PUERTO PENASCO, SON—At a meeting on July 15 at the Copacabana Restaurant, Manny Sanchez and Rosie Glover announced the opening of the newly-formed ROCKY POINT TOURISM & VISITOR ASSISTANCE BUREAU, scheduled to be opened on August 3, 2009.
After decades as a member of the business community in Puerto Penasco, Sanchez, who owns Manny’s Tequila Factory and Manny’s Beach Club, says he decided that it was time to take a proactive approach to attracting tourism and uniting the business community.
“I knew Rosie Glover would be the right person to take the ideas and run with them”, he said, explaining how he determined that Glover, owner of ProAlliance Insurance and the Rocky Point News Online was the right choice to head up the Bureau. “I am donating the office space and will cover the utilities and Mrs. Glover was willing to donate her time, ideas, and effort.”
For her part, Glover says she already had notes with her ideas and had hoped to someday be able to help bring more tourism to her adopted hometown. “It’s funny, but I’ve been developing a plan for a couple of years in the hopes that it would come in handy sometime. Manny and I agree that there is much we can do and that now is the time to do it”.
While both agree they would have liked to have had better attendance at the meeting, they were pleased with the quality of the turnout. “Noe Banaga was there to represent the incoming administration, and pledged their support. CANACO and OCV were both enthusiastic and supportive”, said Sanchez.
“Architect Fausto Soto, and Jill Mitchell owner of Consign & Design are both going to be key elements for the Bureau”, added Glover. The outline shared by Glover shows the RP Tourism & Visitor Assistance Bureau to be much more than a tourism office, with some functions being those often associated with a Chamber of Commerce and the Better Business Bureau.
When asked to elaborate on the services offered, Glover said, “Visitors to Penasco need a place to go if they have questions or problems while here. We intend to be there for them and help in whatever way we can. At this point we need to identify businesses that are willing to sign on as members so I can explain the details of our plan. Aside from the service to visitors, and of course the business directory, member businesses will also have a liaison when issues arise for them locally. There will be a committee made up of members who will oversee all activity”, adding confidently, “And of course, our plan to increase tourism will be creative and far-reaching”.
I'll run it tomorrow (Wednesday), Rosie. By any chance do you have some sort of image/picture that could accompany it for that extra added bit of visual interest?
Thank you! You guys are great. How are you and your sis holding up? Hang in there, and keep giving 'em hell. Hugs!
We are doing well, thanks. Kinda hard watching all the action on this site and not being able to come to our house for the first time since 1973. I posted some pics to the album section of my profile...titled it "Happier Times."
The ladron is still spreading gossip around town with the help of others who claim to "know" my mother's wishes, or that have not ever met her! Funny how when challenged, they become mute and crawl back under their rocks with no response! He is still renting the house out, and I hear it is a mess, but since most of the politicos he supported lost the election, they have not been at the house too much lately. Lo siento....
Again, thanks to those who continue to voice their support and shame on those who gossip without verification!
Another press release...please send out, post, use, do anything you can think of that might help. Thank you!
For Immediate Release
Rocky Point fights back
PUERTO PENASCO, SON— The Rocky Point business community has decided to fight back against what they say are unfair media reports in the U.S. that have created an unreasonable fear of traveling to this tranquil beach resort only a 3 ½ hour drive from Phoenix and Tucson. With the new coastal highway the drive time from Southern California is easily under 7 hours. Last Wednesday approximately 25 community leaders gathered to discuss the details of the new Rocky Point Tourism & Visitor Assistance Bureau. “The Tourism Bureau is intended to counteract negative press and increase tourism”, said Manny Sanchez Sr., owner of Manny’s Beach Club and Manny’s Tequila Factory, “but we’ll also function as an assistance office if anyone here has a problem while visiting here. We want people to know that we are good hosts. Visitors to Rocky Point will have a wonderful time and they will know they are appreciated”. Tourism Bureau director Rosie Glover, who owns ProAlliance Insurance and the Rocky Point News Online added that the Bureau will also function as a combination Chamber of Commerce and better business bureau. “So many people want to know that the service providers they hire are, in fact, upstanding members of the business community. Consumers need only look for our logo to be confident that they are dealing with a member in good standing. Member businesses will be able to rely on us to be their liaison with government offices”. With an office on the main boulevard, right above the Tequila Factory in the center of town, the Rocky Point Tourism & Visitor Assistance Bureau is scheduled to open August 3. There will be an advisory committee made up of representatives of the business community, municipal government and law enforcement. The committee will meet monthly to review tourism-related issues. ROCKY POINT TOURISM & VISITOR ASSISTANCE BUREAU; CONTACT: ROSIE GLOVER [B][U][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=#006398]rosie@proalliance.com.mx[/COLOR][/FONT][/U][/B] MX CELL: 638.112.0134 U.S. PHONE: 602.773.1031
I think you guys all must drive a lot faster than Mr. Huerita and I do. It takes us about 4 hours to get there from Phoenix or Tucson. I'm starting to feel like an old fart, LOL. :boat:
I forwarded the information about the tourism agency to a Tucson TV station and I will wait for a response as to when they will announce it publicly.
