Penticton Hospitality Association

[fluffy]

Interesting read on the front page of the Western today about council questioning the PHA about spending of the room tax they are charged with administrating. They are mandated to spend the money on out-of-town advertising promoting Penticton tourism but so far have done just about jack squat. Councilors commented that with the 2013 tourist season just about on top of us it is likely already too late to do anything meaningful this year. About three quarters of the room tax collected last year s sitting idle in the bank and pointed questions about strategies and plans went unanswered. It was said during question period that even longstanding members of the PHA cannot get answers from the operating committee.

If you remember last year the PHA pretty much held a gun to council's head insisting that they be allowed to administer the tax they collect, a move which resulted in the disbanding of the newly installed Penticton Business Development Group, a collection of some of the best minds in the area who had come together with the intent of revitalizing our lagging tourist trade.

http://www.pentictonwesternnews.com/news/

[livewire]

http://www.castanet.net/edition/news-st ... .htm#91740

And don't be fooled by this story, may make you think at first glance the the PHA had any input. They did not. One of councils biggest concerns is the PHA's unwillingness to work with anybody. Nice list of partnerships in this story, good for them for working together. Too bad PHA are being such 'hoarders' as one council member called them, and refusing to get involved.

[fluffy]

Doesn't that make it look like it was much more important to the PHA to have control of the room tax funds that to actually do something with it? Aren't small town politics just a scream?

[CTF]

Interesting read on the front page of the Western today about council questioning the PHA about spending of the room tax they are charged with administrating. They are mandated to spend the money on out-of-town advertising promoting Penticton tourism but so far have done just about jack squat. Councilors commented that with the 2013 tourist season just about on top of us it is likely already too late to do anything meaningful this year. About three quarters of the room tax collected last year s sitting idle in the bank and pointed questions about strategies and plans went unanswered. It was said during question period that even longstanding members of the PHA cannot get answers from the operating committee.

If you remember last year the PHA pretty much held a gun to council's head insisting that they be allowed to administer the tax they collect, a move which resulted in the disbanding of the newly installed Penticton Business Development Group, a collection of some of the best minds in the area who had come together with the intent of revitalizing our lagging tourist trade.

http://www.pentictonwesternnews.com/news/

Strongly agree with you Fluffy. The PHA group has been a huge disappointment.

[twobits]

Have to agree with both of you. Does anyone have any thoughts on this #youarehere brainchild? Am trying to keep an open mind but if is the best they can come up with in a years time.............

[fluffy]

Does anyone have any thoughts on this #youarehere brainchild?

At least it's something. Tourism Penticton is showing an effort, in stark contrast to the PHA which has brought nothing to the plate so far.

[twobits]

My bad fluff. I mistakenly thought it was PHA that created it. So we still do not have squat from them.

[fluffy]

I was just rereading the thread that was covering the original dispute between the PHA and the now defunct Penticton Business Development Group. The scene at the time had all the earmarks of a petty power struggle by the PHA to keep a firm grip on the purse strings of the room-tax funds. So with tactics unspecified at the time they won and with that victory they did...nothing.

http://forums.castanet.net/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=36026

This thing made me mad then, even more so now.

[twobits]

Perhaps Daniel Pontes will reappear and tell us how the PHA plans to use these tax funds. Don't hold your breath.

[Stargazer]

Who cares who has the money,nobody's been able to save this town...whats the difference if the Politicians waste away money or the organization....slimey politicians are just jealous the money isn't lining their greasy pockets...I think I'll start a PHA type company and bring in cops all summer to control the massive civil disobedience that occurs or feared every year here...the city always buys into that with a pocket load of cash..PPSA..Penticton Police State Assoc...I have set up my off shore account,send your cash!..heres to your safe ghost town!

[twobits]

Don't let the door hit you.

[Stargazer]

the door is closing slowly on this town,won't hit mine,but it will probably,close,crack and fall of the hinges on you and your old fogie friends..

[workinonit]

I can tell you haven't been reading the papers people. The PHA gave $35000.00 to the challenge penticton , Peach fest, and several others also got money to help with the outside advertising of their events and Penticton. The reason the PHA wanted control of the money is because of crap like the, you are here, that tourism penticton came up with. They spent $150,00.00 which bought them $80,000.00 worth of advertising on facebook and a Vancouver Transit terminal, so the rest must have gone to the marketing company that talked them into it. Tourism Penticton wants to spend the money on 15% of tourists who come to wineries, instead of focusing on the 85% of tourists that come for the beaches and hot weather. The PHA would love to have one group doing the marketing. So before you start badmouthing a group, do the research.