THE VEHICLE WOULD BE A GREAT FIRST IMPRESSION.

IT WOULD ALSO BE A CONSISTENT IMPRESSION. SOME CLIENTS ARE GETTING, YOU KNOW, PICKED UP IN VARIOUS VEHICLES.

SO THEY KIND OF GET A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE BASED ON THAT.

AND THEN WE'RE ALSO EXPENDING FUNDS TO DO THOSE AIRPORT TRANSFERS TO BUSH INTERCONTINENTAL, WHICH ROUGHLY RUN ABOUT 100 PLUS DOLLARS EACH EACH WAY TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A CONSISTENT EXPERIENCE FOR THEM.

WITH THAT, OUR GROUPS THAT ARE SERVICED, A LOT OF THAT COMES WITH SETTING UP BOOTHS, SETTING UP DIFFERENT, TRADE SHOW ACTIVATIONS THAT DO HAVE A LOT OF ITEMS THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING USED.

AND THEN WE ALSO DO DELIVERIES WITH OUR MAPS, VISITOR GUIDES, ALL OF THOSE THINGS, HOW WE'RE SERVICING THE VISITOR SERVICES KIOSK AT MARKET STREET. AND SO WE WERE JUST AT THIS TIME JUST WANTING TO BRING THE VISIBILITY TO THE BRAND AND BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT AS A CONSISTENT REPRESENTATION WITH YOUR SUPPORT. WHAT KIND OF VEHICLE ARE YOU LOOKING AT NOW? A VAN OR IT WAS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE ABLE TO HOLD AT LEAST 5 TO 6 PEOPLE.

I THINK THAT'S REALLY, YOU KNOW, THESE SMALL GROUPS THAT COME IN, IT'S USUALLY, YOU KNOW, 4 TO 5 PEOPLE PLUS STAFF REPRESENTATION THAT ARE IN IT.

SO IT WOULD NEED TO BE A LARGER VEHICLE THAT COULD HOLD.

SO BRAND IS PROBABLY STILL UP TO, YOU KNOW, NEGOTIATION OR DISCUSSION.

SOMETHING THAT IS COST EFFECTIVE, BUT THAT DOES GIVE A GREAT IMPRESSION.

SO WE WOULD, YOU KNOW, STILL RESEARCH THAT AND EITHER BRING THAT BACK TO THIS GROUP OR DISCUSS THAT INTERNALLY, TO WHERE WE ALL FELT COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, AND THEN TO ALSO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE OUR OUR BEAUTIFUL LOGO BRANDING ON IT WOULD BE WOULD BE A NICE TOUCH AS WELL.

WELL, I THINK YOU'VE NEEDED IT FOR A LONG TIME. WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO I THINK SO THANK YOU, DOCTOR FRANKS. ANYTHING ELSE? I THINK THIS IS GREAT, JOSIE.

I KNOW YOU PULL THIS TOGETHER YESTERDAY AND APPRECIATE YOU PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT AND YOU LOOK AT $0.70 PER MILE, I THINK IT'S IT'LL PAY FOR ITSELF IN NO TIME.

ACTUALLY, I ALSO THINK IT BEING BRANDED WITH OUR INFORMATION IS IS A REAL PLUS TOO.

AND WE WANT IT TO BE A NICE CAR BECAUSE IT'S THE FIRST IMPRESSION WHEN YOU'RE PICKING PEOPLE UP AT THE AIRPORT OR DRIVING THEM AROUND, THAT IT'S A SOMETHING THAT IS RELEVANT FOR THE WOODLANDS.

ARE YOU LOOKING AT PURCHASING OR LEASING? WE'RE NOT SURE.

I THINK WHATEVER COULD BE THE BEST DEAL THAT WE COULD FIND AND COME BACK TO THIS BOARD IN EITHER JUNE OR JULY.

PLUG IT IN TO THE BUDGET, BUT THEN COME BACK WITH A PLAN, A BETTER PLAN.

MAKES SENSE. SO BEFORE WE APPROVE THIS, THEN DO WE WANT TO ADD 65,000 TO IT AND BE PART OF THE APPROVAL PROCESS? I WOULD DEFER TO WHAT KIND OF WHAT A DIRECTOR WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION ON ON THAT.

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADD $65,000 TO THE BUDGET TO LOOK AT A VEHICLE.

SECOND. SECOND ASAP, ACTUALLY. OKAY. YEAH. OKAY.

SO WE'LL ADD THAT AMOUNT TO IT. SO DO I HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED 2026 BUDGET AS PRESENTED FOR VISIT THE WOODLAND STAFF TO INPUT INTO THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP BUDGET PROCESS.

I HAVE A QUESTION, IF I MAY PLEASE. OKAY. DO I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED. SECOND. DISCUSSION. THANK YOU. I APOLOGIZE I DIDN'T GET TO SEE THIS UNTIL IT CAME OUT IN THE PACKAGE.

SO IT DIDN'T. YOU DIDN'T GO OVER IT TONIGHT. BUT WITHIN THE PRINTED MATERIALS, THERE'S A STATED GOAL OF VISIT THE WOODLANDS FOR 2025 OF SALES TAX OF $78 MILLION. AND SO COULD YOU PLEASE JUST PUT THAT IN CONTEXT OR PERSPECTIVE OF OF HOW THAT, OF THAT AS A AS A VISIT THE WOODLANDS GOAL PLEASE.

OKAY. IS THAT IN THE ON PAGE 42. PAGE 42. LET'S GO BACK TO THAT.

THIS IS AN INTERNAL DOCUMENT THAT WE USE THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

SO IT'S NOT WE HAVEN'T THIS IS NOT A BOARD APPROVED DOCUMENT.

SO THIS IS A STAFF. WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE I GUESS THAT'S LIKE WOULD BE AN IDEAL WORLD THAT COULD THAT COULD BE THAT.

THAT'S WHY I DID NOT PUT THAT NUMBER ON THE PRESENTATION.

JUST BECAUSE, AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED, WE WE FEEL LIKE OUR SALES AND MARKETING CONTRIBUTE TO A PORTION OF THAT.

BUT OBVIOUSLY THAT'S A BIG NUMBER THAT HAS A LOT OF THINGS THAT DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH TOURISM PER SE.

AND SO DOES THAT HELP EXPLAIN THAT? YES. I WAS JUST SURPRISED TO SEE A $78 MILLION SALES TAX NUMBER UNDER A VISIT THE WOODLANDS GOAL.

SO I JUST DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE HAD BEEN OTHER CONVERSATIONS WITH FINANCE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT THAT I WASN'T AWARE OF.

[00:25:05]

YEAH, NO, I WAS JUST TRYING TO GET SOME CONTEXT.

YEAH. THERE HASN'T BEEN DIRECTOR SHARP. I MEAN, IT'S A GOOD A GOOD QUESTION.

