New location for i-Site
Move a chance to review way info is offered
The Hastings i-Site is set to move to the Municipal Building when it is completed and be combined with the Toitoi ticketing office.
Hastings District Council’s Strategy and Policy Committee approved in principle the relocation of the i-Site at its meeting on May 4.
The committee agenda states that it is recommended that the Hastings i-Site be relocated to the Municipal Building when it is complete in 2022.
The Hastings i-Site has occupied the corner site of the Westermans building since 2002.
The agenda states there is an opportunity to “create operating synergies” between the i-Site and the Toitoi ticketing office.
Group manager corporate Bruce Allan said “we believe the operations of a ticketing office and that of an i-Site are very complementary to each other and can be combined into one operation”.
The current ticket set-up on the corner of Hastings St South and Eastbourne St East is temporary while the Municipal Building is being developed.
The services the i-Site offers
are also expected to differ, Allan said.
The committee resolution stated, “a business case be developed in conjunction with the council strategy focusing on tourism, event management and promotion of the Hastings District to attract growth in commercial tourism”.
“Council will be exploring opportunities to showcase what Hastings has to offer, which could ultimately mean being more focused on activities like wine and food for example.
“Council sees this as an opportunity to reimagine how
the visitor information service is provided to achieve improved and more costeffective outcomes,” Allan said.
At its current site, the Hastings i-Site costs about $360,000 a year and has a forecast income for 2020/21 of $85,000, so a ratepayer contribution of $275,000 a year to operate the facility is required, the agenda states.
Allan said the precise operating cost of the new facility had yet to be fully established and will be refined through a business plan.
“If there are savings made from the current operation,
these savings will be offset against the operating costs of Toitoi.”
Visitor numbers to the Hastings and Havelock North sites have been declining over a number of years, resulting in falling revenue and the reduction from seven days a week pre Covid-19 to five and a half days in Hastings and three and a half days in Havelock North.
Allan said the target was to have the new i-Site as a sevenday operation, but the formulation of a business plan will determine this.
Council will approve a new business plan.