KW Oktoberfest looks at changes to festival after review

KW Oktoberfest Inc. is taking a hard look at the festival and recommendations made by a consulting company review.

Optimus SBR outlined seventeen next steps for the fesitval, falling under five main categories. 

Those include:

• Value Proposition: Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest can strengthen the festival to be a family-oriented Bavarian Festival that is welcoming to all cultures and celebrates authentically what German Culture has to offer
• Governance: A new governance structure is needed to support the shift from an operational to governance board, as well as idea sharing and decision making backed by critical skillsets on the board
• Operating Model: Elevate the role of K-W Oktoberfest Inc. to a more strategic focus which will enable the organization and the festival to grow organically
• Sponsorship & Marketing: There is a need to revamp the sponsorship model and business development practices, as well as marketing skill sets and partnerships
• Programs and Events: Opportunities to optimize Oktoberfest events and to stay focused on delivering the ones that are true to German culture

Task force committee meetings, made up of Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest staff and volunteers, along with community members, are currently underway.

Decisions made could impact the 2020 festival, but overall, will be slowly introduced over the next few years.

The seventeen next steps include:

• Governance Task Force: Board of Directors, Community Advisory Committee members and other key community members have met to examine how to shift the board from an operating structure to a governance board
• Sponsorship Taskforce: Staff and Board members together with third party representatives are re-working the sponsorship structure to attract more sponsorship dollars
• Marketing and Ticketing Task Force: Staff, Board Members, Waterloo Region Tourism and community members are reviewing new marketing strategies and partnerships to strengthen our brand and our ticketing options
• Miss Oktoberfest Task Force: Identifying ways to modernize the ambassador program for Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest
• Finance Committee: Currently reviewing our financial outlook and outlining options
• Festhallen: K-W Oktoberfest Inc. will continue to work with each of the Festhallen to revamp the accreditation structure and find ways to work together for success

Tim Beckett, President of K-W Oktoberfest Inc. and Executive Director Alfred Lowrick will be joining The Mike Farwell Show at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday morning.

with files from KW Oktoberfest