Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau
Board of Directors
August 24, 2022

The Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB Board of Directors met Wednesday, August 24, 2022. Chair Joe Loth called the meeting to order at 8:30am.


Review of Minutes – Rob Griffith made a motion to approve the minutes of the June 22, 2022, board of directors meeting as presented. Pam Yancey seconded the motion. All approved. Motion carried.


Financial Report – Treasurer Pam Yancey reviewed the organization’s current financial statement. Elliott Robinson & Company gave the audit presentation and revealed it was an exceptionally clean audit with no findings. Lynne Yaggy moved to approve the financial report and the audit as presented. Cassie Cunningham seconded the motion. All approved. Motion carried.


Ex-Officio Reports – City of Branson – Lisa Westfall gave a Tourism Tax update showing all tax receipts up over 2019. The White House Theatre project for repurposing into a public safety facility is moving forward. Fire station #4 is in design phase and moving forward. The City of Branson has a new feature on its website where you can see updates on all projects, ordinances, and resolutions from beginning of time (also contains closed documents).


Ex-Officio Reports – City of Hollister – Rick Ziegenfuss reported the Yacht Club (next to Taneycomo bridge) closed last Friday and has new owners. The new owners are relocating residents and cleaning up the property to become a temporary RV park. It will eventually become a mixed retail/condo development, in three phases. The annual audit was completed and clean. The financial position of the City of Hollister is the best that it has been in 20 years, per the audit firm. Rick reported he works with waterpark every day and the project is moving forward.


Membership Update – Janet Minor reviewed the report included in the meeting packet. There are currently 782 chamber members, up over 751 from last year. Pam Yancey moved to approve the member drop list as presented. Rob Griffith seconded the motion. All approved. Motion carried.


Grant Sloan provided a brief update on tiered dues. There have already been some firm commitments and good conversations around tiered dues. Kyle Sexton will be back in Branson in September. Grant noted we are on pace for a membership drive the last week of September.


President/CEO Report – Jason Outman reported we are currently negotiating the 2023 contracts with the Tourism Community Enhancement District and the City of Branson. He stated that neither contract would have to go out for RFP.


Jason discussed the new TCED Executive Director position with focus on expanding the district and renewing the tax. Chairman Joe Loth mentioned that the Executive Committee would be meeting with Derek to discuss the position.


Jason provided a January thru June 2022 tax update and highlights from the most recent STR Report.


The fall campaign has launched.


Public relations YTD-$7.7 million in ad equivalency with a 40:1 investment.


Update on Economic Impact of Meetings and Conventions and Sports.


The CVB/DMO recently applied for and was awarded $840,000 in Marketing Platform Development (MPD) grants from the Missouri Division of Tourism. Our CVB/DMO would not normally be eligible for these grants, but the MDT made exceptions this year due to increased funding in their marketing budget.


The Destination Strategic Plan presentation is September 7. Jason stated he wants to develop proactive committees to make all the strategies happen.


This meeting of the BLACC/CVB board of directors at 9:46 a.m.


Present: Scott Bailes, Randy Brashers, Mike Combs, Bryan Cossiboom, Steve Critchfield, Cassie Cunningham, Robert Griffith, Tom Healy, Tammy Johnson, Mary Kellogg, Joe Loth, Raj Patel, Steve Scherer, Wendy White, Lynne Yaggy and Pam Yancey


Absent: Cynthia Carson, Clay Cooper, Phil Cox, Jon Davidson, Mike Patrick, Sam Voisin, Craig Wescott


Ex Officio Members Present: Lisa Westfall and Rick Ziegenfuss