• Support
  • Advertise
  • Locations
  • Contact
Sunday, February 5, 2023
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTERS
Dana Point Times
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On DP
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • DP Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • DP Surf
    • San Clemente Times
    • Capistrano Dispatch
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of DP
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classified
    • Submit a Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Announcements
    • Legal & Public Notice Advertising
    • Legal Notices
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Best of Dana Point
    • Crib to College
    • Dana Point Trolley Information & Route Map
    • Dolphin Football Preview
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Home Improvement Guide
    • Money Matters
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • The Green Issue
    • Turkey Trot Event Guide
  • DP Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On DP
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • DP Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • DP Surf
    • San Clemente Times
    • Capistrano Dispatch
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of DP
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classified
    • Submit a Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Announcements
    • Legal & Public Notice Advertising
    • Legal Notices
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Best of Dana Point
    • Crib to College
    • Dana Point Trolley Information & Route Map
    • Dolphin Football Preview
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Home Improvement Guide
    • Money Matters
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • The Green Issue
    • Turkey Trot Event Guide
  • DP Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who
No Result
View All Result
Dana Point Times
No Result
View All Result

Letter: A Big Mistake — Hotels Cancel IlluminOcean

by Dana Point Times
September 4, 2015 4:22PM
in Letters to the Editor, SOAPBOX
0
SHARES
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

DPlogo

By Jim Miller, Dana Point

The creation of the IlluminOcean holiday Harbor light show, put on by the four major hotels of Dana Point using the funding from Tourism Business Improvement District, was a home run. I was very proud of our TBID, our hotels and our city for stepping up and creating an event that in years to come would have made Dana Point the most popular destination for hotel guests and visitors our city has ever been.

Last year IlluminOcean saw over 250,000 visitors attend the 40 nights of lights with many returning two or three times bringing aunts and uncles, grandparents in wheelchairs, little children, family and friends.  All year long I have heard from my customers about how great the event was and how they were planning on having family come from out of town to see it this year.

I was told and have read in the City Council meeting agenda and reports from Sept. 4, 2014, that “the event will attract visitors from across the region and become an annual holiday attraction for years to come.” I was told, as were many others that it was to be an annual event and the hotels were committed, knowing it would take a few years to put what they call “heads in beds.” In fact in the budget that was approved by City Council on Oct. 21, 2014 for the 2015 budget, the light show was referred to as, “the IlluminOcean light display event to bring overnight visitors in the non-peak season.” And the budget reflected this in a line item that reads: Event Production and support $800,000.

Why did the four hotels cancel IlluminOcean? It wasn’t for lack of funds. It wasn’t for lack of attendance. Even if it was canceled for the reasons they would have the public believe, the decision was still a mistake.

Fact: Do you know that the city of Laguna Beach has been looking at sponsoring its own holiday light show? That would be a slap in our face, after canceling our Christmas light show, to let Laguna steal the TBID’s concept. I would prefer visitors come to our city.

If IlluminOcean is really canceled, then the TBID has $800,000 budgeted for this fiscal year. What are they going to do with all that money during the remainder of fiscal year 2015?

I have been told the displays delivered did not meet the expectations of the TBID. I have been told that all the work/displays from last year are unusable. My question is this: Are those displays under warranty? This question needs to be answered. If they are under warranty they should be repaired. I believe the OC Harbor Department would be prepared to assist to make any version of IlluminOcean happen this coming holiday season. Let’s keep IlluminOcean alive as something special for our city.

We are going to have thousands of people coming to Dana Point this holiday season; let’s not disappoint them. The city must step up and not let IlluminOcean fade into darkness. Make it happen and make sure no other coastal city steals what is Dana Point’s own IlluminOcean.

 

 

 

 

Share this:

  • Share
  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Tumblr
Tags: City CouncilDana PointIlluminOceanLetter to the EditorOrange CountySoapbox
ShareTweetPin

Dana Point Times

Related Posts

Dana Wharf Whale Report: Gray Whale Cow-Calf Pair Sighting Continue to Increase

Dana Wharf Whale Report: Gray Whale Cow-Calf Pair Sighting Continue to Increase

February 3, 2023
Dana Hills Students Get Unique Educational Experience with Dana Wharf Trip

Dana Hills Students Get Unique Educational Experience with Dana Wharf Trip

February 3, 2023
Capo Unified Trustees Take No Action on Controversial Charter School Proposal

OC Board of Education Approves New Capo Unified Charter School

February 3, 2023
Saying Goodbye to Pat Curren

Saying Goodbye to Pat Curren

February 3, 2023
Next Post

Ortega Highway Interchange Opens Sept. 4

Discussion about this post

No Result
View All Result

DP Times Daily
Get important news and updates delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up here.

Subscriptions
Don’t get the DP Times delivered to your home? Subscribe today.

Advertising
Get new customers and drive traffic to your business. Advertise with us.

Support Local Journalism
For less than the cost of a couple of cups of coffee a month, become an “Insider” member and continue to get “Local News You Can Use” from the only independently owned, dedicated local news organization in South Orange County.

Contribute today.

Picket Fence Media is a proud member of the SoCal Media Network.

  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Dana Point Times
  • San Clemente Times
  • The Capistrano Dispatch
  • DP Chamber Directory

© 2023 Picket Fence Media

No Result
View All Result
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On DP
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • DP Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • DP Surf
    • San Clemente Times
    • Capistrano Dispatch
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of DP
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classified
    • Submit a Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Announcements
    • Legal & Public Notice Advertising
    • Legal Notices
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Best of Dana Point
    • Crib to College
    • Dana Point Trolley Information & Route Map
    • Dolphin Football Preview
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Home Improvement Guide
    • Money Matters
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • The Green Issue
    • Turkey Trot Event Guide
  • DP Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who

© 2023 Picket Fence Media

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.