April 19, 2001 – Tourism Commissioner Pamela Richards said Thursday she is "disappointed" by the decision of hoteliers not to let public sector members of the newly created Tourism Advisory Council attend next week's annual Destination Symposium for free.
The St. Thomas-St. John Hotel and Tourism Association formally notified Richards Wednesday that the council members will have to pay the regular registration free in order to attend.
Richards is to deliver a keynote speech at the symposium. She said "it certainly passed my mind" to pull out after she learned of the decision.
The tiff is the latest fallout over Gov. Charles Turnbull's veto of legislation creating a public-private sector Tourism Authority that would replace the government Tourism Department. Turnbull countered by creating an advisory council — which industry representatives have rejected.
Richards had written to the hotel association asking that four council members be allowed to sit in on a session that will feature presentations by representatives of Tourism and of the government's national advertising and public relations agencies, Ogilvy & Mather and Martin Public Relations. This, she said, would be a way of educating the council members about current tourism issues.
"We asked for their attendance at that session only," Richards said.
But the association responded that the individuals would have to pay the $195 conference fee. Richard Doumeng, association president, said it is already allowing several government representatives to attend the symposium at no cost.
Richards responded that her department is already paying to participate in several regards.
"It is costing the department considerable money to attend their event," she said. The advertising and public relations firms are each sending two people to the symposium. The government pays for their air travel and room and board for two people; the association picks up the tab for the other two.
All four representatives are "on our clock," Richards said. "We pay their hourly fees."