THIS IS JUST OUR OWN INTERNAL TEAM THAT WE WOULD LOVE TO HELP TRY TO GET THAT SALES TAX AS HIGH AS IT CAN GO, REALIZING THAT IT HAS A LOT OF OTHER IMPLICATIONS ON IT.

BUT AS AS MENTIONED IN THAT THAT'S THIS IS JUST AN INTERNAL WORKING DOCUMENT THAT WE HAVE WITH WITHIN OUR GROUP AND NOT ASKING FOR ANY APPROVAL ON THAT PARTICULAR AMOUNT. OKAY. I JUST SAW IT IN THE PRINTED MATERIALS, AND YOU AND I CAN DISCUSS MORE OFFLINE.

THANK YOU. YEAH. THANK YOU. THAT WAS GREAT. GREAT OBSERVATION ON THAT.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? I HAD A COUPLE QUESTIONS.

YEAH. ON THE MARKETING COST GOING DOWN 60,000 TO 1.27.

IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE REDUCING VIDEO, PUBLIC RELATIONS AND PHOTOGRAPHY.

IS THAT JUST DUE TO WHAT WE'RE DOING THIS YEAR? WE'RE NOT GOING TO NEED TO DO IT NEXT YEAR. WELL AND IF I MISS SOMETHING ON THIS, ACTUALLY PLEASE LET ME KNOW. BUT IN THE DISCUSSIONS ON THIS, WE HAVE SOME TEAM MEMBERS THAT ARE DOING GREAT WORK WITHIN OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND WITH OUR VIDEO AND OUR PHOTOGRAPHY WORK. SO WE'RE DOING THAT INTERNALLY.

WE'RE NOT NEEDING TO DO THAT EXTERNALLY TO SPEND EXTERNAL MONEYS ON IT.

WE'RE DOING IT INTERNALLY. SO WE HAVE A COST SAVINGS THERE.

AND THAT WAS REALLY PART OF OUR PROCESS OF REALLY SCRUBBING THE BUDGET AND TAKING A LOOK AT EVERY LINE ITEM OF WHAT WE HAVE THERE.

BUT IT DOESN'T THERE WILL NOT BE LESS PHOTOGRAPHY.

IN FACT, I CAN TELL YOU THAT THERE WILL BE MORE PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO NEXT YEAR.

AND ONE OTHER QUESTION I SEE THE MARKET RESEARCH IS GOING DOWN 35,000 DUE TO MOVING TO SALES, BUT I DON'T SEE THAT INCREASE IN THE SALES BUDGET.

OKAY. JOSE, YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT? COME ON UP.

JUST. YEAH. SORRY. GETTING TOO CASUAL OVER HERE.

IT'S REFLECTED IN WITHIN COMPUTER SUPPORT. SO YOU'LL SEE THAT GOING FROM A $26,000, UP TO $58,000 TO ACCOUNT FOR THAT MOVE FROM EVENT FROM INTO THAT BUDGET LINE ITEM.

OKAY. IT DOES SEEM EVENT THOUGH IS A IS A PLATFORM THAT GENERATES LEADS.

SO IT DOES SEEM MORE LIKE A MARKETING INITIATIVE.

ABSOLUTELY. YES, FOR SURE, BECAUSE OUR SALES TEAM IS THE ONLY ONE THAT UTILIZES IT.

IT'S JUST ALWAYS SAT WITHIN MARKET RESEARCH. SO WE'RE JUST MAKING THAT RIGHT.

OKAY. THANK YOU. SO FOR CLARITY IT'S NOT A CUT.

IT'S JUST CHANGING. OKAY. GOT IT, GOT IT, GOT IT.

OKAY. CORRECT. WE'RE NOT BACKING OFF OF ANY OF OUR.

OKAY. YEAH. SALES MISSIONS AND SALES APPROACHES AND MARKETING DOLLARS PER SE.

YEAH. BUT WE ALSO DIDN'T WANT TO COME TO WITH A BIG INFLATED BUDGET.

WE WANT TO DO REALLY WHAT'S RIGHT TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS THAT WE HAVE.

OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? WE WILL HAVE TIME TO GO THROUGH A DETAILED MARKETING PLAN, CORRECT? YES WE WILL. THERE WILL BE SOME PROCESS BECAUSE RIGHT NOW I JUST, I, I DON'T REALLY I WANT TO I WANT THE FULL BOARD TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE DOING TO MARKET OUR HOTELS AND ATTRACT VISITORS. AND JUST DOING A LINE ITEM BUDGET, A BUDGET KIND OF APPROVAL.

I KNOW THERE'S GOING TO COME BACK TO US, BUT I WANT TO SPEND SIGNIFICANT TIME TALKING ABOUT HOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING NEW MARKETING WISE AND LOOKING AT AND WHAT WE'RE CUTTING IF WE'RE CUTTING SOMETHING. RIGHT. YEAH, WE'LL DO THAT IN THE SEPTEMBER OCTOBER TIME FRAME WHERE WE COME BACK AND SAY, OKAY, HERE'S WHAT WE'VE WORKING WITH OUR AGENCY.

HERE ARE THE CREATIVE IDEAS AND CREATIVE APPROACHES FOR THE 2026 TIME FRAME.

YES, SIR. LOTS OF DISCUSSION THAT WILL FOLLOW.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WE'RE NOT GROWING ANY STAFF.

CORRECT? NO, SIR. OKAY. I'M A BIG BELIEVER IN OUTSOURCING.

OKAY. WHEN YOU OUTSOURCE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY FICA FEES AND HEALTH INSURANCE FEES AND ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE HAVE ON BENEFITS.

SO LOOKING FORWARD, INSTEAD OF GROWING MORE AND MORE STAFF, LET'S LOOK AT HOW WE CAN OUTSOURCE SOME OF THESE THINGS AS YOU PREPARE THIS BUDGET GOING FORWARD. IF WE'RE NOT ADDING ANYBODY THAT'S GOOD THIS YEAR, BECAUSE I THINK WE ADDED A LOT LAST YEAR. BUT REALLY LOOKING AT AN OUTSOURCED MODEL, I THINK IS IS A IS A GOOD IS A GOOD THING. OKAY.

YEAH. ASHLEY. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR BAILEY. TO YOUR POINT, I DID WANT TO MENTION THAT, YOU KNOW, NICK BROUGHT UP THE FACT THAT WE DO HAVE AN IN-HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHER AND VIDEOGRAPHER.

THAT IS WHERE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SAVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF COST SAVINGS WITHIN THE MARKETING BUDGET.

HOWEVER, WE ARE ALSO DOING SOME OF THOSE GRAPHIC DESIGN PROJECTS OURSELVES.

IF WE DO OUTSOURCE THOSE, SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, TO OUR AGENCY, WE DO SOME OUTSOURCING NOW CURRENTLY WITH ETC., WHICH IS OUR AGENCY OF RECORD. IF WE DO OUTSOURCE THOSE THINGS, THE SAVINGS THAT YOU SEE WITHIN THE MARKETING DEPARTMENT WOULD HAVE TO BE ADDED BACK IN BECAUSE THERE IS ALWAYS A MARKUP TO HAVE SOMEONE ELSE HANDLE IT.

