GVB board ratifies $445K Christmas lights contract; approves $240K for New Year’s fireworks
BY SKYLER OBISPO
Journal Staff
The Guam Visitors Bureau’s board of directors has ratified a $445,000 per year contract with Hanna Enterprises Inc. for the installation of Christmas lights in Tumon and Hagåtña for the annual Christmas Village held during the holiday season.
The contract was ratified at the bureau’s Dec. 11 board of directors meeting.
Initially, the board issued a decision in October to approve only $300,000 of the $445,000, but following the board’s meeting in November, the amount was raised to the original negotiated amount.
GVB hosted a board of directors meeting on Dec. 11. The board approved four contracts including holiday lights, fireworks, electronic declaration forms, and a Taiwan liaison. Photo by Skyler Obispo
GVB board director Joanne Brown said that the procurement process for the contract was unusual and questioned whether it would be a negative mark on the bureau’s next audit.
“This is not normal,” she said. “We have already moved forward with this contract without it being officially approved by the board and that just is very backwards.”
GVB president and CEO Régine Biscoe Lee explained that there was a lack of public notice on the decision initially, which prompted the board’s need to ratify.
Brown asked whether GVB could enter into two to three year service contracts with vendors to avoid problems in the future. George Chiu, GVB board chairman, said that he would not be comfortable approving that go beyond his term.
The board also approved a contract with ShowPro Pyrotechnics, doing business as Jamz Media, valued at $240,000 annually through fiscal 2028 to provide fireworks displays for two New Year’s shows and two Liberation Day shows each year.
Chiu again stated that he was not comfortable with the contract extending beyond his tenure, but board director and Sinajana Mayor Robert RDC Hofmann said the three year term is a cost effective move for GVB.
“Not only [is it] a good deal, but when you lock it in at this price even if the fireworks costs goes up or there’s tariffs added, [ShowPro Pyrotechnics are] locked into this price and to whatever the amount of the show is,” he said. “To me it kind of works out.”
Hofmann added that even when orders are placed a month in advance, the vendor can still face shipment delays, which could ultimately prevent the fireworks show from taking place. Contracts would need to be signed at least six months in advance in some cases in order for shipments to arrive on time.
Fireworks displays will be held at Tumon Bay and Hagåtña Bay for both New Year’s and Guam Liberation Day, with an option to add an additional show for special events, conferences, exhibitions, or other bureau-designated activities.
GVB would also have the option to renew the contract in the future, and Chiu said he would support it if the bureau has the discretion to refuse.
The board also approved the motion to issue the notice to proceed with its contract with VEDA International Corporation to serve as a Guam liaison in Taiwan to promote the island in the country.
VEDA is a Taiwan-based marketing and communications firm, which GVB has contracted with in the past.
According to the RFP, VEDA would assist GVB and the Guam Economic Development Agency in promoting Guam “beyond travel tourism in the fields of economic and trade affairs, airport and airlines industry, intelligence, agriculture, culture, and education.
In August, the board approved the motion to allow Lee to enter into negotiations with VEDA for the contract for services in fiscal 2026 with the option to renew for up to three additional years.
GVB and GEDA will share the total cost of the retainer fee and out of pocket expenses which equate to a:
$5,000 per month retainer fee for fiscal 2026 ($45,000 for the remainder of fiscal 2026 - January through September 2026); and
$1,000 per month out of pocket expense for fiscal 2026 ($9,000 for the remainder of fiscal 2026 - January through September 2026).
The chairman questioned why VEDA was being selected as they did not perform well as a marketing agency for Guam in the past, but Lee said that the scope of work for the firm changed, emphasizing the push beyond travel tourism.
Director Milton Morinaga emphasized the importance of continuity in government partnerships, noting that VEDA maintains a strong working relationship with the Taiwanese government.
“We need some type of liaison where that person or that company knows where GVB is coming from and our missions are and … that way we have some kind of continuity with the government of Taiwan,” he said.
The last item the board approved was to issue a notice to proceed with the contract negotiated between GVB and Australia-based New Data Solutions Pty. Ltd. for the implementation, hosting, and support for the electronic declaration form from fiscal 2026 to fiscal 2028.
The negotiated price for fiscal 2026 is $131,092.50 with the firm receiving $150,168 for fiscal 2027 and $153,924 for fiscal 2028. GVB has the option to renew the contract for up to three additional years. mbj
Lt. Gov. Joshua F. Tenorio and Sen. Tina Muña Barnes announced their bid for the 2026 Guam gubernatorial election on Dec. 19 at Fort Santa Agueda overlooking Hagåtña.
Hugh Cavill, director of government affairs for the Cruise Lines International Association, said Micronesia is positioned well for cruise-based tourism.
