The Williamsburg Hotel Motel Association (WHMA) and the Tourist Information Center (TIC) it funds lost three of its leaders in two days.
Scott Hart, president of the TIC, resigned on Monday. Billy Scruggs, president of the WHMA, submitted his resignation Tuesday morning. As his last official act, he eliminated the role of WHMA executive director, which was filled by Priscilla Caldwell; this effectively ended her executive director role at the TIC, as well. Hart and Scruggs cited board issues as reasons for their resignations.
Hart told WYDaily that “the WHMA Board… controlled the [TIC] purse strings, and they were trying to direct operations as well. This is not the best for anyone.” Although the two are separate entities, the WHMA is the main source of funding for the TIC.
“I felt that the direction this was going wasn’t going to be the best thing for the TIC,” Hart said. “We all worked so hard on it; it was disheartening to see.”
Hart plans to continue working to promote tourism in the Triangle, he said, and plans to work with the Greater Williamsburg Chamber and Tourism Alliance as it shifts to become the area’s Destination Marketing Organization.
Scruggs also cited concerns with the WHMA Board in his resignation letter.
In a letter to the board, Scruggs cited conflict with some board members as his reason for leaving. “Due to changes (and dynamics) in the composition of the WHMA leadership, I believe my efforts to continue to lead the board and staff in the implementation of the strategic plan, for the members, have been stalled,” he said.
“The lack of support and confidence shown to me, and our executive director, by some board members, has convinced me I can no longer carry out the duties and responsibilities of this office with the level of service that our membership deserves.”
The most recent change in leadership at the WHMA, according to its website, is a vacancy by former WHMA Vice President Chris Voert, filled by Kim Armstead of HMP Properties (HMP has several local hotel properties, according to its website). Hitesh Patel of HMP Properties is also on the Board of Directors.
Two WHMA Board officers and its most recent past president Chris Canavos did not immediately respond to emails Tuesday for comment.
Scruggs told WYDaily that just before he resigned, he eliminated the position of the Executive Director, which had been filled by Caldwell. “That was a response to what I believed to be the consensus of the Board that our budget cuts were not deep enough,” he said.
The WHMA has recently stopped paying to subscribe to Smith Travel’s lodging report (read a story on that here) and in August, it suspended its customer call center due to lack of funding (read that story here).
The Board had urged him to make deeper cuts than he already had, Scruggs said, and eliminating the executive director role “was the only solution left.”
Scruggs said he plans to continue to work with the Alliance in its future efforts to market the Triangle.
“My commitment to the destination and tourism is just as strong as it always has been,” he said.
Caldwell agreed, saying she would also stay committed to marketing the destination. “I look forward to playing a role in future efforts,” she said, “and I am proud of the work we have done with our tourism partners in advancing tourism in the Triangle.”