SO IF WE HANDLE IT OURSELVES, FOR EXAMPLE PRINTING, THERE'S USUALLY A STANDARD 15% MARKUP ON PRINT PROJECTS TO HAVE AN AGENCY HANDLE IT VERSUS

[00:30:06]

US DOING IT OURSELVES. SO JUST SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND.

WE ARE SEEING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF INCREASE OF PRINT COLLATERAL ITEMS BECAUSE WE HAVE ADDITIONAL STAFF MEMBERS, BECAUSE WE HAVE SOMEONE IN THE TOURISM DEPARTMENT NOW. SO MARKETING IS CREATING THOSE THINGS AND WE'RE NEEDING TO PRINT THEM. SO JUST LIKE I SAID, SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND. ONE OF THE OTHER BENEFITS, TOO, IS THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING VERY QUICKLY.

THERE'S SOMETHING THAT YOU SEE OUTSIDE. YOU'RE ABLE TO SEND A TEAM OUT PRETTY QUICKLY.

AND SOMETIMES WHENEVER YOU OUTSOURCE THOSE THINGS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LEAD UP TIME.

TWO WEEKS OR SO. WE'VE WE'VE BROUGHT IN MORE VIDEOGRAPHY AND PHOTOGRAPHY SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT REASON TOO.

OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION THAT WAS FIRST AND SECOND, WE HAVE DISCUSSION.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RESPOND BY SAYING I. I. ANYONE OPPOSED? OKAY. MOTION CARRIES. NICE JOB WITH THAT BUDGET.

WE WILL INPUT THAT IN AND THEN TO BE CONTINUED.

IT'S A WORK IN PROGRESS. YEAH. DO YOU WANT A NICE CAR? NICE WRAP. OKAY. WE'LL TAKE A LOOK. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. AGENDA ITEM EIGHT. RECEIVE, CONSIDER AND APPROVE STAFF INITIATIVES REPORTS.

[8. Receive, consider and approve Staff Initiative Reports]

AND WE'LL START WITH ELIZABETH EDDINS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

GOOD MORNING. WELL, THIS IS THE CONCLUSION OF ONE OF OUR BIGGEST MONTHS OF THE YEAR.

WE KIND OF RAMP UP AND TALK ABOUT IT A LOT, AND THEN GET TO ENJOY THE FRUITS OF OUR LABOR IN A, IN A REPORT LIKE THIS. SO WE'RE GOING TO KIND OF GO THROUGH SOME OF THOSE MAJOR EVENTS AND SHOW YOU STAFF WORK TOWARD THAT.

AND THEN OF COURSE, KNOWING THAT ALL OF THE REGULAR OFFICE WORK WAS HAPPENING BEHIND THE SCENES AS WELL.

AGAIN, YOU'RE GOING TO START TO SEE SOME OF OUR BEAUTIFUL NEW PHOTOGRAPHY THAT WAS TAKEN BY OUR STAFF.

BUT JUST WATERWAY ARTS FESTIVAL, THESE ARE JUST KIND OF THE EVENTS BY THE NUMBERS.

THE ATTENDANCE THIS YEAR WAS REPORTED AT 20,000.

OVER 200 ARTISTS WERE IN ATTENDANCE THIS YEAR, 500 VOLUNTEERS.

AND THEN DIFFERENT ARTISTIC PERFORMANCES WERE GOING ON THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND.

SO THAT WAS A GREAT THE WEATHER WAS BEAUTIFUL.

THEY HAD A FANTASTIC TURNOUT AND WE WERE REALLY PROUD TO BE ABLE TO SHOWCASE THE WOODLANDS THAT WEEKEND.

AND THEN AS WE MOVE INTO THE NEXT WEEKEND, THE MEMORIAL HERMANN IRONMAN TEXAS WAS AN ABSOLUTE SUCCESS.

IT LOOKED FANTASTIC. THEY HAD 2500 ATHLETES, OVER 20,000 SPECTATORS, 3000 VOLUNTEERS AND OVER $15 MILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT.

OF COURSE. ALWAYS RATED NUMBER ONE. BEST RUN COURSE, NUMBER THREE, BEST EVENT OVERALL.

JUST WITH THE EXPERIENCE THAT THE ATHLETES TELL US THAT THEY HAVE AND HOW THEY RANK THEMSELVES.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE WERE VERY PROUD IN OUR LAST MEETING TO EXTEND THAT CONTRACT, TO BE ABLE TO WELCOME OUR IRONMAN ATHLETES UNTIL 2030.

SO WE ARE GOING TO BE SEEING THAT A LOT AS WELL.

WE MADE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT AT THEIR AWARDS OR I'M SORRY, THEIR KICKOFF CELEBRATION.

AND THEN OUR LPGA RECAP. AGAIN, ANOTHER FANTASTIC SIGNATURE EVENT IN APRIL.

132 GOLFERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, 45,000 SPECTATORS, OVER 5000 VOLUNTEERS FROM CHEVRON AND OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

THE GOLF ASSOCIATION. IT'S THEIR FIRST MAJOR OF THE YEAR, SO IT HAD A LOT OF ATTENDANCE AND A LOT OF EYEBALLS ON THIS EVENT.

CARLTON WOODS AND THE COMMUNITY JUST LOOKED ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.

WE WERE SO PROUD WITH THE TV BROADCAST BECAUSE SO MUCH OF THAT THOSE VIDEOS, THE PHOTOS, WHAT THEY WERE USING WAS PROVIDED BY OUR MARKETING TEAM, OUR B-ROLL, THE PHOTOGRAPHY THAT THEY USE WAS, YOU KNOW, RIGHT, RIGHT FROM THIS OFFICE.

SO WE WERE SO PROUD OF THAT AND THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE BUILT WITH THESE PARTNERS.

AND THEN, OF COURSE IT WAS SEEN IN OVER 140 COUNTRIES.

AND THEN CHEVRON DID MAKE A SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY DONATION FOR $5 GIVEN TO EVERY TICKET SOLD TO AREA TEACHERS.

SO THEY'RE ALSO MAKING A COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY.

SO THAT WAS A GREAT HIGHLIGHT FOR THIS EVENT.

THEY MADE SOME SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS TO THE COURSE TO THE SETUP.

SO I THINK IT REALLY PROVIDED A WONDERFUL SPECTATOR EXPERIENCE.

AND WE'RE AGAIN, SO PROUD TO SEE THAT AS WE MOVE INTO SOME OF THE WAYS THAT WE ACTIVATE AND WORK WITHIN THESE EVENTS, TO JUST ADD TO THOSE EVENTS TO MAKE IT A BETTER IRONMAN EXPERIENCE.

WE CREATED A A ALL OF OUR DIFFERENT THE IRONMAN VILLAGE THAT THEY HAVE EVERY YEAR.

