Following the Press Release from the Council and the article that appeared in the County Press of last week (2nd October), I am writing to express my utter disgust about the blatant use of “Spin” used by the Chamber of Commerce, Council and Tourist Board of the Isle of Wight. The point of making such wild claims is beyond both myself and many of the Tourism and Accommodation providers on the Island. It also does nothing to attract the need for additional funding to promote our beautiful Island.
The claim that I am referring to is “Isle of Wight Sees Huge Increase in Hotel Bookings” (press release from the Council on which your article is based)is both irresponsible and VERY misleading. Laterooms.com are 407% up on last year. This point is true. However, on speaking to laterooms, it has been confirmed to me that this equated to just 666 bookings for the year Aug 08 through to Aug 09. The reason for the 407% increase was because the year before they only managed 164 bookings. To then read that concerning the “Just Add Water” campaign for the Island, Councilor George Browne sees this as “further evidence the campaign has proved to be a big success” is quite simply a joke and an insult to the hard working businesses within the tourism industry that are constantly battling against rising prices and a distinct lack of support from both the Isle of Wight Council and The Chamber of Commerce.
David Grocock is no better, claiming that Tourism is up 30% on the Island. I am not surprised for him; his Guest Accommodation – The St Maur, has been placed as the first one to be seen for the Ventnor area on the GoWight.co.uk website run by the Chamber of Commerce, of which Mr. Grocock is a member of the board. Bizarrely, this is also the case for the Islandbreaks.co.uk website which is run by the Council it might be a coincidence or it might be a case of feathering ones nest. In my opinion it is a blatant case of the latter.
Mr. Grocock continues to announce that Tourism on the Island is up over 30% on last year, but this is hardly surprising in the case of The St Maur, which he owns. He is contributing to a BBC News Online Business Tracker Survey, which monitors the success/failings of his business in the current financial crisis. Rather than the web link going straight to an Island Tourism Website, it goes to Mr. Grocock’s establishment. Great for the St Maur in Ventnor and a contributing factor, I am sure to its’ “increased” level of business, but absolutely no help at all to the Tourism Businesses that he is alleged to represent on the Isle of Wight in his position with the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce.
The Collaboration between the Council and the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce Tourism and Industry is quite frankly a joke. This “Partnership” between the Isle of Wight Council and the Chamber of Commerce, was formed without the Council undergoing any procurement exercise, something Councilor George Browne labored continually when he was in charge of the Committee looking at making the delivery of tourism promotion for the Island more successful. They have done nothing to progress the promotion of the Island and this issue needs to be resolved urgently. To issue statements such as the ones mentioned only go to prove just how out of touch the Isle of Wight Council and The Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce are with the Tourism Industry on the Isle of Wight.
When my business isleofwight.com and other companies and individuals were asked to offer presentations to this committee, procurement was the “buzz” word constantly used, so why is it that the Council can move forward without actually looking for the best and most efficient options to do just that. In my opinion it is that they are extremely worried that working with private enterprise would actually show up the short comings and failings of a totally inefficient Local Authority that believes the Tourism Industry should fund its’ own advertising and not drain the resources of the Council.
When are we going to get sympathetic support rather than pathetic actions from the bodies that claim to have the Island’s interests at heart? The joint effort put forward by the Council and The Chamber of Commerce would be laughable if it wasn’t so serious. They are failing the Tourism Industry and the Island’s economy as a whole, rather than highlighting the extra support we need from Central Government as an unemployment black spot.
When are we going to get a Council that truly acknowledges the serious input that Tourism contributes to the economy of the Isle of Wight. It needs to be resolved sooner rather than later.
