The capital region marketed as a single destination
The Capital Region Marketing Office was established yesterday, Monday 3rd April. The marketing office will be a destination marketing organisation for the entire capital region, and its founding bodies are the Association of Local Authorities in the Capital Region (SSH) and the Capital Region Tourist Board. The marketing body will be a platform for marketing and developing the capital region as a whole destination, thereby achieving better results.
For the past two years, preparations have been made for the establishment of Marketing Agency of the Capital Region with the involvement of the region's municipalities, the business community and the government. The founding bodies are the Association of Municipalities in the Capital Region (SSH) and the Capital Region Tourist Board. The establishment of the Capital Region Marketing Bureau creates a common platform for marketing and developing the Capital Region as a destination. Alongside the founding meeting, the Capital Region's destination plan was published.
Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir, Mayor:
„In recent years, Hafnarfjörður has been an attraction for a large number of tourists who are drawn to its diverse culture, outdoor activities, shopping and, not least, our Christmas Village. We see great opportunities in this partnership, which will undoubtedly contribute to an even greater increase in the number of tourists visiting Hafnarfjörður in the coming years, as the town has a great deal to offer.“
Regína Ásvaldsdóttir, Chair of the SSH Board:
„For the past two years, SSH has been working diligently with the tourism industry to analyse how the development and marketing of tourism in the capital region can best be managed. The establishment of the Capital Region Marketing Office represents an important step in ensuring coordinated actions related to tourism in the areas of marketing and destination development. With the establishment of the agency, a strong partnership will be created which will enhance the competitiveness of the destination, the tourism industry, and the capital region for the benefit of all.“.
Thórir Garðarsson, chairman of the Capital Region Tourism Association:
„Tourism businesses in the capital region have long called for a marketing body to be established for the capital region. This provides a platform for companies to directly influence how the marketing and development of tourism in the capital region will be in the coming years. It is safe to say that this is one of the biggest steps forward for tourism in the capital region“.
Þórdís Lóa is the chair of the board of the Marketing Agency of the Capital Region:
,The municipalities in the capital region have been working on tourism, both individually and together, but now the time has come to invite all stakeholders to take part in the project, and that is what the Capital Region Marketing Office is all about. We are now moving forward to develop, shape and strengthen collaboration and synergy on tourism matters in the capital region between the municipalities, the business community and the government, ensuring that all voices and priorities are represented for the benefit of the project.”.
Björn H. Reynisson, Project Manager for the Capital Region Destination:
,A destination plan sets out the strategy and priorities for the destination for the next three years. It specifies, among other things, which tourism-related actions the municipalities in the capital region intend to carry out, allowing everyone to work in unison. This is the first time a destination plan has been created for the capital region, and it is to be welcomed.“.
Representatives of the founders of the Marketing Agency of the Capital Region, from left: Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir, Mayor of Hafnarfjörður, Þór Sigurgeirsson, Mayor of Seltjarnarnes, Páll Björgvin Guðmundsson, Executive Director of SSH, Regína Ástvaldsdóttir, Mayor of Mosfellsbær, Dagur B. Eggertsson, Mayor of Reykjavík, Þórir Garðarsson, Chairman of the Capital Region Tourism Board, Sigríður Hulda Jónsdóttir, Gardabær and Ásdís Kristjánsdóttir, Mayor of Kópavogur.
The board of SSH, the board of the Marketing Agency of the Capital Region, the chairman of the tourism association of the capital region and the minister: Ásdís Kristjánsdóttir, Mayor of Kópavogur; Þór Sigurgeirsson, Mayor of Seltjarnarnes; Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir, Mayor of Hafnarfjörður; Guðbjörg Oddný Jónasdóttir, Hafnarfjörður; Jakob Einar Jakobsson, Managing Director of Jómfrúin; Þórdís Lóa Þórhallsdóttir, Reykjavík City Councillor and Chair of the Board of the Marketing Agency; Regína Ásvaldsdóttir, Mayor of Mosfellsbær and Chair of the Board of SSH; Lilja Alfreðsdóttir, Minister of Culture, Commerce and Tourism, Dagur B. Eggertsson, Mayor of Reykjavík, Sævar Birgisson, Mosfellsbær, Eva Jósteinsdóttir, Managing Director of Operations at Center Hotels; Stella Stefánsdóttir, Garðabær; Páll Björgvin Guðmundsson, Managing Director of SSH; Þórir Garðarsson, Chairman of the Capital Region Tourism Board; and Elísabet Sveinsdóttir, Kópavogur.