Tourism plan delayed as Gutierrez and Chiu are at odds
The Guam Visitors Bureau’s vote on its critical tourism recovery plan has been delayed to later this month.
This follows as president of the Guam Visitors Bureau. Carl T.C. Gutierrez, and board Chairman, George Chiu, had a heated exchange at its board of directors meeting on Nov. 7.
Chiu opened the meeting expressing his frustration regarding Gutierrez’s open criticism of the board and of local businesses.
“It’s very very disappointing to see all the exchange of emails and letters that have been happening in the past two weeks,” he said.
GVB Board Chairman George Chiu spoke to the board on Nov. 7. Photo by Skyler Obispo.
Gutierrez had written a letter to the Guam Economic Development Agency stating that “our marketing efforts are severely undercut by the inability of local businesses in the tourism value chain to deliver the destination experience promised in our messaging.”
When asked by Chiu whether the tourism recovery committee has met with GVB management, Vice Chairman Joaquin P.L.G. Cook told him that it has not, saying that management did not want to meet at two scheduled times.
Gutierrez stood and responded saying that the board was wrong for outsourcing the creation of the recovery plan to Baldyga Group and that it should have been the responsibility of the board.
Chiu tried to cut Gutierrez’s response short, but he told the chairman, “You’re not going to bully me.”
GVB President Carl T.C. Gutierrez expressed his frustration with the board of directors at last week’s board meeting. Photo by Skyler Obispo.
Later in the meeting, GVB Vice President Gerald S.A. Perez reported that visitor arrivals are at 46.2% of pre-COVID numbers.
Moreover, several mayors from the island’s villages were in attendance at the board meeting.
Tony Chargualaf, mayor of Inalåhan, told the board that he does not want his village to be a “drive-by.”
He said villages have a role to play in the tourist’s experience, but funding hampers the mayors’ ability to capitalize on each village’s uniqueness.
Chargualaf asked the board to consider the villages in their decision making.
Talks have progressed between the long-awaited collaboration between the English Premier League football team, Tottenham Hotspur. The board took home a draft copy of the resolution to review. mbj
