The Kitsap Peninsula Visitor and Convention Bureau is undertaking a reorganization that will strengthen the Bureau’s strategy in positioning the Kitsap Peninsula as a preferred destination for leisure travel, ‘stay-cations’, events, meetings and conventions.
The first phase in this reorganization is the announcement of a new Executive General Manager staff position and the departure of Grant Griffin as Executive Director at the end of July, 2009.
“The new position will allow the Bureau to be more effective, efficient and proactive in these challenging times, all while renewing our commitment to our members and the communities of the Kitsap Peninsula,” said Acting-President of the KPVCB, Samuel Askew. “Although the travel industry is faced with a drastically changed economic climate, this is also an exciting time for us to share the beauty, activity and hospitality that are Kitsap. We’re at the heart of it all.”
In changing from and Executive Director to Executive General Manager staffing model, the KPVCB Board of Directors has moved to reinforce it’s commitment to travel and tourism as a vital economic development engine recognizing that inter-community visitation is just as important as the ‘heads in beds’ model that is so prevalent in the industry.
Askew had this to say about the staffing change, “We truly appreciate where Grant has taken the bureau over his 13 year tenure and the reorganization is not meant as a slight to his abilities. The new direction of the organization requires a different skill set and because of that we’ll be looking outside the current staff.”
Outgoing Executive Director Grant Griffin welcomes the change and supports the reorganization. “We have done some innovative marketing on behalf of the Kitsap Peninsula over the years and I’m proud to have been associated with an organization that has seen tourism spending in the county go from $140.8 million in 1995, to $258.8 million in 2007” said Griffin “This is absolutely the best time to assess our strengths and re-engineer ourselves. I’ll always support positive change and appreciate the opportunity I have now as an appointed Board Member.”
The KPVCB remains wholly dedicated to programs that benefit and promote the hospitality industry and tourism’s positive economic impact the member communities that include: Silverdale, Port Orchard, Bremerton, Poulsbo, Bainbridge Island, Kingston, and the Sovereign Indian Nations of the Suquamish Tribe and Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe. The KPVCB also works to develop visitors and tourism for the economic success of Gig Harbor and Belfair.
