Bay of Quinte Regional Marketing Board Executive Director Dug Stevenson addresses board at meeting on November 16, 2016. Also pictured Board Chair Richard Courneyea. (Photo: Nicole Kleinsteuber / Quinte News)
The Bay of Quinte Regional Marketing Board continues to transform in order to build a governance model that reflects the needs of all its partners.
This comes as the the board works to make the merger between Bay of Quinte Tourism and Bay of Quinte Living entities a smooth transition that will now see the call for new board member nominations. Merger plans announced in May, pointed to the need to find efficiencies and reduce duplication. The two will now work with a joint budget of around $600,000, with roughly $425,000 of that dedicated to tourism.
On Wednesday, the board approved a motion that will see the appointment of reps to a nomination committee for 2017 to ensure their will be representation from all partners such as the City of Belleville, Quinte West, Hastings County, Tyendinaga Territory, Quinte Accommodations and Attractions Association and the Quinte Restaurant Association.
Board chair Richard Courneyea said when the topic of the merger was first raised there were some questions about how the board was getting to where they are going.
Executive Director Dug Stevenson says partners don’t necessarily have to take that option.
The aims is to keep the board around 8 to 12 members.
Also in the coming weeks the board will begin making pitches to local partners for the 2017-18 fiscal year. Each year Bay of Quinte Tourism requests Belleville, Quinte West and Hastings County give $1.30 per capita.
Financial reports released Wednesday showed tourism net income to September 30, 2016 at $27,000 with municipalities showing a 10% hold back until January 2017. Bay of Quinte Living’s net income during the same time period sits at $17,000 with the City of Belleville showing a 10% hold back until January 2017.
Executive Director Dug Stevenson said the goal is to create a business plan, marketing plan and budget in collaboration with each of their partners outlining initiatives and finding synergies which lead to strong marketing projects for the Region.
He says keeping the membership together is crucial.
Presentations are planned for Belleville council on Nov. 28 and Quinte West on Dec. 6.
