from: Clark Lovelace <[email protected]>
to: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
date: May 10, 2022, 4:17 PM
subject: Re: Records Request: (March 2022) Request for Transylvania County, NC Tourism Development Authority: Advertising Spending communications 01/01/2020 – 06/30/2021
Public Records Request (Advertisements from Board Member Organizations – March, 22)
This information is in response to the public records request made on March 4, 2022, through sunshinerequest.com with the subject “(March 2022) Request for Transylvania County, NC Tourism Development Authority: Advertising Spending communications 01/01/2020 – 06/30/2021”. It was compiled by support staff who are employed by the Brevard/Transylvania Chamber of Commerce fulfilling a 3rd party contract for service for the Transylvania County Tourism Development Authority.
Search Tactics
The following tactics were used to compile the included information:
· TCTDA support staff searched email and cell phone records for any messages to or from (1) each of the board members or key staff who own or operate each of the organizations indicated in the request, (2) Market Connections staff, (3) TCTDA staff, for the time frame indicated in the request. This included a search of the email address of a former employee who worked with local tourism partners. Each of these messages were reviewed and if they had any relevance to advertising by the indicated parties, they were pulled and included. This encompasses most of the information included.
· Market Connections, the TCTDA marketing partner agency, was asked to produce any emails or text messages that were to or from the above-referenced board members or key staff but did not include any TCTDA support staff. This encompasses just a few emails.
· Board members who own or operate the indicated businesses were asked to provide any emails or text messages they sent to or from anyone regarding advertising with the TCTDA that did not include TCTDA support staff or Market Connections staff. No messages fitting this description were found.
Summary of Partner Advertising Opportunities
Each year, the TCTDA provides certain advertising and promotional opportunities to tourism-related businesses or nonprofits in Transylvania County. These opportunities are open to any of these organizations. These promotional programs are shared via email to all known organizations, typically followed by a meeting open to the public where detail and an opportunity for Q&A is provided. In an effort to support local partners, most of whom have limited marketing budgets, these opportunities are offered at a reduced rate. Some of these savings are due to economies of scale or strong relationships with publications and some is due to the TCTDA bearing a portion of the cost. Attached is the partner marketing opportunity booklet for FY19/20, along with the order form. One was not created for FY20/21 due to the pandemic. The Adventure Guide, the annual TCTDA brochure publication, was reprinted in 2021.
Specific Advertisements by Requested Organizations
Gwynn Valley Camp – None were placed during the indicated time period.
Earthshine Lodge – None were placed during the indicated time period.
D.D. Bullwinkel’s – Capital at Play in January 2020, WNC Magazine in March 2020, Blue Ridge Outdoors in Spring 2020, full-page ad in the TCTDA’s 2020 Adventure Guide, 2020 Spring Sweepstakes
Headwaters Outfitters – April 2020 Get Out Guide spotlight. This was cancelled due to the pandemic.
Hampton Inn – Full-page ad in the TCTDA’s 2020 Adventure Guide
Attachments
2019/2020 Marketing Partner Opportunity booklet
2019/2020 Marketing Partner Opportunity order form
Adventure Guide Ad – D.D. Bullwinkel’s
Adventure Guide Ad – Hampton Inn
Partner Co-op – Internal Communication (TCTDA support staff and Market Connections)
Capital at Play – D.D. Bullwinkel’s
WNC Magazine – D.D. Bullwinkel’s
Blue Ridge Outdoors – D.D. Bullwinkel’s
Get Out Guide – Headwaters Outfitters
Sweepstakes – D.D Bullwinkel’s (find a link to the Spring Back in Time sweepstakes here)
Market Connections Direct Communication to D.D. Bullwinkel’s
Please email back to confirm receipt. If you have any questions, let me know.
Clark E. Lovelace
Executive Director
Transylvania County Tourism Development Authority
175 East Main St., Brevard NC, 28712
828-884-8900 / 800-648-4523
explorebrevard.com
**Editor’s Note: Please see referenced file “rerecordsrequestmarch2022requestfortransylvaniac.zip” at top left in documents
Status:
Response Received from Government
