Abbi Agency resigns from Solvang tourism

Thursday, March 2, 2023

Solvang’s years lingering tourism marketing story continued with City Council members hearing for the second time with several weeks reports of combative performance from the city leadership.

Cheryl Shallanberger, Solvang Marketing Manager said that Abbi Agency requested to meet with the City Manager, the Mayor along with the Marketing Manager to assess the possibility of work and development in person. Due to response from Tourism Advisory Committee and City Council, The Abbi Agency recognized that the association might no longer serve to be helpful for all parties concerned and delivered an oral 30-day notice. A printed announcement was also received on February 21 this year.

Patrick Ty Whitaker, the Abbi Agency CEO said that the inside environment formed by the City of Solvang’s management brought in surprisingly antagonistic and argumentative communications that astonished their team. He said that they repent that a more humble, creative and cooperative setting was not existent to assist an effective marketing venture.

At the February 13 conference, Vashti Wilson, the Tourism Advisory Committee Chair said to the council that she was almost close to putting down her papers because of her experience so far. She spoke about non transparent operations and absence of veracity in her relations on the committee.

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