CVB PROPOSAL: BOARD RECOMMENDS CITY HAVE CONTRACT

The Cape Girardeau Convention & Visitors Bureau wants to take the "middle man" out of its operation.

Robert Hoppmann, chairman of the CVB Advisory Committee, has recommended that the city take over the CVB contract.

"We're asking that a separate division be established by the city for the CVB," said Hoppmann during a meeting Monday of CVB board members, city council and other city officials, held at the Holiday Inn.

"This is a unanimous choice of the CVB Board and we're asking the Cape Girardeau City Council to accept the recommendation."

The CVB is now operated under the auspices of the Chamber of Commerce, in accordance with a chamber/city contract.

"The proposal to create a separate division for the CVB has been discussed in previous years," said Hoppmann. "We see the chamber as a middle person, and we don't see the need for a middle person.

"These are changing times, and it's time for the CVB to change with the times," Hoppmann added.

Hoppmann explained that the CVB may locate to a new office in the Community/Convention Building, which is a part of the new softball/soccer recreational park.

"We're also discussing the need to find temporary quarters to house the bureau until the new community building is completed in about a year and a half," said Hoppmann. "We have selected a building committee to look into this."

The three council members present Melvin Gately, Mary Wulfers and David Limbaugh said they would relay information concerning the request to other council members.

Limbaugh said he would also like to have some input on the recommendation from the chamber.

Robert Hendrix, president of the chamber, was in attendance at the Monday meeting. He said he would discuss the recommendation with the chamber executive committee.

The CVB has been operating under the chamber since being founded in 1985. The current city/chamber contract expires June 30.

If the contract is changed, the CVB board would have to negotiate with it employees, who are now employees of the chamber.

Meanwhile, the CVB is discussing the hiring of a regional marketing director.

Dan Drury, a member of the CVB board, discussed the idea of "networking" to help the area promote Cape Girardeau.

"Several businesses in town spend a lot of time and money promoting this area," said Drury. "The businesses and the CVB each send representatives to many of the same regional tourist and travel market shows.

"By working together, we can sell our community throughout the region at a lower cost, giving us better returns on our investments," said Drury.