WE HAD A BOOTH THERE RUN BY AMBER GEORGE AND KARLA WAS THERE, SO WE HAD A DIVIDE AND CONQUER THAT WEEKEND.

WE HAD STAFF EVERYWHERE, SO STAFF WAS EVERYWHERE.

SO WE HAD OUR TEAM THAT WAS IN IRONMAN, OUR TEAM THAT WAS AT LPGA.

AND THEN WE WERE ALL KIND OF CIRCLING AROUND.

SO AMBER WAS SO GREAT TO HOLD THIS DOWN. AND THAT'S WHERE WE DID OUR DISTRIBUTION OF OUR COWBELLS.

WE HAD OUR NEW MURAL OUT THERE. THAT WAS A GREAT WAY FOR THEM TO SAY, HEY, I'M HERE, I'M IN THE WOODLANDS.

[00:35:01]

I HAVEN'T RUN YET. THIS WAS ON WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY.

RIGHT. WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY OR THURSDAY? FRIDAY. WEDNESDAY.

THAT'S RIGHT. WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. I'M SORRY. AND SO WE HAD OUR BRANDED TENT OUT THERE, BUT WHAT WE WERE REALLY LOVING IS THAT WE PASSED OUT THOSE COWBELLS.

ALMOST 3000 COWBELLS WERE PASSED OUT. AND THEY ALWAYS SAY THAT IS THE SIGN OF IRONMAN TEXAS.

THE SOUND OF COWBELLS. WE PASSED OUT OUR BIG RACE SIGNS THAT GAVE ALL THE SPECTATORS ANOTHER WAY TO CHEER ON THEIR ATHLETES.

AND THEN WE ALSO DID SOME HOTEL PACKAGING WHERE WE CREATED WELCOME INCENTIVE GIFTS THAT ARE THERE WITH THE COWBELL, THE SUNGLASSES AND THE TROLLEY STRESS STRESS TROLLEY.

AND IT DID AFTER THE RACE, WE SAW THEM COME BACK AND TAKE THAT PICTURE AGAIN.

SO THEY WERE REALLY PROUD TO HAVE THE REPRESENTATION AND WE WERE HAPPY TO DO IT.

AND THEN AS WE MOVED INTO THE RIGHT FROM THERE, WE MOVED INTO NATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM WEEK THE FIRST WEEK OF MAY.

AND THIS WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SHOWCASE OUR LOCAL PARTNERS.

WE HAD A FANTASTIC EVENT AT MARKET STREET. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DIRECTOR GONZALEZ.

THIS WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO AWARD AND ACKNOWLEDGE AND RECOGNIZE OUR TOURISM PARTNERS THAT DO SUCH AMAZING WORK FOR US.

ARE JUST A COUPLE TO REALLY POINT OUT. VAN SILLMAN WITH THE WOODLANDS WATERWAY MARRIOTT, WON THE HOTEL SALES LEADER OF THE YEAR, WHICH VAN, IF ANYONE KNOWS, IS IS RIGHT ALONGSIDE OUR STAFF ON SO MANY OF OUR SITE VISITS AND REALLY MAKING THAT GREAT FIRST IMPRESSION.

WE HAD OUR GENERAL MANAGER, JOSE PEREZ AND THEN ALSO RESTAURANT BARTENDER, WAITSTAFF.

DESTINATION SUPPORT WAS STERLING SCOTT WITH THE WOODLANDS RESORT.

HE WE KIND OF DESIGNATED THIS ONE AS GOING THE EXTRA MILE.

HE WAS OUR VALET OF THE YEAR. HE BROUGHT HIS ENTIRE FAMILY.

IT WAS JUST SO AMAZING TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE AND TO REALLY BE ABLE TO HIGHLIGHT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY DOING THE WORK THAT MAKE THE WOODLANDS SO GREAT.

AND THEN OUR TOURISM TRAILBLAZER KIND OF PERSON OF THE YEAR WAS JEN MOORE, WHO DOES A LOT OF WORK WITH BOSS CAT RESTAURANT, BUT THEN ALSO DOES A LOT OF FREELANCE MEETING, PLANNING, BRING SOME OF OUR BIGGEST GROUPS OF THE YEAR TO THE WOODLANDS, CONTINUES TO WORK WITH THOSE GROUPS AND LETS US KNOW, HEY, WE'VE GOT A BIG ONE COMING.

WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO, YOU KNOW, BOOK THIS PIECE OF BUSINESS? SO THE PARTNERSHIPS ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO US.

AND THIS WAS JUST ONE WAY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO HIGHLIGHT THEM. AND THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR COMING OUT AND ATTENDING AND REALLY SHARING YOUR SUPPORT TO THAT.

AND THEN ANOTHER ANNOUNCEMENT JUST FROM THE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS BUDGET.

THAT'S THE TOURISM BUDGET. THAT'S MY DEPARTMENT WITH AMBER GEORGE.

PARTIALLY. I'M SORRY. AND WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO WELCOME A NEW AMENITY.

SOMETHING NEW IS ROLLING INTO THE WOODLANDS STARTING JUNE 13TH.

THE VAUGHN LANE PRIVATE JET ON WHEELS IS WHAT THEY CALL IT.

THIS WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FROM A COMPANY THAT DOES PROVIDE LUXURY MOTORCOACH SERVICE INTO THE LOVE FIELD AREA, DOUBLETREE LOVE FIELD. THE ROUTE IS GOING TO ORIGINATE FROM THE WOODLANDS WATERWAY MARRIOTT AND GO TO DALLAS LOVE FIELD, DOUBLETREE. AND WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT THIS IS IT'S FOUR INBOUNDS AND FOUR OUTBOUND DAILY MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

AND THEN IT KIND OF TAPERS A LITTLE BIT ON THE WEEKENDS.

BUT WHAT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR VISITORS. WE JUST WANT TO MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO GET TO AND FROM THE WOODLANDS, AND WE REALLY HOPE THAT THEY WILL SEE THIS AS A GREAT PARTNERSHIP.

OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS SO ACTIVATED. THEY DO SO MANY DIFFERENT EVENTS ACROSS THE STATE, SO THIS WILL BE A GREAT ORIGIN SPOT. TO SAY THE WOODLANDS IS THE DESTINATION YOU CAN DROP OFF RIGHT HERE AT THE MARRIOTT AND YOU ARE JUST A STEP OUTSIDE PERFECTION.

YOU'RE RIGHT HERE ON THE WATERWAY. YOU DON'T NEED TO GO ANY FURTHER. SO HOW GREAT FOR THE CONCERT GOER EXPERIENCE TO THE CYNTHIA WOODS MITCHELL PAVILION TO GO ON A SHOPPING TRIP TO GO TO A BUSINESS CONFERENCE. SO THEY WILL BE PROVIDING THE ROOTS HAVE ALREADY THE SALES ARE ALREADY OPEN AND THE FIRST ROUTE WILL TAKE PLACE ON JUNE 13TH, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO HAVE A LAUNCH EVENT THAT YOU WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT, AS WELL AS THEM REALLY KIND OF GETTING ACCLIMATED INTO THE COMMUNITY.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ELIZABETH, HOW MANY FIT ON ONE OF THESE BUSSES? 22 SEATS. IT IS A SINGLE SEATS ON ONE SIDE AND THEN DOUBLE SEATS ON THE OTHER SIDE.

