January 17, 2007
To: Soren Wolff, City Manager
Al McGeehan, Mayor
Members of Holland City Council
The Holland Area Convention and Visitors Bureau is in support of seven-day beverage sales within the City of Holland. As a vibrant, award-winning community, and one of the “Best Communities in Which to Retire”, Holland attracts visitors and residents from all 50 states, as well as many international destinations. Unfortunately, many of the visitors who come to the lakeshore spend Saturday in Holland and Sunday in Saugatuck, due to the discrepancy in liquor laws between the two communities. We frequently lose convention and meeting business because an evening cocktail reception cannot be held prior to a Monday morning business meeting. Holland, unfortunately, is not on a level playing field with our competition. From an economic development point of view, the Holland Area Convention and Visitors Bureau believes the city needs the necessary tools to compete when vying for the “new dollars” that the tourism and convention and meeting industry brings into a community.
As manufacturing jobs leave our area, tourism and the vibrancy of downtown play an even more critical role in Holland’s future. The Holland Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors respectively request that Holland City Council take the necessary steps toward adopting the Ottawa and Allegan County standards for seven-day beverage sales in state-licensed establishments.
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Larry Weller, President
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Sally Laukitis, Executive Director