The Board of Terrace Tourism Society is giving notice to all members to convene an extraordinary General meeting:
Where: The Best Western Terrace Inn
When: Monday January 15, 2007 at 7:00 pm
Why: Special Business to be discussed;
A. The loss of City of Terrace Funding
B. The future direction of our Society
C. By law Part 2 8(1) a special resolution will be presented to retain or expel 7 members of our Society
Friday, December 8, 2006
Kermodei Tourism asks $223 000.00, City CAO Recommends
Check out the Council Report on Page 38 in the Agenda Package for City Council meeting on Monday December 11th, 2006.
TTS Tells the Facts
In response to Mr. Martindale’s letter of November 29th 2006, Terrace Tourism Society would like to elaborate on some of his points and share our position with the community.
Mr. Martindale states, “…this group was able to get a huge influx of money by convincing the local hoteliers to voluntarily impose a tax on their guests. This involved creating a new board which allowed for the balance of power to favour the hoteliers and a promise to spend this new tax on promotion only.”
TTS did not form a new board. Our existing board evolved to become more accountable by developing policies and procedures that ensured the legal responsibility of collecting the hotel tax to the city, regional district and provincial government, as well as, matters pertaining to conflict of interest and confidentiality. We have never balanced in favour of the hoteliers and in no way has TTS endorsed any one group over the other. In terms of our budget allocation, our Business Plan clearly outlined how this money was to be spent; 100% External Marketing, in three market sectors (33.33% short haul, 33.33% long haul and 33.33% regional).
Indeed the matter of implementing the 2% Tax involved three levels of government. Mr. Martindale says, "… the city, promised matching funds to cover administration." These matching funds were not for administration. The fund with a cap of $40,000.00 was from the City of Terrace as an indication of their support for tourism marketing projects, as well as, an enticement for the accommodation sector to sign on. After months of dedicated work, the tax was created and approved by all parties with transfer of funds going to TTS for the development of marketing initiatives as outlined in the Business Plan and By-law 510. By-law 510 states the funds, "…shall be remitted to the Terrace Tourism Society to be applied to tourism marketing and development for the Terrace area."
Mr. Martindale goes on to say, “The society hired staff, booked ads in publications, attracted press to the town, and generally fulfilled its mandate.” At that time, TTS already had staff in place and as a result of the funding were able to hire one additional employee. Moreover, TTS not only met but exceeded their objectives as outlined in the Strategic Plan. For anyone interested in a package outlining our marketing initiatives for 2004-2005, they are available at the TTS office; located upstairs in the George Little House.
TTS acknowledges that effective marketing draws upon the synergy of the four ‘Ps’; price, product, place and promotion working in tandem. We also agree that promotion is only one aspect of marketing. TTS has never claimed to be ‘everything marketing’ or ‘everything tourism’; to do so would require multiple divisions, more resources and cost millions.
Over the years, we have consistently attempted to forge alliances with local groups to tackle these tourism marketing issues together. Our track record shows we have a strong desire to cooperate and do not want to see a duplication of services. TTS is genuinely interested in working together and supporting all other stakeholders in Terrace. In fact one of our 2007 initiatives focused on allocating funds to the community, the Community Enhancement Program (CEP). Our resources have always been accessible and will continue to be so.
The crux of the matter remains that certain members of our community wish to dissolve the existing structure of TTS and transition from an external marketing organization to a management organization, which would require an amendment to our contract, business plan and MOU. Only the membership of TTS has the right to change the strategic direction and/or dissolve our Society. At our last Annual General Meeting on May 31st, 2006, our membership clearly expressed that TTS should remain intact as a Destination Marketing Organization. Additionally, the response at the AGM showed our members to be overwhelmingly supportive of TTS with the majority extremely pleased with our accomplishments.
How can Mayor & Council so easily overlook the details of the TTS Strategic and Business Plans when a City Liaison sat as a director on our board to give input into the mandate of TTS and the development of the contracts?
On Friday, November 29th, Terrace Tourism Society received a letter from the City of Terrace pulling our funding and severing all ties with our organization.
The new tourism group, Kermodei Tourism is city owned and operated, they have said they will be ‘everything tourism’. We wish them well.
Mr. Martindale states, “…this group was able to get a huge influx of money by convincing the local hoteliers to voluntarily impose a tax on their guests. This involved creating a new board which allowed for the balance of power to favour the hoteliers and a promise to spend this new tax on promotion only.”
TTS did not form a new board. Our existing board evolved to become more accountable by developing policies and procedures that ensured the legal responsibility of collecting the hotel tax to the city, regional district and provincial government, as well as, matters pertaining to conflict of interest and confidentiality. We have never balanced in favour of the hoteliers and in no way has TTS endorsed any one group over the other. In terms of our budget allocation, our Business Plan clearly outlined how this money was to be spent; 100% External Marketing, in three market sectors (33.33% short haul, 33.33% long haul and 33.33% regional).
Indeed the matter of implementing the 2% Tax involved three levels of government. Mr. Martindale says, "… the city, promised matching funds to cover administration." These matching funds were not for administration. The fund with a cap of $40,000.00 was from the City of Terrace as an indication of their support for tourism marketing projects, as well as, an enticement for the accommodation sector to sign on. After months of dedicated work, the tax was created and approved by all parties with transfer of funds going to TTS for the development of marketing initiatives as outlined in the Business Plan and By-law 510. By-law 510 states the funds, "…shall be remitted to the Terrace Tourism Society to be applied to tourism marketing and development for the Terrace area."