AND THEN IT HAS A FULL TABLE, A FOUR SEAT TABLE IN THE BACK.

FULL SIZE RESTROOM SNACK AND REFRESHMENT SERVICE WITH AN ATTENDANT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE RIDE.

IT IS A HOT TOWEL SERVICE WHERE THEY COME AROUND AND REALLY GIVE YOU THAT, YOU KNOW, FIRST CLASS EXPERIENCE ON AN AIRPLANE.

BUT HERE AND IT'S ABOUT A THREE HOUR ROUTE, SO IT IS A GREAT ALTERNATIVE TO SOMEONE WHO MAY NOT WANT TO FLY.

AND CAN AVOID THE AIRPORT WILL MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER FOR THEM.

AND DIRECTOR, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TO SPEAK TO ANYTHING MORE ABOUT THAT AND HOW THE MARRIOTT FEELS ABOUT IT.

[00:40:03]

YEAH, WE'RE JUST REALLY EXCITED. I THINK THEY'VE DONE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MARKETING. SO, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY IN DALLAS IS SAYING, WOW, THEY'RE REALLY SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY PUTTING THE WORD OUT ABOUT THE NEW SERVICE. WE'RE JUST REALLY EXCITED TO BE THE HUB FOR NORTH HOUSTON, AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET A LOT OF FMB REVENUE AS WELL AS PARKING REVENUE FROM THAT.

THAT'S AWESOME. THEY PROVIDE A FULL MEAL ON THE EACH OF THE TICKETS, SO MARRIOTT WILL PROVIDE THAT FOR THEM.

PACKAGE MEALS ON THE BUS. SO WHEN YOU GET THERE YOU'LL CHOOSE YOUR MEAL BEFORE YOU GET THERE.

IT'S A SALAD OR A WRAP OR SOMETHING EASY TO MANAGE LOW, LOW IMPACT ON, YOU KNOW, TRASH AND THAT SORT OF THING.

BUT IT ALSO HAS A LIQUOR LICENSE. IT'S A GREAT NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY.

SO IT'S LIKE, GET YOUR GET YOUR NETWORK STARTING EARLIER.

AND SO WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO REALLY POSITION THIS AS A FULL, COMPREHENSIVE WRAPAROUND SOLUTION, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT DALLAS FORT WORTH AREA IS OUR NUMBER ONE DRIVE MARKET FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS.

SO WE'RE JUST MAKING IT A LITTLE EASIER FOR THEM TO GET HERE.

I'M ASSUMING THERE'S WI-FI. THERE'S WI-FI. YES IT IS, I HAVE I HAVE WRITTEN IT MYSELF.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE ORIGINALLY BEEN SPEAKING ABOUT SINCE 2019.

AND THINGS HAVE JUST KIND OF PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN MORE INTERESTED IN THIS AREA.

THEY HAVE SEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM NORTH HOUSTON, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, GOING DOWN TO HOUSTON TO PICK UP THE BUS FROM THE HOUSTON LOCATION IN THE GALLERIA AREA, AND THEN THEY TURN AROUND AND COME RIGHT BACK UP 45 AND GO BACK THROUGH THE WOODLANDS AND GO HOME OR, YOU KNOW, GO TO DALLAS. SO THIS WAY WE CUT THAT ROUTE OUT AND THEY'RE GOING TO ORIGINATE THERE.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOUNGE AREA FOR THEM TO ENJOY COFFEE SERVICE OF COURSE AT THE MARRIOTT, GREAT SEATING AND THEN LUGGAGE STORAGE, WHICH WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO THEM TO BE ABLE TO SAY, HEY, IF I'M HERE FOR A DAY OR IF I'M, YOU KNOW, MY HOTEL ROOM IS NOT READY YET.

THEN THEY CAN STORE THEIR LUGGAGE AND WALK ACROSS THE STREET, GO TO MARKET STREET, THEY CAN GO AND HAVE LUNCH SOMEWHERE.

SO WE ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT KIND OF VISITATION THIS BRINGS AND HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER WITH THEM TO TO KIND OF ORIGINATE THAT.

WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT IT FOR OUR SITE TOURS AND FAM VISITS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF MEETING PLANNERS THAT COME FROM DALLAS THAT WE'RE SAYING, YOU KNOW, HEY, HERE'S ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S YOUR EXCUSE? WE WOULD LOVE TO ORIGINATE A FAM TOUR AND AND BRING YOU IN IN STYLE.

SO I WILL SAY OUR HEADQUARTERS ARE OUT OF DFW.

AND SO OUR TEAM USES THIS A LOT. THEY WERE SO EXCITED.

I RECEIVED MORE TEXT MESSAGES AND EMAILS ABOUT THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

THEY'RE REALLY PUSHING IT IN DALLAS AND GETTING THE WORD OUT. SO GOOD JOB ON THIS. THIS IS A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR YOU GUYS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

MY COMPANY I WORK FOR HAS A LARGE PRESENCE IN DALLAS AS WELL.

AND THEY'RE LIKE, WE CAN RENT THE WHOLE BUS BASICALLY EXCITED WHEN WE SEND PEOPLE UP.

SO IT'S A REALLY A GREAT FOR OUR A LOT OF OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY HERE.

THEY WERE SHOCKED TO LEARN ABOUT IT. AND I KNOW FIRSTHAND HOW HARD YOU WORKED ON THIS, ELIZABETH.

THANK YOU. YOU MIGHT HAVE YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN ON A STALKER LIST FOR THE PEOPLE.

YEAH. I JUST KIND OF KEPT TAPPING BACK IN. WHAT ABOUT NOW? WHAT ABOUT NOW? DID A GREAT JOB. AND THIS IS ANOTHER GREAT LUXURY.

AND IT GOES WITH OUR BRAND. SO YOUR NEXT JOB IS HOW CAN WE GET BUS WRAPS ON THE BACK OF THEM? HEY, ALL THE VAUGHAN LANES. THAT'D BE SWEET, RIGHT? DON'T THINK I HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT JUST EVERY MORNING DROPPING LITTLE RACK CARDS IN THE BACK OF THE BUS, SO I'LL BE THERE TO TO GREET THEM MYSELF.

WELL, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. AND I'M GOING TO HAND IT OVER TO ASHLEY.

IT'S QUITE A GAME CHANGER. THIS IS TO THINK THAT YOU CAN GO RIGHT TO THE MARRIOTT AND GO RIGHT TO DALLAS IS AMAZING.