Very cool, and a great idea. I love how this community comes together when the chips are down to help each other and RP in general. Makes me smile inside. Aw shucks, now I'm going to get all mushy and stuff, dadgummit. :roll:
I am wondering how this new organization compares to the existing ones. There is, or was I should say, an official govt. tourism office in Penasco. In fact it used to be located in the same building, not sure if it is still around.
Then there is the group that met a couple of times and was supposed to get a large bundle of Pesos from the State of Sonora. The director of Tourism attended an early meeting, which was very well attended. A representative of that group came by collecting 'donations' about 2 weeks ago so I guess they are still active (or we got ripped off) !
Hola Roberto, that's a good question. The government office that you refer to is the Office of Conventions & Visitors (OCV). Oscar Palacio, owner of Playa Bonita is the President of that organization and Rafael Gonzalez is the Director. You may or may not know that every room/hotel rental in Penasco is subject to a 2% tax.The government matches that money. The hotel industry is charged with determining how that money can be spent to promote tourism for the hotel industry in the city. As Oscar is a hotelier, he was selected from the group to run that organization.
For many years now, they have been overwhelmed because people in the community have looked at them as the "tourism office", and expected them to provide tourism for the city, when, while it is part of their job...they have wanted the rest of the community to also do something. Rafael was at our meeting last week and expressed his desire to support our efforts.
In the words of Ruben Gonzalez, owner of the Lluvia del Mar hotel, "it's about time the rest of the community did something". Their group and ours will work in conjunction to avoid duplicating efforts.
As for the Uniting Penasco group. I was also at the first two meetings. You're right...there were a lot of people there. Frankly, I don't know how that's going. I did not sign up for any committees. Nor was I sought out for advice or input. (those of you who note an undercurrent here are probably correct. You can have more info on this if you ask the right questions). I happen to be cautious when it comes to a situation where I see too many chiefs. Only because it rarely works. Also, folks were asked for contributions. Our effort will run with volunteers staffing the office (with me), and as you know, some people are donating office supplies, web hosting and an air conditioner. I am grateful and they will be appreciated in any way possible, including member services...but I think that is different than asking 400 business people for a monetary donation and time on committees. By the way, we will have an Advisory Committee to oversee activities and help settle issues.
I think business people should be offered a service in exchange for their investment. I further believe in accountability...a person heading something up and making it work. Makes more sense to a control freak like me, I guess.
While we're on the subject of what I think, it is my opinion that the real estate community should be taken into consideration, but should not be running the show. Right now, their desperation is showing. Just do a search on Google...bunches of websites working real hard to "sell". I intend to counteract bad media with good media, and if I sell anything, it will be events and participation. To member businesses, I will sell memberships for which they will get a list of promotional services, similar to chamber of commerce and better business bureau in the States. Other than that, I cannot speak to what Uniting Penasco is doing.
I don't know if your money was well-spent. You tell me...
Melody did a couple, Manny Jr. is kicking it around a bit, and if you get a flash, by all means...I will then pick one (actually, I'll know it when I see it). It needs to be a logo that can work for our member businesses in their advertising as well. Like the BBB. Saw your page...great! Thank you.
So it sounds like you will be selling memberships in your new organization ? Have you established a fee schedule?
I wonder if anyone has ever inquired to the OCV regarding how they spend their money? That 2% would add up over a year. Do you know if the 2% is collected on condo rentals?
I'm not really sure, but I think the rental agencies and the condos do contribute to the 2%. Just a guess, though. A few years ago I sat in on a meeting where it was explained to business people how the money was spent. Advertising in the States, especially Arizona, some national ads. Don't recall the details, but yes...it was explained.
Our fee schedule is being worked out as we speak. There will be Charter Members and Sustaining Members. Also a plan for small businesses. You will be amazed with some of the promotions all ready in the works, and the office isn't even ready yet! I'll keep you posted on the fee schedule and events and meetings. Hope you can make the next one.