Destination Cambridge, the town’s long-standing information organisation, has officially dissolved.
Hello, goodbye: from left Kelly Bouzaid, Aroha Croft (Cambridge Chamber of Commerce), Lucy Young, Ruth Crampton (Destination Cambridge). Photo: Mary Anne Gill
At a meeting held on Friday, members voted to wind up the 25-year-old incorporated society and donate its estimated $155,000 in surplus assets to the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce.
The vote took place in an eerily empty part of the Town Hall where since 1999 some form of information centre has operated within the historic walls.
Chair Lucy Young explained the decision followed Waipā District Council’s withdrawal of funding two years ago. Despite efforts to become financially independent, the board was unable to achieve viability.
“It was the severity of that decision all at once that basically made all of us feel the weight of the decision,” said Young.
“Whilst this is a sad day and the end of an era for Cambridge, our board’s view is it is a forward-thinking decision that consolidates our efforts, strengthens our collective voice and it positions our tourism initiatives to even greater success within a well-resourced and highly effective organisation.”
End of a legacy, from left Aroha Croft, Kelly Bouzaid (Cambridge Chamber), Liz Stolwyk (inaugural manager), Roger Gordon (former CEO), Ruth Crampton, Lucy Young (Destination Cambridge). Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
General manager Ruth Crampton had been an “absolute superstar”, but the board had been unable to fully resource her talent and she finished with the organisation earlier this week.
“Our initiatives and our vision have been quite constrained.”
Cambridge Information Inc was set up as an incorporated society in August 2000 with current deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk serving as its first manager.
It was rebranded as Destination Cambridge in 2017 when current Waipā councillor Roger Gordon was chief executive.
“I feel really, really proud of what we achieved in this community. This has been a real community effort for some time,” said Stolwyk.
“But it’s important we look to the future.”
Chamber chief executive Kelly Bouzaid echoed the sentiment, highlighting the synergy between economic development and destination promotion.
The chamber will now manage the cambridge.co.nz website, social media, tourism advocacy, and three annual tourism events.
A stakeholder advisory panel has been formed to guide priorities. Members include Stolwyk, Bouzaid, Memorie Brooky (Riverside Adventures), Cristal Montgomery (Cambridge Mews), Nicola Greenwell (Hamilton and Waikato Tourism), and David Natzke (Cambridge Chamber).
The vote is taken; Destination Cambridge is no more. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
