Convention and Visitors Bureau Partners with Levi’s® Stadium

The Santa Clara Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) is working as a partner to Levi’s Stadium, assisting in bringing major sporting events to the city. The CVB team’s role in the event bidding process is to help secure local hotel room nights, provide destination profile information, participate on local organizing committees, and facilitate any space needed at the Santa Clara Convention Center.

CVB Director of Sales Debbie Keller actively reaches out to the Santa Clara hotel community (and regional partners) on bigger stadium events to make sure the city and region have the room blocks required for the stadium to host. The CVB has also generated detailed destination descriptions and photos for Levi’s Stadium bids that highlight Santa Clara and the Santa Clara Convention Center.

For WrestleMania 31, scheduled for March 29, 2015, Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Steve Van Dorn is on the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) along with three key CVB staff members and Convention Center General Manager, Lisa Moreno. The CVB’s experience in working with the hospitality community and marketing Santa Clara as a destination has become a great asset and part of the team that helps Levi’s Stadium be the great economic generator it is for the community.

Convention Center Installs New Pro Media UltraSound System

The Santa Clara Convention Center is installing a completely new sound system/paging system. The new system will allow the Convention Center to send sound out to any part of the building though its paging speakers be it music, general announcements or to connect meeting spaces that are in separate parts of the building. This half-million dollar project is being done by Pro Media Ultrasound and is slated to be completed by end of August.

Pro Media UltraSound is a widely recognized national leader in audio video systems design, engineering, and contracting. In the past 33 years, they have been involved in numerous large scale construction projects with similar systems. Most recently, they successfully completed paging systems at the Oakland and San Francisco Airports. They have also recently completed numerous similar distributed audio systems at sports stadiums for the Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, and New York Giants. They have also been awarded the contract to provide the Audio visual systems at Levi’s® Stadium.

Pro Media will be installing a QSC system. QSC are leaders in this type of system and are a California company. Founded over four decades ago, QSC Audio Products, LLC, is a globally recognized leader in the design and manufacture of professional audio system solutions. This enhancement will benefit the over 300 + groups annually who do business inside the Santa Clara Convention Center. For more information, visit http://www.SantaClara.org/ConventionCenter.

Paid Sick Leave AB 1522 Will Hurt Small & Medium Businesses

The Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce opposes AB 1522, mandated employee sick time legislation sponsored by Assembly Member Gonzalez, which is scheduled for a hearing in Senate Appropriations on August 4.

As the business voice for our members throughout Silicon Valley, we feel that the provisions of AB 1522 place unnecessary and burdensome regulations upon our members in general, and our small and medium sized members specifically.

This legislation, by requiring all employees who work in California for 30 days to be allotted sick time, will create an additional cost to already cash-strapped businesses of roughly $37 million.

Additionally, by requiring the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) to enforce and investigate complaints, and by putting ultimate enforcement authority in the hands of the California Attorney General, we fear that the new regulations will only serve to increase civil litigation expenses that already represent a substantial drain on Silicon Valley employers.

Additionally, by exempting certain collective bargaining agreements from these new requirements, we believe that the legislation creates an unequal playing field amongst California employers.

We know that the majority of Silicon Valley companies are committed to a safe, healthy and productive workforce, including the extension of sick time. However, as is too often the case, legislation such as AB 1522, even with the best of intentions, can have a negative impact that ultimately impairs the desired goal.

On behalf of the Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce, we ask that you reach out to Senator Jerry Hill and respectfully request that he consider the aforementioned concerns as part of his deliberations on AB 1522, and ultimately ask for his vote in opposition to the legislation.  Senator Hill can be reached in Sacramento at 916-651-4013.

Thank you for your continued support of our organization, and please let me know if you’d like us to consider legislation that may impact your business.  I can be reached at 408-380-1231 or by email at steve.vandorn@santaclara.org.     

