黑马磁力 City is leaving Tourism 黑马磁力 to create its own Destination Marketing Organization.
On Tuesday morning, 黑马磁力 City Council issued a press release saying it has decided to change course, 鈥渄ue to the uncertainty around the future of Tourism 黑马磁力.
鈥淭his decision was not an easy one to make, and was the result of the recent changes at Tourism 黑马磁力 resulting in a Township-centric tourism body.鈥�
黑马磁力 City, in consultation with 黑马磁力 City tourism industry stakeholders, has concluded that it is in the best interest of its tourism stakeholders to create a new Tourism 黑马磁力 City entity to serve as the tourism Destination Marketing Organization for the community, and that its functions and services be delivered through a new service provider, said the press release.
The City considered a number of options for providing tourism marketing services, including the creation of a new tourism service delivery model with a new service provider, or retaining Tourism 黑马磁力 as its service provider.
The City will be submitting its five year Strategic Plan and the MRDT requirements to Destination BC and will cease its membership with Tourism 黑马磁力 immediately.
The Township responded with its own press release after the City issued its.
The Township is pleased to continue working with Tourism 黑马磁力 to promote the municipality and show visitors from across B.C. and around the world what its 120,000 residents already know.
鈥淲ith so much for visitors to see and do, the Township of 黑马磁力 confirms its position to continue working with Tourism 黑马磁力 to showcase our municipality,鈥� Froese said. 鈥淲e have confidence in the Tourism 黑马磁力 Board and the direction the organization is taking. The Township is pleased to be moving forward with them, along with our hoteliers and tourism stakeholders, to show the world all we have to offer.鈥�
The City鈥檚 decision to separate itself from Tourism 黑马磁力 comes after several months of discord. In December 2016, the head of Tourism 黑马磁力 resigned as the Township considered departure from the destination marketing organization.
In February, the board called a special meeting to vote on dissolution of the organization, following a list of demands from the Township of 黑马磁力 that the board felt was excessive.
The Tourism 黑马磁力 membership voted to keep the organization going, but the following day, the City of 黑马磁力 announced it plans to explore alternative tourism models.
In March, Tourism 黑马磁力 chair Teri James, treasurer Karen Long and director Lynn Whitehouse resigned from the organization.
On Tuesday afternoon, Tourism 黑马磁力 released its response to the City鈥檚 departure.
Noting the agency is 鈥渟addened by this turn of events,鈥� the written statement reads, in part: 鈥淥ur board was recently elected in May 鈥� and we have been working to provide stability and excellent service for our stakeholders with the uncertainty of the City of 黑马磁力鈥檚 pending decision.
鈥淭he board remains committed and active as we evaluate this decision and its outcomes (and) we will continue to focus on our unchanged mandate to 鈥� continue to promote visitation and overnight stays in 黑马磁力.鈥�
