CHB council working to keep visitor information operating
The Central Hawke’s Bay District Council says it is working to keep local visitor information services operating following a decision from CHB Promotion members to liquidate the association at its AGM this week.
Last June, a 12-month agreement was negotiated with CHB Promotions to allow the council to explore opportunities on how visitor information services could best be provided to continue to boost visitor numbers to Central Hawke’s Bay.
This work includes exploring opportunities identified by the community during Project Thrive and other projects underway including Nga Ara Tipuna – a unique project being led by te Taiwhenua o Tamatea to recognise the presence of pa and other sites of significance in Central Hawke’s Bay.
During the renegotiation, Hawke’s Bay Tourism was also engaged directly by the council instead of through CHB Promotions, to operate at a more strategic level. The council says this change is already paying-off, as evidenced through strong recent visitor spend growth and successful new promotions such as the Central Hawke’s Bay 60 days of summer campaign.
At the CHB Promotions annual general meeting in December a quorum could not be achieved and none of the board sought re-election, nor were any new nominations received.
Following this, CHB Promotions sought guidance from the council on its intentions for the visitor information centre long term. The council gave notice that based on CHB Promotions current situation, and not wanting to pre-empt the work on the future of visitor information services, that a new contract would not be provided beyond June 30.
The council says it has worked proactively with CHB Promotions since that time to ensure that visitor information services and staff are not compromised as a result of CHB Promotions changes.
“Keeping visitor information services operating for Central Hawke’s Bay is very much front of mind for us,” says Doug Tate, Group Manager Customer and Community Partnerships.
“Tourism is a buoyant and growing area of economic development in Central Hawke’s Bay that needs our continued focus. Our thanks go to the CHB Board for their leadership and untold hours of voluntary work they have given to our community – it’s a thankless job”.
The council says it is proposed that the current staff will transfer to the council along with the overall lease of the railway station. If the motion to “wind-up” CHB Promotions is upheld at a second special general meeting to be held within 30 days of this Monday’s AGM.
