Sizzle sues Visitors Bureau

The publisher of Spokane Sizzle and Idaho Cuisine magazines is suing the Spokane Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau, alleging the organization has suppressed the two entertainment guides and copied their formats in order to capture more revenue for itself.

The suit, filed Thursday in Spokane County Superior Court, says the CVB and President Harry Sladich violated commitments made to Premier Publishing Inc. when the company joined the bureau, including a promise Sizzle would be displayed in the organization’s directory. Also, the CVB Web site was supposed to link to Sizzle’s.

But instead of becoming a business partner, the suit says, the CVB became a competitor that stopped distributing Sizzle last spring. Not only did Sizzle lose advertisers, Premier also was denied the benefits of dues and fees paid to become a CVB member, it says.

Damages because of fraud, breach of contract and other alleged violations of the membership agreement exceed $75,000, the suit claims.

Sladich said Friday he would not respond to the claims made by Premier. But he issued a statement saying the CVB has marketed the Inland Northwest with “integrity and passion” for 30 years and will continue to do so.

In responding to similar complaints in the past, Sladich has defended the CVB’s prerogative to assure materials promoting the region are consistent in content and appearance.

Alternative publications confuse the message, he said.