Room levy group to work closer with YASTA

The Rodd Grand Hotel is one of four local establishments subject to a room levy tax used towards marketing and promotion. TINA COMEAU PHOTO

The chair of the Yarmouth and Acadian Shores Tourism Association (YASTA) says he is excited that the association will be working with the Yarmouth Room Levy Group more closely in the future.

Something Ive heard since our inception is there wasnt enough industry input and with this, theres certainly going to be more of that, said John Cunningham.

The plan is for the group to become a full funding partner of the organization with members from the group sitting on the YASTA board.

Manager Neil MacKenzie says the industry-led group has been partnering with YASTA for nearly three years on group sales efforts, providing approximately $45,000 over that period.

The addition of them as a full partner strengthens us, both in stability and in focus. More industry input is what weve been striving for, he said.

Both bodies have an agreement in principal and are working together to amend YASTAs bylaws to establish full partnership, tentatively by September.

As a full funding partner the room levy group will be contributing approximately $60,000 per year for a three to five-year period.

They will also have up to three voting members on the YASTA board. At present they have no voting members.

With the group as voting members, Cunningham says YASTA may head in a slightly different direction in regards to packaging experiences and advertising, using the YASTA group sales position.

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Room levy group to work closer with YASTA