Travel and Tourism board votes to approve purchase of videos

At the February 18 Hot Springs County Travel & Tourism board meeting held at the State Park Headquarters, Treasurer Audra Domingez and Tourism Director Angie Guyon presented the financial report. The lodging tax distribution for January 31, 2025 was $14,480.18. This amount compares to previous years in the same month of January, being 2024 was $13,386.76 and 2023 was $10,392.43. 

Additionally, the tourism’s board’s total assets as of January 31, 2025 was $220,221.20. In the previous year, at the same time, their total assets were $124,342.07. The board also discussed their recent budgeted activities. The board voted and passed the approval to accept the financial report.

Guyon discussed their Directors & Officers (D&O) insurance policy. According to their broker, the board needs to have a liability policy in place before the D&O insurance can be purchased. The annual fee for the policy is $183. The board voted and passed the approval to provide the insurance broker the liability policy document and to resubmit the payment for the D&O insurance policy.

Guyon reported on the recent commercial appearing on a podcast in Colorado. She said, “So far, the campaign is looking healthy for only being a little over a month into the campaign. They are seeing a 10.6 frequency, which means each person in the target demographic in the targeted zip codes has heard the commercials about 10 times. This number will continue to increase as the campaign goes on.”

Regarding the distribution of the board’s share of the 2025 Independent Record’s Visitor Guides, Guyon presented documents from Certified Folder and their various distribution channels. This included a breakdown list of areas for their service and maps. The maps are regional, showing Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, Utah, and other locations. 

Additionally, Guyon presented information from Pony Express in Jackson Hole where they specifically can distribute the Visitor Guides in that area. Certified Folders does not serve the Jackson Hole area. The board will form a committee and work on selecting which locations and or regions to distribute the Visitor Guides. They will explore their options and work with their budget and present the results in a following tourism board meeting. The guides will be available for distribution by May 1. The IR sold the guides to the Travel and Tourism board at their cost per guide.

Regarding videos for marketing in Hot Springs County, Guyon said, “Our dilemma is we need videos now for Connected TV, for commercials, and for social media channels.” She also said that their recently produced commercial from KCWY, “was terrible. It was very vintage looking, without a lot of content, a lot of information” and that regarding Schenck Photography’s videos, “I’ve gotten a lot of compliments on the commercial from people that have seen it.”

Guyon added that they need summer videos for the State of Wyoming Broadcast Coop. She also discussed various options for future productions. This included Gold, Silver, and Bronze packages from New Thought Digital from Jackson Hole where they will schedule a two-day shoot and create commercials from this footage.

Guest Jeb Schenck was present and explained that scheduling a shoot on certain days is “a crapshoot” because of potential weather issues. Schenck advocated for a local production that allows flexibility and that shooting in May and early June is better for color landscapes. 

The board voted and approved the purchase of two Schenck Photography videos with reedit rights for $13,500. Board Members Jess Webber, Ryan Shaffer, Chris Delay, and Audra Domingiez voted for it. Chairman Will Robinson and Vice Chair Mike Sinclair voted against. 

Regarding the tourism board’s digital sign, Guyon said the board received a Jadeco proposal on April 9, 2024 but that she did not receive it until January 16, 2025. There was concern about the digital not having power to the display center that is coming soon. After further discussion, it was determined Wyoming Signs will work on getting the electric power to the display with Jadeco. 

In new business, Guyon and the board discussed website issues for purchasing a plugin for photo sliders and how to pay for them. The website plugin needs a credit or debit card. Guyon will research getting a credit card for this use, but not everyday use, such as food or lodging.

Guyon presented multiple advertising packages for travel guides. The board will review the various ad options and return with their recommendations for purchase to stay within budget.

Guyon provided the board a packet detailing the Wyoming Sales, Use, and Lodging Tax Revenue Report published November 2024. Hot Springs County decreased 3.9% in sales tax collections fiscal year 2023-2024. For the same period, Hot Springs County decreased 12.2% in retail trade, accommodations, and food services. 

Additionally, Hot Springs County decreased 186.7% use tax collections. Guest Commissioner Paul Galovich explained this significant number and said that the county had to issue a substantial rebate or refund to Merit due to a miscalculation. Galovich said he believes this is the reason for this large percentage number.

For the percentage change for lodging tax collections in Hot Springs County, this amount increased by 4.9%.

Guyon also provided the board with the Zartico report from the Wyoming Office of Tourism. This included data such as Leisure & Hospitality sales tax revenue of 2024, which was $1,241,150 for Hot Springs County and $219,460,480 for the state.

Also, there was a 42% share of spend from visitors with 53% from out of state and 47% from in state. There was 98% share of spend from visitors for accommodations, 34% for restaurants, and 40% for retail.

During open floor discussion, guest Paul Berry from the Big Horn Basin Nature & Discovery Center board spoke on three subjects. First, he announced that their board has an opening for a new board member and wanted to let the T&T board and the public know of the opportunity. He added they are looking for someone who has organizational skills.

Second, Berry proposed a work session with the tourism board to further discuss and potentially collaborate with them on their future site’s designs and other ideas.

Third, Berry spoke as only a resident and discussed the Independent Record’s December 24 article about the tourism board report and to assess the public perception of the board based on the article. He also proposed new content be made by the tourism board and to potentially include a video about the Gift of the Waters Pageant. 

Guest HSC Commissioner Paul Galovich spoke and handed out to the board packets about Wyoming state statutes on board ethics and how to hold a public meeting and executive session, for their information to review.