Max Mason, CEO of Tauranga Chamber of Commerce as usual has gone off on a tangent on the requirement for a major Convention/Conference Centre in Tauranga, presumably in the proposed multi-storey hotel opposite Baycourt. This type of 'money grows on trees” mentality has to stop. Is Mr. Mason expecting Council/ TCC ratepayers to pay for this $17 million edifice or something?
Who will put in place the accommodation infrastructure?
Well, if that's the case, forget it because this is definitely a private enterprise project, if they won't do it that means it is a money loser. TCC ratepayers already unnecessarily fund huge loses on the Art Gallery, Baypark and City Aquatics, with Mount Hot Pools and Tauranga Indoor Sports coming on stream very shortly.
If my memory serves me correctly, Armitage Hotel has four conference rooms (max. 200), Trinity Sebel has 1, 2 & 3 (max. 310) plus probably Holy Trinity and some of the school auditoriums would also be available. These are more than adequate and the Racecourse, Baypark, Baycourt, Bureta Park and the Historic Village are also in the mix with conference facilities.
Tauranga can't compete above its present level with Rotorua, which has far superior bulk hotel accommodation and better airline services already.
Just get the head out of the sand and start promoting our good existing facilities rather than bleating for a change.
R Paterson, Matapihi.