Non-Resident Withholding Compliance

The State Franchise Tax Board (FTB) wants to ensure that businesses are compliant in regards to withholding taxes when it comes to nonresidents.  Generally, if a business pays a nonresident independent contractor more than $1,500 in a calendar year, the business is responsible for withholding 7% of the payment and sending it to FTB. Nonresidents are required to file tax returns on the income they earn in California; this withholding is a prepayment of the tax that may be due on that income.

The FTB website has many tools and information on this topic to help you stay compliant. 

• Determine if withholding is required, you may conduct an agent self-test – www.ftb.ca.gov/individuals/wsc/self_test/selftest.asp

• Retrieve general information on the three stages of withholding – www.ftb.ca.gov/forms/misc/1018.pdf

• Access current year forms and publications – www.ftb.ca.gov/individuals/wsc/forms_and_publications.shtml

• Review the withholding voluntary compliance program to assist self-agents in remitting past due, non-wage withholding – www.ftb.ca.gov/individuals/wsc/Withholding_Voluntary_Compliance_Program/index.shtml

For further information, please visit the FTB website at www.ftb.ca.gov.

Member of the Month: Decorating Den Interiors

Thora Tam is an Interior Decorator with Decorating Den Interiors.  She’s based in San Jose and has owned the franchise for nine years. Thora believes everyone deserves a personal sanctuary and enjoys creating custom solutions for her clientele.

Decorating Den Interiors is the “best value” in interior design as clients receive complimentary interior decorating services with product purchase. They have partnered with over 100 of the finest manufacturers and suppliers in the home furnishings industry, specializing in custom window treatments, indoor/outdoor furniture, lighting, accessories, bedding, floor coverings, storage solutions and wall coverings.

Thora offers a complimentary “Getting to Know You” appointment to learn about the new client’s design challenges, decorating tastes and budget.  She offers “Good/Better/Best” solutions that can accommodate client’s needs. No project is too big or small – Decorating Den Interiors works on individual products to complete home decorating makeovers, and will manage the entire process, from custom design to installation. To schedule your complimentary appointment, please call Thora at (408) 223-7300 or check out their website at www.decdens.com/ttam.

Member Referrals: August 2014

We would like to recognize and acknowledge member referrals for the Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce.  The following new members were referred by an existing member of the Chamber, and we would like to recognize and thank them for their support.

Gina Harper with The Mountain Winery referred Craig Seymour with IfOnly.  Are you looking for a celebrity appearance at your next event?  Contact Craig at (650) 810-5489 to discuss all of the possibilities for a unique experience and opportunity to give back to a charity at the same time.   For a fabulous venue with a spectacular view, contact Gina at (408) 484-3509 to book your next event at this fabulous property!

Want to see your name here?  If someone you know would benefit by joining the Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce, please refer them to Carol Zimring at (408) 380-1236.  Every month we publish new member referrals, listing both the new member and the Chamber member who referred them.   When a member has referred a total of three new members, they will receive a $100.00 advertising credit for use in our weekly and monthly publications.

Visitors Bureau Promotes 49 Awesome Things To Do in Santa Clara!

In recognition of the San Francisco 49ers first season at Levi’s® Stadium, the Santa Clara Convention and Visitors Bureau has created a new campaign titled “49 Awesome Things to Do in Santa Clara.” The effort to get the word out about the city’s visitor attractions is timely as the city expects thousands of new visitors in the coming months and years.

The promotional campaign includes a “49 Awesome Things To Do in Santa Clara!” blog post at VisitSantaClara.Wordpress.com and lists colorful photos and web links to 49 of the city’s visitor attractions and events. The blog highlights everything from Levi’s Stadium tours to dining, cultural arts and entertainment, and family friendly attractions such as California’s Great America theme park.