DID YOU SAY IT'S FOUR ROUTES A DAY ON THE ON THE WOW.

THAT DATES AND THEN I'M ACTUALLY I'LL PASS THESE OUT MONDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SIX 1510 15:02 P.M.

AND 615 DEPARTING. AND THEN OF COURSE, RETURNING ON THAT SAME ROUTE TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, SUNDAY, TWO ROUTES, SATURDAY TWO ROUTES. AND THEN, OF COURSE, IF THE DALLAS IS SUCCESSFUL, I COULD VERY EASILY SEE THEM OPENING UP THE AUSTIN ROUTE, WHICH I THINK FOR OUR AUDIENCE AND OUR COMMUNITY THAT DOES SO MUCH WORK IN AUSTIN.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE EVEN GREAT, AND THAT WOULD OPEN UP OUR ASSOCIATION MARKET TO BE ABLE TO BRING THEM.

SO I THINK JUST THE MORE, THE MORE UTILIZATION THEY SEE.

AND THEN BROOKLYN ALSO ADDED WITH US JUST KIND OF SOCIAL MEDIA WISE, THE VIDEO THAT YOU'RE SEEING HAS OVER 115,000 VIEWS ON THE VIDEO OF THEM ANNOUNCING IT. SO WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

AND AGAIN, THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE FELT. THE OTHER DESTINATIONS, IT'S KIND OF LIKE THAT'S A TRANSPORT OR YOU GET THERE AND YOU GO ON TO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

IN OUR OPINION, WHEN THEY GET TO THE WOODLANDS, THERE'S NOWHERE ELSE FOR THEM TO GO. YOU'RE YOU'RE IN, YOU KNOW, THIS IS YOUR STOP.

ELIZABETH. IT MIGHT BE GOOD TO TALK ABOUT THE LOCATIONS IN DALLAS WHERE THEY DROP.

SURE. IT'LL BE IN DALLAS LOVE FIELD. IT'S THE DOUBLETREE HOTEL IN LOVE FIELD AREA.

SO THEN AGAIN, THEY WOULD HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, ORIGINATE AN UBER OR A RIDE FROM THERE TO WHEREVER THEY'RE GOING FROM THAT AREA.

[00:45:05]

BUT IT DOES GIVE A GREAT ANOTHER GREAT IMPRESSION WHERE IT'S, YOU KNOW, GOT A LOBBY.

YOU CAN DO WORK THERE AS WELL. SO. AND WHAT, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER GREAT THING ABOUT IT IS THAT IT KIND OF AVOIDS THAT TSA TIME THAT YOU NEED TO DO IN THE AIRPORT, AS LONG AS YOU'RE THERE 15, 20 MINUTES BEFORE THE ROUTE, YOU YOU JUST WALK RIGHT ON.

AND IT'S A REALLY EASY EXPERIENCE. WE HOPE. WOW.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. GREAT JOB. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

OKAY I'M GOING TO JUMP RIGHT IN. SO WE HAVE SPENT A LOT OF OUR TIME RECENTLY PROMOTING EVERYTHING TO DO IN APRIL.

WE HAVE WE DID A LOT OF ADVERTISING TO GEAR UP FOR ALL OF THE APRIL EVENTS.

YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN SOME STUFF ON SOCIAL. WE ALSO DID SOME PAID SEARCH AS WELL.

AND THEN DURING THE CHEVRON CHAMPIONSHIP AS WELL AS INSPERITY INVITATIONAL, WE ADVERTISED OUR 32ND COMMERCIAL.

IT WAS BROADCAST ON NBC. PART OF THAT WE ACTUALLY GET AS A SPONSORSHIP WITH CHEVRON CHAMPIONSHIP.

BUT WITH INSPERITY, THEY ALWAYS DO A REALLY GOOD JOB OF OFFERING THAT TO US, WHICH IS A REALLY NICE THING.

AND AND THEN OF COURSE, WE DID PROGRAM ADS IN EACH OF THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS ARTS FESTIVAL, INSPERITY CHEVRON CHAMPIONSHIP, ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS, AND THEN ALL OF THE STUFF ON THE WEBSITE AND PR, WE ALWAYS MAKE SURE THAT WE DO A REALLY GOOD JOB OF SHARING ALL OF THE PARTNER PRESS RELEASES AND PUSHING THAT OUT.

AMBER, I'M GOING TO HAVE YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE ON SOCIAL.

I KNOW THAT MANY OF YOU DO A GREAT JOB FOLLOWING AND INTERACTING WITH OUR SOCIALS, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.

HERE'S A FEW EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THE REELS AND POSTS AND STUFF THAT HAVE GONE OUT OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AND MONTHS.

IT IS A LOT JUST A HIGH LEVEL. NOW THIS IS ONLY FOR INSPERITY IRONMAN LPGA AND ARTS FESTIVAL.

THE ENGAGEMENT THAT YOU SEE HERE. SO WE HAD ALMOST 1.1 OR ALMOST 1.2 MILLION IMPRESSIONS, OVER 33,000 ENGAGEMENTS AND NEARLY TWO AND A 3% ENGAGEMENT RATE OVER 1000 CLICKS.

IT'S A LOT OF REALLY GREAT INFORMATION. THEY THEY WE FIND THAT PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS INTERACTING WITH OUR SOCIAL.

AND THIS IS A REALLY GREAT WAY. ALSO PARTNERED WITH SOME INFLUENCERS TO HELP THE ONE IN THE MIDDLE.

YOUR SEAT AWAITS. THAT IS A COUPLE OF GOLFERS THAT WE WORKED WITH THE CHEVRON CHAMPIONSHIP TO HELP KIND OF BOOST TICKET SALES.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, ONE OF OUR KEY THINGS THAT WE REALLY TRY TO DO SPECIFICALLY DURING APRIL IS TO HELP INFORM RESIDENTS ABOUT THE TRAFFIC IMPACT.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU WANT TO GO INTO TOWN AND SEE IRON MAN, THIS IS THIS IS WHERE YOU GO TO DO IT AND SEE IT.

BUT IF YOU DON'T, THESE ARE THE WAYS TO GET AROUND.

SO WE REALLY TRIED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GOT THAT MESSAGE OUT THERE. I'M GONNA HAVE YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT ASSET DEVELOPMENT.

WE MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES WE'VE GOT AN IN-HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHER NOW.

THAT'S ANDREA ON OUR TEAM. YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN HER TODAY TAKING PICTURES OF Y'ALL AS WELL. AND SO THESE ARE ACTUALLY PHOTOS THAT ANDREA HAS TAKEN.

THERE IS I WOULD SAY PROBABLY 99% OF THE PHOTOS IN THIS PRESENTATION AND ALL THE PRESENTATIONS THAT YOU'VE SEEN, ANDREA IS THE ONE THAT HAS TAKEN HOME. SHE'S DONE A FANTASTIC JOB, AND I'M GOING TO HAVE YOU SLIP TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

THE ONLY THING THAT SHE HASN'T TAKEN BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T HAVE AN FAA LICENSE IS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY.

