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LETTER: Banff doesn't need any marketing during the pandemic

Editor: The following quotes are from “BLLT ceases marketing of Banff National Park during current COVID-19 crisis” published circa Dec. 17, 2020 in the Rocky Mountain Outlook .

Editor:

The following quotes are from “BLLT ceases marketing of Banff National Park during current COVID-19 crisis” published circa Dec. 17, 2020 in the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

“In an unprecedented move, Banff and Lake Louise Tourism has stopped marketing Banff National Park as a place to visit during the current COVID-19 climate.”

Leslie Bruce, President and CEO of Banff and Lake Louise Tourism (BLLT), told Council on Monday (Dec. 14, 2020): “But we do not want to be at this point in time aggressively promoting, and so we shut the marketing channels off and we will re-evaluate as this particular wave of the (COVID) crisis unfolds.”

I commend BLLT for making this decision, but I am surprised that this decision wasn’t made at least six months ago when the vast majority of would-be foreign travellers were banned from entering Canada.

I am also surprised that Councillor Corrie DiManno is still employed by Roam Transit as marketing and communications coordinator according to an email that I received, on Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, from Martin Bean, CAO/general manager at the Bow Valley Regional Transit Services Commission. 

Roam (which I believe has an "arms-length" relationship with Banff Town Council) pays Councillor $40,000 plus for 1,000 work hours per year.

Given the continued ban on foreign travellers, and in the past even Canadian visitors to Banff, I have to wonder “who is Coun. DiManno Marketing Roam to?"

I believe that for at least six months now there has been zero need for Roam to continue employing a marketing and communications coordinator.

I am hoping that Mr. Bean can provide the reasons for the continued employment of Coun. DiManno as Roam’s marketing and communication coordinator. 

Jon Whelan,

Banff

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