Tuesday, 6 August, 2013

Recommendations to help Ellerslie bloom

The Community, Recreation and Culture Committee (CRAC) today recommended the Council re-energise the Ellerslie International Flower Show and review its long term future after next year’s event.

The Committee considered a staff report that outlined the financial performance of the Show since it was brought to Christchurch in 2009 and set out recommendations for its future to address issues identified in market feedback following the 2013 show.

These recommendations will be considered by the full Council at its next meeting on 15 August. They include having more exhibition gardens, introducing a KPI for Audience Satisfaction, moving the show forward by a week, and introducing an Advisory Group made up of horticultural experts to provide advice to the organisers.

Committee Chair, Yani Johanson said, “The show has failed to blossom as expected, and as such today’s recommendations to Council highlight that more needs to be done to ensure the event turns into a world-class flower show for the city.

“The Council wants a quality show that the people of Christchurch can be proud of, and that attracts significant visitors from around the country and from overseas. The committee recommendations reflect a desire that clear expectations are put in place with management to ensure an improvement in the satisfaction levels of those attending.”

Council Marketing Manager, Richard Stokes said, “Holding major events like the Flower Show cements Christchurch's image as the Garden City, boosts local morale, and puts Christchurch on the tourism map.

“We've taken the feedback on board from our audience survey and participants, and will make changes to next year's show. Already we have twice the number of large exhibition gardens signed up for the 2014 show.

“We're confident that another year down the track with Christchurch's rebuild, and taking people's feedback on board, we'll make changes to make the show bigger and better next year.”

The Committee also endorsed the recommendation that a full review be carried out within 10 weeks of the completion of the 2014 show, to consider its long term future.

In addition, it requested supplementary information be provided to the Council on the show’s management agreement, and asked staff to investigate opportunities for obtaining a drawcard showcase event to attract visitors to the show.

ENDS

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