Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Information about Schedule O (Form 990 or 990-EZ) and its instructions is at| Return Reference | Explanation |
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| FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4A | IN AN EFFORT TO BUILD OUR SHOULDER AND OFF-SEASON TIME PERIODS WE BALANCED OUR ADVERTISING SPEND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR SPENDING 33 PERCENT OF OUR BUDGET FOR WINTER PROMOTION, 10 PERCENT FOR SPRING, 27 PERCENT FOR SUMMER AND 29 PERCENT FOR FALL (EXCLUDING OUR NATIONAL CAMPAIGN). WE ALSO DIRECTED 72 PERCENT OF OUR MARKETING SPEND TO OUT-OF-STATE MARKETS TO SUPPORT OUR OBJECTIVE TO GROW OUR NON-MICHIGAN BASED BUSINESS. THE TCT ALSO PARTICIPATED IN A NUMBER OF CONSUMER TRADESHOWS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR INCLUDING: NOVI GOLF SHOW AAA TRAVEL SHOW - COLUMBUS CHICAGO GOLF SHOW WEST MICHIGAN WOMEN'S EXPO GRAND RAPIDS GOLF SHOW INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S EXPO CHICAGO ADVENTURES IN TRAVEL SHOW G.R. FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL WHAT'S COOKING DETROIT IN ADDITION WE PARTNERED WITH THE WEST MICHIGAN TOURIST ASSOCIATION (WMTA) AT ADDITIONAL CONSUMER SHOWS WHERE THEY DISTRIBUTED OUR TRAVERSE CITY MARKETING MATERIALS. THE TCT ALSO IS VERY ACTIVE WITH PUBLIC RELATIONS EFFORTS. WE REGULARLY SEND PRESS RELEASES ABOUT NEW DESTINATION INFORMATION TO THE TRAVEL MEDIA AS WELL AS PRODUCE FEATURE LENGTH STORIES THAT WE ALLOW TRAVEL MEDIA TO USE IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR DESTINATION STORIES. THROUGHOUT 2013 WE ALSO HOSTED 42 TRAVEL WRITERS IN THE DESTINATION TO ALLOW THEM A FIRST-HAND DESTINATION EXPERIENCE. |
| FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4B | YEAR ARE: MICHIGAN INCREASE OF 4.99% ILLINOIS INCREASE OF 24.92% OHIO DECREASE OF -1.74% INDIANA INCREASE OF 8.99% CALIFORNIA INCREASE OF 164.49% IN ADDITION TO THE WEB TRAFFIC RESULTS THE LODGING ASSESSMENTS COLLECTED BY THE TCT IN 2013, WHICH IS A GAUGE OF OVERALL MARKET LODGING REVENUES, INCREASED BY 4.67% OVER 2012. IN OUR GROUP SALES EFFORTS, THE TCT GENERATED 278 GROUP LEADS FOR OUR MEMBER LODGING PROPERTIES IN 2013. THESE LEADS REPRESENTED 55,898 ROOM NIGHTS WHICH IS A 4.3% INCREASE OVER THE PRIOR YEAR. OUR VISITOR CENTER ASSISTED 59,278 VISITORS IN 2013 OFFERING ASSISTANCE WITH INFORMATION ON THINGS TO SEE AND DO WHILE IN THE TRAVERSE CITY AREA. THIS INCLUDES ASSISTING IN MAKING LODGING RESERVATIONS AS WE HAVE FOUND A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN VISITORS ARRIVING IN THE DESTINATION WITHOUT HAVING MADE LODGING RESERVATIONS. THE TCT PRODUCES A VARIETY OF MARKETING COLLATERAL PIECES TO PROMOTE OUR DESTINATION WITH THE PRIMARY MARKETING TOOL BEING OUR ANNUAL TRAVERSE CITY AREA GUIDE. IN 2013 WE PRODUCED AND DISTRIBUTED 340,000 OF THESE MAGAZINES TO CONSUMERS INTERESTED IN RECEIVING INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRAVERSE CITY AREA. |
| FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 6 | MEMBERSHIP OF THE VISITORS BUREAU CONSISTS OF AREA BUSINESSES THAT OPERATE WITHIN THE LOCAL TOURISM INDUSTRY |
| FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 7A | THE VISITORS BUREAU CONSISTS OF BUSINESS MEMBERS THAT ELECT FROM AMONG THEMSELVES INDIVIDUALS TO PARTICIPATE ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
| FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 11B | FORM 990 IS REVIEWED BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WHEN PRESENTED BY THE BUREAU'S AUDITING AND TAX PREPARATION FIRM AND MADE AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE BOARD UPON REQUEST |
| FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 12C | CONFLICTS OF INTEREST ARE REVIEWED ANNUALLY AS WELL AS ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS DURING A REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE GOVERNING BOARD |
| FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 15A | UPON THE COMPLETION OF EACH YEAR, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SELECTS A COMPENSATION REVIEW COMMITTEE THAT EVALUATES THE ORGANIZATION'S PERFORMANCE, AS DETERMINED BY THE AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, AGAINST THE GOALS AND FINANCIAL OBJECTIVES AS DEFINED BY THE BOARD. THE RESULTS OF THIS EVALUATION HELP DETERMINE THE COMPENSATION OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. |
| FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 15B | THE BOARD APPROVES THE ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET WHICH INCLUDES A REVIEW OF STAFF COMPENSATION COSTS. FOR STAFF POSITIONS, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EVALUATES COMPENSATION IN COMPARISON WITH INFORMATION PROVIDED BY "DESTINATION MARKETING ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL" AND THE "MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION OF CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAUS". |
| FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 19 | NO DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC |
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