WE WORKED WITH A LOCAL VENDOR THIS YEAR TO CAPTURE SOME AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY OF IRON MAN, AND IT'S INCREDIBLE.

IT REALLY DOES DO A GREAT JOB SHOWCASING THE SCALE AND THE MAGNITUDE OF THIS EVENT AND JUST KIND OF OFFERS A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.

I HAVE COMPLETE WRAP UP REPORTS THAT I'VE CREATED FOR EACH OF THESE DIFFERENT EVENTS.

OBVIOUSLY, WE DON'T HAVE AS MUCH TIME WITHIN A BOARD STAFF INITIATIVE TO GO OVER THAT, BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY SEND THOSE IN A FOLLOW UP EMAIL TO SHOW EVERYTHING THAT WE DID TO SUPPORT ARTS FESTIVAL IRON MAN. CHEVRON CHAMPIONSHIP.

INDIVIDUALLY, WE JUST REALLY TRIED TO KIND OF NARROW THAT DOWN FOR TODAY'S PRESENTATION, BUT IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, I'M HAPPY TO SEND THOSE ALONG AND THEN I'LL HAVE YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

OH YEAH. AND THIS IS JOSIE. ASHLEY, WHY DON'T YOU JUST SEND IT TO THE BOARD? I THINK THEY'D BE INTERESTING FOR ALL OF US. TAKE A LOOK AT IT. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. I JUST WANTED TO SAY, TOO, HOW THE NEW FINISH LINE, HOW AMAZING THAT IS.

IT IS BEAUTIFUL THE WAY THAT THAT THAT FINISH LINE IS.

AND I WAS I DON'T REMEMBER THE GUY'S NAME, BUT WE WERE TALKING AND HE WAS NOT.

AS FOR IT TO BEGIN WITH. BUT WHEN YOU SEE IT, I MEAN, IT'S LIKE IT WAS NOT LIKE THIS.

I THINK THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT TOO MANY PEOPLE IN THAT REALLY SMALL AREA, BUT IT MADE IT SO MUCH MORE EXCITING TO COME THROUGH.

YOU CAN SEE IT IN THE PICTURE ON MY RIGHT WHERE THAT'S WHERE LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT WERE ABLE TO BE ALONG THE SIDELINES AS THE FINISHERS ARE COMING UP. OH, YEAH. AND IN THE FOLLOW UP REPORT, YOU'LL SEE THERE.

SO WE TOOK DAY AND NIGHT TIME THE PHOTOS. I MEAN, JUST THE I MEAN, IRON MAN IS MY FAVORITE WEEKEND IN THE WOODLANDS, BUT JUST BEING ABLE TO SEE IT FROM THE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE, THE PHOTOS ANDREA TOOK, THE PHOTOS THAT THE THE DRONE VENDOR TOOK.

INCREDIBLE. YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE IT. YEAH. THE AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR THOSE BIKES ARE THAT.

[00:50:04]

THAT WAS FOR NICK. THAT WAS. THAT WAS A PHOTO FOR NICK.

YEAH, YEAH, THAT'LL BE A TRIVIA QUESTION FOR NEXT YEAR.

THAT'S A GOOD ONE. GOOD SECURITY THAT NIGHT, I KNOW.

ALL RIGHT. WE'RE DIVING INTO CONVENTION SALES.

HERE IS AN OVERVIEW OF THE GROUPS THAT WE HAVE BOOKED OUR LEADS AND THEN SOME OF OUR SITE TOURS.

YEAR TO DATE. SO OUR TEAM'S BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB GOING OUT AND TELLING THE MESSAGE OF THE WOODLANDS, WORKING THE RFP PROCESS. AND THEN WE HAVE HAD AN INFLUX IN IN DESTINATION SITE TOURS AS WELL.

WE ALWAYS SAY THEY COME IN GROUPS, WE'LL DO LIKE THREE IN A WEEK AND THEN WE'LL WE'LL HAVE ONE THE NEXT WEEK.

SO VERY GOOD JOB TO THE TEAM ON THIS. I'LL POP TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

FOR OH ACTUALLY CAN WE GO BACK ONE MORE. ONE THING I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT UNDER THE SITE TOURS.

A FEW. I ONLY SHOWED A FEW OF THE SITE TOURS THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE YEAR.

BUT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT NOVI SUMMIT BECAUSE JENNIFER NORMAN CAME TO THE WOODLANDS FOR TSA AND SHE BROUGHT ALONG ONE OF HER HOUSTON BASED PARTNERS THAT IS A MEETING PLANNER AS WELL.

SO THAT'S A DIRECT LINK TO THE IMPACT OF TSA.

THE 2025, THE EBSA PLANNING TOUR. VANESSA GARZA CAME AND PARTICIPATED IN OUR GLOBAL MEETINGS INDUSTRY DAY MEETING PLANNER ROUNDTABLE. SO SHE WAS HERE IN EARLY APRIL AND HAS ALREADY SENT US, I BELIEVE, THREE LEADS AT THIS POINT. AND CAME BACK IN FOR AN IN DESTINATION TOUR WITH ONE OF HER CLIENTS AND THEN THE TEXAS MASONRY COUNCIL. WE SHOWCASED JEN MORE WITHIN THE NATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM WEEK.

AWARDS. THIS GROUP SPECIFICALLY SHE WAS WORKING WITH IN ANOTHER DESTINATION AND SHE SAID, HEY, WE NEED TO BRING THIS TO THE WOODLANDS. SO THAT'S HOW WE GOT INVOLVED WITH THAT GROUP RIGHT THERE.

SO IT ALL COMES TOGETHER. THOSE ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES.

POP TO THE NEXT ONE. IN APRIL WE PARTICIPATE IN THE TSA OPEN EVENT.

IT'S OUR FIRST TIME PARTICIPATING. BUT THIS IS A REALLY BIG PIECE OF THE ASSOCIATION MARKET, ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH OUR TSA CLIENTS.

WE HOSTED FIVE PLANNERS. AND WE, I WOULD SAY HAD THE BEST TABLE OF ALL.

WE BROUGHT IN SOME GIFTS FOR OUR CLIENTS. AND ASHLEY TOOK THE LEAD ON THIS EVENT AND DID A FABULOUS JOB.

I'LL HOP TO THE NEXT. I LOVE THE SHIRTS. THANK YOU AGAIN, ASHLEY.

I WAS LIKE, ASHLEY, MAKE IT FUN. AND SHE MADE IT A LOT OF FUN.

SO TRADE SHOWS COMING UP. JUNE IS REALLY CRAZY FOR US.

WE HAVE, FOUR DIFFERENT SHOWS THAT WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN.

WE HAVE THE ENERGY INDUSTRY SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL OIL AND GAS AND ENERGY TRADE SHOW.

SO RYAN WILL BE REPRESENTING US AT THAT. IT IS HOUSTON BASED, BUT CLOSER TO GALVESTON AREA.

