Shortly after 91原创 City announced it was leaving Tourism 91原创 to create its own, separate marketing agency, there was a warning against calling the new venture 鈥淭ourism 91原创 City.鈥�
A cease-and-desist letter was issued by Tourism 91原创 around the time the City announced the Downtown 91原创 Business Association (DLBA) would be operating the new tourism destination marketing organization.
鈥淣o sooner did we have the words, 鈥淭ourism 91原创 City,鈥欌�� printed in the newspaper, than Tourism 91原创 hit us with a cease and desist (letter that said we are) not be able to use the words 鈥榯ourism鈥� or 鈥�91原创鈥� in the same sentence,鈥� said Teri James, the DLBA executive director.
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James disclosed the letter during a presentation to 91原创 City Council in response to a question by Coun. Paul Albrecht, who asked how the new City agency came to be called 鈥淒iscover 91原创 City.鈥�
James said the DLBA wasn鈥檛 intending to call the new marketing agency Tourism 91原创 City, 鈥渂ecause that鈥檚 boring鈥� but the phrase was being used as a 鈥減laceholder鈥� until a new name could be chosen.
The letter, she said, 鈥渂asically forced us to, sooner rather than later, make a decision (about a name) and Discover 91原创 City is where we landed.鈥�
鈥淎nd we think that was a very positive thing at the end of the day,鈥� James added.
Tourism 91原创 acting executive director Mun Bagri said the cease-and-desist letter was issued because 鈥淭ourism 91原创 City鈥� was too similar.
鈥淚t was basically infringing on our trademark,鈥� Bagri said.
He said having two agencies with almost-identical names would have created confusion.
鈥淯nfortunately, most people don鈥檛 realize there are two 91原创s.鈥�
Bagri said 鈥淒iscover 91原创 City鈥� was a good choice of name.
鈥淚t would be better, going forward, for both 91原创s (to have tourism agencies with distinctively different names),鈥� Bagri said.
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When 91原创 City announced it was leaving Tourism 91原创, the press release stated that 鈥�91原创 City, in consultation with 91原创 City tourism industry stakeholders, has concluded that it is in the best interest of its tourism stakeholders to create a new Tourism 91原创 City entity to serve as the tourism Destination Marketing Organization for the community, and that its functions and services be delivered through a new service provider.鈥�
The Township responded with an announcement that it was 鈥減leased to continue working with Tourism 91原创 to promote the municipality and show visitors from across B.C. and around the world what its 120,000 residents already know.鈥�
The City鈥檚 decision to separate itself from Tourism 91原创 came after several months of discord.
In December 2016, the head of Tourism 91原创 resigned as the Township considered departure from the destination marketing organization.
In February, the board called a special meeting to vote on dissolution of the organization, following a list of demands from the Township of 91原创 that the board felt was excessive.
The Tourism 91原创 membership voted to keep the organization going, but the following day, the City of 91原创 announced plans to explore alternative tourism models.
In March, Tourism 91原创 chair Teri James, treasurer Karen Long and director Lynn Whitehouse resigned from the organization.
dan.ferguson@langleytimes.com
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