“With the national spotlight upon Levi’s Stadium and Santa Clara, we want the world to know there are some great visitor experiences here,” says Steve Van Dorn, President  & CEO of the Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce and Convention-Visitors Bureau. “I think a lot of people are going to be surprised with all there is to see and do,” Van Dorn added. The campaign has also created a “49 Things To Do in Santa Clara” logo which will be used on social media as well as in print and electronic ads.

Pyramid Awards Wrap-Up

Left to Right: Lynette Vedder, Individual Member of the Year Joe Siecinski and Maxine Brookner.

Left to Right: Board Members Lidia Blair (Co-Ambassador of the Year) and Sasha Nand.

President & CEO Steve Van Dorn and Chair David Tobkin.

Melonie Drotts of Kaiser Permanente about to bid on a silent auction item.

Keynote SpeakerGreg Carey of Goldman Sachs.

Co-Ambassadors of the Year John Waller and Lidia Blair (middle) with Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce & CVB CEO Steve Van Dorn (left) and Chair David Tobkin (right).

Distinguished Community Leader given to Kevin Moore (middle).

Distinguished Community Leader given to Kevin Moore (middle).

The Power Partners made their presence known!

Dan MacNaughton Memorial Scholarship presented to Young Kim of Santa Clara High School.

Don Von Raesfeld Chamber Volunteer Award (left to right): Steve Van Dorn, Marlene Ybarra, Don Von Raesfeld, Marge Banko, Dee Alarcon and Dave Tobkin.

Presentation of the gavel (left to right): Steve Van Dorn, Chair Elizabeth Williams and Past Chair Dave Tobkin.

Business Member of the Year, The Mlnarik Law Group.

Mayor Matthews installed the Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce & Convention-Visitors Bureau Board of Directors.

Free WiFi Now Available at Convention Center

The Santa Clara Convention Center near the new Levi’s® Stadium has announced free Wi-Fi service. The service provides guests with the ability to check email or surf the web in public areas of the meeting venue outside of the exhibit halls and session rooms where attendees tend to congregate and seek online access the most.

The Wi-Fi is available in the facility’s public areas which include the Main Lobby, Upper Lobby, Great America Lobby and Mission City Ballroom Pre-Function Space. “The Convention Center is pleased to partner with Smart City Networks on providing our over 350,000 guests each year with free Wi-Fi services,” says Convention Center General Manager Lisa Moreno. “The Center is continuously upgrading our technology infrastructure and looking for innovative ways to enhance our customer experience,” said Moreno.

Support for free Wi-Fi is provided via a toll free number which is listed on the login page. For users with more advanced connectivity needs which require more speed or bandwidth, upgraded Wi-Fi options are available for purchase. The award-winning Santa Clara Convention Center hosts 500 + events annually whose delegates contribute to the local economy by staying in Santa Clara hotels, dining at restaurants and Convention Center shopping. For more information, visit www.santaclara.org

Travelers Spent a Record $109.6 Billion in California in 2013

More than 235 million people – visitors and residents alike – traveled within California in 2013, spending an all-time record of $109.6 billion, according to a new report released by Visit California, the nonprofit that helps develop the state’s travel and tourism marketing programs.

Visit California said last year’s travel-related spending generated $2.8 billion in local tax revenues and $4.3 billion in state tax revenues. The report, compiled by Portland, Ore.-based Dean Runyan Associates and commissioned by Visit California, also noted that the state’s travel industry last year employed 965,800 people, the highest number since 1992, when employment data started being tallied.

“California tourism is on the rise, and that means new potential for creating jobs and increasing economic impact throughout the state,” said Caroline Beteta, president and CEO of Visit California, in a statement.  The report also breaks out tax revenue to individual counties. In 2012, Santa Clara County totaled $287.7 million in travel-related tax revenue. While pleased with last year’s overall $110 billion in travel-related spending, Beteta said future growth “will depend on California remaining a top-of-mind travel destination,” especially globally. In April, Visit California said it launched broadcast advertising for the first time in Mexico and China. Overall, it spends $50 million annually to market California to prospective travelers.