Mr. Martindale goes on to say, “The society hired staff, booked ads in publications, attracted press to the town, and generally fulfilled its mandate.” At that time, TTS already had staff in place and as a result of the funding were able to hire one additional employee. Moreover, TTS not only met but exceeded their objectives as outlined in the Strategic Plan. For anyone interested in a package outlining our marketing initiatives for 2004-2005, they are available at the TTS office; located upstairs in the George Little House.
TTS acknowledges that effective marketing draws upon the synergy of the four ‘Ps’; price, product, place and promotion working in tandem. We also agree that promotion is only one aspect of marketing. TTS has never claimed to be ‘everything marketing’ or ‘everything tourism’; to do so would require multiple divisions, more resources and cost millions.
Over the years, we have consistently attempted to forge alliances with local groups to tackle these tourism marketing issues together. Our track record shows we have a strong desire to cooperate and do not want to see a duplication of services. TTS is genuinely interested in working together and supporting all other stakeholders in Terrace. In fact one of our 2007 initiatives focused on allocating funds to the community, the Community Enhancement Program (CEP). Our resources have always been accessible and will continue to be so.
The crux of the matter remains that certain members of our community wish to dissolve the existing structure of TTS and transition from an external marketing organization to a management organization, which would require an amendment to our contract, business plan and MOU. Only the membership of TTS has the right to change the strategic direction and/or dissolve our Society. At our last Annual General Meeting on May 31st, 2006, our membership clearly expressed that TTS should remain intact as a Destination Marketing Organization. Additionally, the response at the AGM showed our members to be overwhelmingly supportive of TTS with the majority extremely pleased with our accomplishments.
How can Mayor & Council so easily overlook the details of the TTS Strategic and Business Plans when a City Liaison sat as a director on our board to give input into the mandate of TTS and the development of the contracts?
On Friday, November 29th, Terrace Tourism Society received a letter from the City of Terrace pulling our funding and severing all ties with our organization.
The new tourism group, Kermodei Tourism is city owned and operated, they have said they will be ‘everything tourism’. We wish them well.
Monday, December 4, 2006
TTS Funding Cut
The Board of Director's of Terrace Tourism Society wishes to inform the membership that the City of Terrace has provided the following notification to TTS effective immediately:
• Sever its relationship with the Terrace Tourism Society; and
• Cease all funding to the Society, as per our July 12, 2006 correspondence
As a result of these actions, the Terrace City Council has breached the 2% AHT Bylaw 510-2004, the TTS's Business Plan and Memorandum of Understanding.
With regards to the 2% AHT, Scott Miller, the President of the Terrace and District Hotel and Motel Association has asked to appear before the Regional District Kitimat- Stikine Board of Directors on December 8th, 2006. Mr. Miller states, “The TDHMA does not support the City of Terrace in its efforts to terminate the Terrace Tourism Society and re-direct the associated funding.” He formally requests that the RDKS Bylaw, 510, 2004 be rescinded immediately.
The TTS Board will send a complete information package to the membership and the media later this week. If anyone in the public would like a package, please have them contact our office 635-0832. Please review all materials and provide your thoughts and feedback to TTS as quickly as possible.
Contact:
Randy Dozzi
Vice-President, Terrace Tourism Society
(250) 615-5440
dozzigale@monarch.net
The next Terrace City Council Meeting is Monday December 11, 2006 at 7:30pm. Your Board of Directors plans on being there! This is your society please come out and support it.
Please voice your concerns to City Council about their decision to pull TTS's funding.
Mayor Jack Talstra 638-1137 or 635-9087
Lynne Christiansen 615-0226
Marylin Davies, 635-6468
Brian Downie 635-5617
Carol Leclerc, 635-4640
Brad Pollard, 638-0110 or 638-0027
Rich Mc Daniel, 635-7975.
• Sever its relationship with the Terrace Tourism Society; and
• Cease all funding to the Society, as per our July 12, 2006 correspondence
As a result of these actions, the Terrace City Council has breached the 2% AHT Bylaw 510-2004, the TTS's Business Plan and Memorandum of Understanding.
With regards to the 2% AHT, Scott Miller, the President of the Terrace and District Hotel and Motel Association has asked to appear before the Regional District Kitimat- Stikine Board of Directors on December 8th, 2006. Mr. Miller states, “The TDHMA does not support the City of Terrace in its efforts to terminate the Terrace Tourism Society and re-direct the associated funding.” He formally requests that the RDKS Bylaw, 510, 2004 be rescinded immediately.
The TTS Board will send a complete information package to the membership and the media later this week. If anyone in the public would like a package, please have them contact our office 635-0832. Please review all materials and provide your thoughts and feedback to TTS as quickly as possible.
Contact:
Randy Dozzi
Vice-President, Terrace Tourism Society
(250) 615-5440
dozzigale@monarch.net
The next Terrace City Council Meeting is Monday December 11, 2006 at 7:30pm. Your Board of Directors plans on being there! This is your society please come out and support it.
Please voice your concerns to City Council about their decision to pull TTS's funding.
Mayor Jack Talstra 638-1137 or 635-9087
Lynne Christiansen 615-0226
Marylin Davies, 635-6468
Brian Downie 635-5617
Carol Leclerc, 635-4640
Brad Pollard, 638-0110 or 638-0027
Rich Mc Daniel, 635-7975.
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