SO IN MY HEAD IT'S OUT OF TOWN. WE ALSO HAVE THIS EVENT CONNECT SHOW, WHERE WE HAVE PARTNERS WITH THE MARRIOTT WATERWAY AND THE WOODLANDS RESORT JOINING US.

IT'S OUR FIRST YEAR DOING A DOUBLE BOOTH, SO WE WILL COME BACK WITH SOME GREAT PHOTOS AND A FULL REPORT IN OUR NEXT MEETING.

MYSELF AND RYAN WILL BE REPRESENTING AT THAT.

WE THEN HAVE THE MPI WORLD EDUCATION CONGRESS HOSTED BY OUR CLIENT PROGRAM.

COMING UP THAT RYAN WILL BE REPRESENTING US AT AND THEN THE HELMS BRISCOE ANNUAL BUSINESS CONFERENCE THAT MYSELF AND ASHLEY WILL BE REPRESENTING AT.

SO JUNE'S KIND OF OUR TRADE SHOW BIG MONTH WILL BE BUSY, BUT NEXT WEEK WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE OUR Q2 SALES ADVISORY WORKSHOP WITH OUR HOTEL SALES PARTNERS. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY TALK THROUGH SOME OF OUR PROCESSES, THINGS WE HAVE COMING UP MAYBE SOME THINGS WE WANT TO WORK ON BETTER, JUST GET MORE COLLABORATION AROUND THAT.

SO THAT IS MY REPORT. UNLESS THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, I WANT TO JUST BRING UP SOMETHING THAT'S KIND OF ONE OF OUR LITTLE BACKYARD SCENARIOS.

I KNOW I GO TO WOODLANDS METHODIST CHURCH AND THEY ARE DOING LIKE THEIR GLOBAL METHODIST CHURCH CONFERENCE HERE THIS YEAR.

OKAY. THAT'S GREAT BRINGING IN HERE, LET ME GET THE EXACT NUMBER.

I JUST TEXTED HIM. 1500 TO 2000 PEOPLE ARE ATTENDING.

IT'S THE TRINITY ANNUAL CONFERENCE FOR THE GLOBAL METHODIST CHURCH FOR TEXAS, LOUISIANA, ARKANSAS.

ALL COMING TO THE WOODLANDS. I THINK THERE'S SOME REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO CALL ON SOME OF THESE BIGGER CHURCHES FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT THEY BRING IN, STARS. THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW VISIT THE WOODLANDS WORKS, AND JUST BEING ABLE TO KIND OF AS A REFERENCE AND TRYING TO GET THEM TO STAY IN OUR

[00:55:02]

HOTELS. AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT PLACE, I THINK IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR US, SOME LOW HANGING FRUIT.

SO I'D BE HAPPY TO INTRODUCE YOU TO DREW ESSEN, WHO'S KIND OF THE, THE, THE HE'S A PREACHER, BUT HE'S ALSO KIND OF THE BUSINESS SIDE OF, OF THE CHURCH TO, TO KIND OF HELP PLAN THAT.

THEY'RE DOING A MAJOR YOUTH COMING UP IN A YEAR OR SO, A CONCERT, AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT EITHER RENTING THE PAVILION OR WOODFOREST STADIUM AND BRINGING IN YOUTH FROM ALL ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

SO I JUST THINK THERE'S SOME, SOME GOOD OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET OUR, OUR, OUR HOTELS OUT FRONT.

ABSOLUTELY A GREAT IDEA. WE'VE GOT SOME REALLY BIG CHURCHES OUT HERE.

ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. ROB. ANY AND ALL LEADS ARE WELCOME.

THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES STAFF INITIATIVE REPORTS.

OKAY. DO I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE STAFF INITIATIVES? SO MOVED. SECOND. OKAY. FIRST AND SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN REALLY BUSY, AND YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB. WELL THANK YOU.

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RESPOND BY SAYING I, I OPPOSED.

MOTION CARRIES. AGENDA ITEM NINE. WE'RE GOING TO RECESS TO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS MATTERS RELATING TO REAL PROPERTY PURSUANT TO

[9. Recess to Executive Session to discuss matters relating to real property pursuant to §551.072, Texas Government Code; deliberation of economic development negotiations pursuant to §551.087, Texas Government Code; discuss personnel matters pursuant to §551.074, Texas Government Code; and to consult with the Corporation's attorney pursuant to §551.071, Texas Government Code]

551072 TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE. DELIBERATION OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS PURSUANT TO 51551087 TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE. DISCUSS PERSONAL MATTERS PURSUANT TO 551074 TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, AND TO CONSULT WITH THE CORPORATION'S ATTORNEY PURSUANT TO 551071 TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE.

WE WILL NOW CONVENE TO PRIVATE SESSION. IN PUBLIC SESSION. AGENDA ITEM 11 RECEIVE, CONSIDER AND ACT.

[11. Receive, consider and act upon issuing an RFP to study the need for additional hotels and expanded meeting space]

UPON ISSUING AN RFP TO STUDY THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL HOTELS AND EXPANDED MEETING SPACE.

I'M GOING TO CALL NICK WILDER. YES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIRMAN NELSON.

SO THE CONCEPT AND IDEA HERE ON THIS PARTICULAR AGENDA ITEM IS TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE WOODLANDS AND WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW IN 2025 AND WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE AND WHERE WE CAN BE IN 2030, 2035, 2040.

IN REGARDS TO OUR HOTEL COMMUNITY AND OUR HOTEL OFFERINGS AS FAR AND AS WELL AS OUR MEETING SPACE, SO ARE WE MISSING OUT ON SOME LARGER GROUPS THAT WE DON'T PARTICULARLY KNOW ABOUT OR OR WHAT'S OUT THERE? WE HEAR A LOT FROM OUR MEETING PLANNERS THAT, HEY, IF YOU HAD THIS MUCH SPACE OR IF YOU HAD THIS MANY HOTEL ROOMS, WE WOULD COME TO THE WOODLANDS. BUT YOU'RE JUST NOT.

YOU JUST DON'T HAVE IT. AND SO LET'S TRY TO QUANTIFY THAT.

LET'S GO OUT TO THE MARKET. SO THAT'S THE CONCEPT HERE.

CHAIRMAN NELSON OKAY. DO I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO AUTHORIZE STAFF TO ISSUE AN RFP TO DETERMINE THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL HOTELS AND EXPANDED MEETING SPACE? SO MOVE. SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? I JUST WONDERED WHERE WHERE DOES THIS MONEY COME FROM? IS IT COMING FROM THE TOWNSHIP OR FROM THE CVB? IT COME FROM VISIT THE WOODLANDS. OKAY. THANK YOU.

WE'LL BRING BACK A DEFINED PLAN OF WHAT THAT COST WOULD BE.

BUT WE NEED TO SEE WHAT'S OUT THERE FIRST BEFORE WE ISSUE ANYTHING OUT.