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!

Meetings with the Mayor and Council Members

I spent last week meeting with Mayor Lewis and all of the Council members. In all, I would have to say that each of my meetings went well. I was happy to have Kim Akers, General Manager of the West Inn & Suites, join me as it always helps to have a tag-team at these kinds of meetings to make sure we don't miss any important points. It was important, in my opinion, to clarify with City Officials that the verbage in the last contract between the City and the Carlsbad CVB showing that the BID would be supplemental was the reason for the request for funding. This didn't change any minds, but at least the communication is starting to improve. So, at least for now, the Carlsbad CVB is entirely reliant on BID funding.

The next step will be to meet with the members of the CTBID board to discuss getting more of the CTBID funds actively working for us.

Hopefully, communication will be the key to getting this CTIBD to do what is was designed to do....MARKET CARLSBAD!! Any input or ideas any of you may have that may help this process along would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!