CVB/venue manager reports marketing reach, facility use and that hotel-motel grant reimbursements are due June 30

Jessica Romular, CVB or city venue manager, presented the CVB’s year-in-review, outlining last year’s promotions, media placements and partnerships and reporting on facility usage and visitor analytics. She said the office ran promotions on a range of channels, shifted some Pioneer Village advertising to KCAU this year, and partners with organizations such as Wells and the Chamber to split ad costs.

Romular said she manages the website and social-media channels and shared highlights from 2025 analytics. She told the group that a Facebook post about Christy Kilker’s retirement drew roughly 57,000 views and brought more job applicants than anticipated. On facility usage she delivered a five-year overview: convention center bookings were up last year, golf-course usage was down, and Olsen Center activity increased after the farmer’s market moved back to that venue. She explained that convention-center figures include many Iowa State University (ISU) events, 4‑H meetings and trainings.

Romular also noted that previously approved hotel‑motel grants from the last funding cycle are starting to submit reimbursement requests and that recipients have until June 30 to file for those funds. She described typical busy periods (May and holidays) and slower months (January and August) and reviewed how the cooperative visitor-data service defines market areas (a 50‑mile minimum and at least 2.5 hours spent at the destination to count as an out‑of‑market visit).

There was a brief question period following the presentation and no formal motions related to CVB program funding. The meeting later moved to a motion to adjourn that was seconded and approved.