Carlsbad CTBID Annual Report to City Council, Tonight

The Carlsbad Tourism Business Improvement District's advisory board will appear before the Carlsbad City Council tonight and present it's annual report of activities (AB# 19,046). This will be the second time that the CTBID advisory board has reported to Council since the enactment in November 2005 of the hotel assessment district.

Mayor Lewis will call Council into session at 6:00 p.m., Council Chambers.

New Director Sits, Bureau Contracts Approved

The Carlsbad Tourism BID advisory board met yesterday and welcomed Hector Baserra, General Manager of the Holiday Inn Carlsbad By the Sea, to fill the unexpired term of his predecessor. Welcome to Carlsbad, Hector!

The board approved funding for the next fiscal year, beginning July 1, for both the Carlsbad CVB and the San Diego North CVB. The board gave both organizations a 10% increase over what they received from the previous contract year.

The industry seems to be tracking at about 62% average occupancy in Carlsbad, based on the Smith Travel Report. Assessment collections ($1 per night) are ahead of last year, and the reserve fund, set at 20% of what is collected, continues to grow. We sort of need to know where those funds will eventually go!

If you're not already receiving email notice of upcoming CTBID advisory board meetings, you need to get yourself on the list, read the agenda and various attachments that come before the board. It's easy to do!

The next meeting is in September.

More, later!

New Carlsbad Resort To Open In January 2008

Today's North County Times ran a story update on the new Sheraton Carlsbad Resort, which will be opened in phases, beginning in January 2008. Most of us have seen the construction across from GIA and along Cannon Road as we dash about on area streets. According to Tim Stripe, co-president of Grand Pacific Resorts, the new property, when completed, will add 350 additional hotel rooms to our local inventory as well as 350 timeshare units.

Good luck for continued success, Tim & Dave!

Carlsbad Council Approves New Marriott Hotel

The Surf Motel, one of Carlsbad's longtime landmarks, will soon give way to a new Marriott Springhill Suites hotel. Last night, the Carlsbad City Council finally approved plans for construction to get underway to build one of the country's most recognizable flags. No doubt this will be a fine, new addition to the Village.

We wish all the best to everyone associated with DKN Hotels, and look foward to welcoming the Marriott Springhill Suites.

And, to the Surf Motel, thanks for all the wonderful memories.

You will be missed; and, so will the Armenian Cafe!

CTBID Meeting May 4th

The Carlsbad Convention and Visitor's Bureau contract renewal is on the agenda for the CTBID meeting scheduled for this Friday May 4th. It will be at 11:00 am in the City Faraday building in room #173A. If anybody can make this meeting to support our local CVB, it would be appreciated. If you wanted to say a few words about the job the CVB does, that would be even better! Hope to see you there!

Vacancy To Be Filled By Mayor, Council

With Francis Kauhaahaa's recent transfer to Loma Linda, the CTBID advisory board has one vacancy that will soon be filled upon the appointment by Carlsbad Mayor Bud Lewis. This vacancy was discussed at the last CTBID advisory board meeting on March 30. Hotel industry representatives who are interested in possibly serving on the CTBID advisory board are encouraged to contract Mayor Lewis. It is expected that both the mayor and council will vote on Francis' replacement in the coming weeks.

CTBID Board Position Vacancy

I was recently informed (as a few of you may have been) that Francis Kauhaahaa, General Manager for the Holiday Inn Carlsbad, will be leaving for a new assignment closer to his home in Yorba Linda. Francis was one of the original seven members of the Carlsbad Tourism Improvement District's Advisory Board and his departure will soon leave the first-ever vacancy on that Board.

Kim Akers, General Manager at the West Inn and Suites, and I have written to Mayor Lewis to ask about the process for filling this upcoming vacancy. Here are excerpts from that letter:

"Our understanding as to the composition of the CTBID Advisory Board is that three of the seven seats are deemed permanent. Four Seasons Resort Aviara, La Costa Resort and Spa and Grand Pacific Resorts would maintain permanent status, regardless of who the assigned designee is for each property. The four remaining seats were awarded to individuals, and not to properties.

As the original appointment was not for a designated property, we would assume that any lodging representative from within the Carlsbad Tourism Business Improvement District could be selected by the Council to fill the remaining time on Mr. Kauhaahaa's original term."

We have requested to meet with Mayor Lewis because we believe the ordinance that created the CTBID currently leaves the appointment process with the mayor and council. We would like to help in any way we can to have the vacancy filled as soon as possible.

Best wishes to you, Francis, in your new assignment!