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Canwest News Service
Provincial Tourism Minister Kevin Krueger has enlisted the help of 13 tourism operators and marketers in his bid to make the most of the Olympic Games in February and increase tourism revenue.
But the newly minted Minister's Council on Tourism doesn't appear to be winning over the industry.
The council announced Monday will provide Krueger with advice on product development, competitiveness, infrastructure, the labour force, visitor services and marketing and research in the industry in a bid to double tourism revenues to $20 billion by 2015.
"The new council represents a broad cross-section of the tourism industry and reflects the diversity of B.C.'s distinct regions," said Krueger. "The council's expertise and advice will directly impact how B.C. is marketed to the world as a top-notch tourism destination."
The council was deemed necessary after Krueger enraged the tourism industry when he axed Tourism B.C. in August.
The award-winning marketing organization's board of directors was relieved of its duties. CEO Rod Harris was fired and the organization's staff were rolled into the ministry of tourism.
The council was intended to ease the transition, but Monday's announcement met with skepticism from some members of the industry.
Krueger pointed out many of the appointees had previously been directors of either Tourism B.C. or the Council of Tourism Associations and would be "very insulted" at being called "yes- men and women" by critics.
"They are qualified, well-respected people who didn't want to be part of a muffin-and-coffee group," he said. "They are serious players in the industry."
But there are a number of them with strong ties to the provincial Liberal party, pointed out NDP tourism critic Spencer Herbert. "At least eight of the 13 have given thousands of dollars to the B.C. Liberal party in donations," said Herbert.
Herbert has documentation showing that Grouse Mountain Resorts, whose president is Stuart McLaughlin, donated more than $60,000 to the B.C. Liberals between April 2005 and November 2008.
McLaughlin is the council's new chairman.
"I can't say strongly enough what a bad move this has been, to axe Tourism B.C. and its board and replace it with a hand-picked group of donors," said Herbert. "It doesn't breed a lot of confidence in me or in the industry. This is a big step backwards."
Herbert says he aligns himself with the Council of Tourism Associations, the political wing of the industry, which called for an independent, industry-led organization like Tourism B.C. because it takes the politics out of marketing.
For the time being, it seems COTA will give the new council the benefit of the doubt.
"I think they will have the best interest of the province at heart," said COTA CEO Stephen Regan. "They have some capable and bright people and good leaders in the group there. We hope to have a strong working relationship with the council."
The chairman of the new council says he also wants to work toward a common goal.
"Through the minister's council, tourism businesses will be able to help guide tourism marketing strategies, building upon B.C.'s reputation as a world-class destination at this critical juncture," said McLaughlin, chairman of the new council, in a release. "I look forward to working closely with the minister and with the other council members to help B.C. maximize the tourism opportunities presented by the 2010 Winter Olympics."
The members of the council are: McLaughlin; Keith Henry, CEO of the Aboriginal Tourism Association of B.C.; Darcy Alexander, a tourism operations consultant; Warren Buckley, CEO of PavCo; Steve Smith, CEO of several Prince Rupert hospitality-related businesses; hospitality industry consultant Dr. Nancy Arsenault; Laird Miller, CFO of London Drugs and Sonora Resort; Andrew Cohen, senior executive of Fernie and Kimberly Resorts; Peter Casement, president of the board of Venture Kamloops; Barrett Fisher, CEO of Tourism Whistler; Dave Brownlie, president of Whistler Blackcomb; Coralee Oakes, executive director of the Quesnel and District Chamber of Commerce, and Susan Barcham, director of business development for Oak Bay Marine Group.
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Pathetic. The named people are likely very good business people but in relationship to Tourism Marketing a loose group of amatuers. Pretty poor selection considering the amount of amazing talent running around with huge Tourism credentials. Oh well. BC goes retro. This takes it back to the days of the NDP when Tourism was part of Small Business and they used to laugh at what a tour package was. This group has little or no clue what small business tourism needs. Just like Ernie.
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