Re: Wildsight bashing…

[liberal]

HI Steve

We appreciate that we both share a common goal and that is to drive as much awareness and Tourism revenue for Fernie, the community, our respective resort destinations and for the Kootenay Region.

I heard through the Fernie grapevine that you were unhappy with Minister Bennett.

I wanted to follow up with some thoughts for you to consider. I have been involved in tourism in BC for over 10 years now. In those 10 years I have never seen a Minister of Tourism for their whole term do as much for our Region as Minister Bennett has done in a few months.

I will use one campaign as an example- Minister Bennett helped make the new Delta Airlines service to our Region possible- with that came some new opportunities

He has literally put Fernie and our region on the map in the US. He has cleared up some of the bottlenecks and through that has streamlined the process so that we can see support for campaigns that have real call to Action for our Region.

Some of the many other that I wish to highlight:
1. We finally have a representative on Tourism BC board from Fernie. As you know it is hard for the Gov’t to make change at TourismBC and we need to drive change and opportunities from the Board. Many of the Tourism Ministers of the past had all of the representation in the lower Mainland
2. Minister Bennett has been there to bring awareness to the Tourism BC staff that Fernie is a great place and he has asked them to promote it more. As I have heard on the ground while working on programs with Tourism BC staff
3. IN regard to Air Service as mentioned above- Minister Bennett has taken a strong supporting role on not only the Delta project but also developing other Air service we have been working on from other Markets- without his support none of this would be possible- Not Delta and none of the other test markets we are working on
4. Minister Bennett has made sure that a new video features Fernie in it (summer and winter) for the OIympics Media- but not only the video but also a mandate to drive more Media to Fernie from Tourism BC’s media office
5. Support from Tourism BC for CDSC projects has continued and will grow for Fernie (of which Tourism Fernie, Fernie Alpine Resort and Island Lake see benefit from)
6. Continued support for the Boulder Media Event- we have a strong Fernie feature
7. Minister Bennett help make sure that Tourism BC had a Media Event at Toronto Ski Show and offered a new Show (given change in economy and more drive or Regional Market) in Seattle- Fernie was well represented at both
8. Continued strength in support of the UK programs to showcase Fernie and in fact helping to meet with one of the largest UKoperators and bringing them to Fernie to showcase the destination

I could go on and on….But feel important that there is so much good that Minister Bennett is doing for Fernie. He does not take much credit for all that he does. We are very appreciative and we could not have a better Minister of Tourism. Minister Bennett is getting things done and will make sure that Fernie is well supported, promoted and represented.

Thanks for taking the time to read my e-mail and we appreciate all that you and the Island Lake team do to market and promote Fernie as a destination

Take care