Plett Tourism Shows Rival the Door

Paul Duverge founder of Plettenberg Tourism.

The CEO of Plett Tourism Association, Patty Butterworth, has confirmed that the Association has terminated the membership of Paul Duverge, the founder of the rival Plettenberg Bay Tourism™, and two of the properties he is involved with in Plett, Sky Villa Boutique Hotel and the Bungalow.

The letter of termination was signed by Plett Tourism Association chairman Bruce Richardson, who said the board decided unanimously on 17 October to terminate the memberships, in accordance with Section 13, paragraph 4 of the Association’s constitution.

This states: “The Board may in its sole and absolute discretion withdraw the membership of any member… if it is of the view that the behavior of such member is unduly disruptive, brings the name of the Association into disrepute or is in any other way destructive of the aims, objectives or interests of the Association.”

The letter states that Duverge had made “damaging and unsubstantiated allegations with the clear intention of causing harm to the good reputation of the Association”, and that he had “sought to create mistrust between and damage a good and long-standing relationship with Bitou Municipality to the potential detriment of the economy of the town”.

Rivalry

Duverge responded that this is “a clear indication of egos and a personal vendetta at play and has nothing to do with the best interests of our beautiful town”.

He said that he registered Plettenberg Bay Tourism after he realized that Plett Tourism Association had no intention of changing with the times and being truly community-based and collaborative.

Over a four-year period, he said, the Association continued to dodge important questions regarding their financials and, importantly, the details of their expenditure. “The public must realize this was not an overnight decision.”

He also claimed that he is not the only person trying to change tourism in the town for the better.

“Plettenberg Bay Tourism™ has had at least two meetings were others involved in tourism have spoken out against the way the Association operates,” he said.

“Plett Tourism sees us as a rival – a narrative created by them. I have asked in person and in writing on multiple occasions and in front of the Council, that the Plett Tourism Association CEO refrain from mudslinging and constant attacks. Our approach is ‘live and let live’.”

He also pointedly mentioned that the Association, “who relies heavily on an R3,4m municipal grant and ratepayers’ money for survival, and who continually promises to grow membership and diverse income streams, have, after they received a grant renewal from the municipality, terminated memberships of two long-standing properties that do so much for the marketing of Plettenberg Bay as a destination.”

Trademark

Richardson’s letter also claimed that Duverge had deliberately registered his non-profit company, Plettenberg Bay Tourism™, “in a name which was clearly intended to cause confusion within the tourism industry”.

Butterworth has approached the Consumer Goods and Services Ombud asking that the Ombud assist her to have Duverge change the name of his organization, citing trademark infringement.

Her motivation was that “Plett” is a well-known abbreviation for Plettenberg Bay, and the two terms are used interchangeably and are well known to refer to one and the same destination”.

She also claimed that Duverge had added to the confusion by calling a meeting of the Plettenberg Bay Tourism “Association”.

She said the Plett Tourism Association enjoyed “common law prior rights to the trademark… and can rely on those rights to prevent unlawful competition due to the confusion created around the name of Plett Tourism.”

However, the Ombud told Butterworth in an e-mail that the CGSO was not the correct organization to complain to.

“We will not waver”

Said Duverge, “The fact of the matter is that Plettenberg Bay Tourism™ is a registered trademark. We are a not-for-profit company, and Plett Tourism Association does not have the authority to control which businesses set up shop in the town.

Photo of Plettenberg Bay. Photo: Carlo Coetzee

“We have never asked for funding from the municipality and promote Plettenberg Bay as a tourist destination using our own resources. They are attempting to bully us into submission, however, we will not waver from our objectives and how things can be done without government funds and fuelled by a pure passion for the industry.”

Source: Knysnaplettherald