The supervisory board of Nordseeheilbad Borkum GmbH (NBG) met for its second meeting this year last month. The agenda included, among other things, information about the progress in introducing a compliance management system, the current status of the allocation of milk stall parking spaces, the approval of investments and funding commitments, resolutions after the closed meeting in May and numerous other topics. The current decisions and measures are reported below.

Current status of work on the compliance management system, cultural integration, digitization of the guest fee and contract with the beach tent rental association

Last year, the NBG began to further systematize ensuring compliance with the applicable rules and to introduce a Compliance Management System (CMS). The goals are to prevent damage to the company and to avoid liability cases and rule violations. To this end, NBG employees in particular should be supported in ensuring compliance with the rules in the context of their diverse work.

The cultural integration of employees is an essential part of optimizing work processes and communication channels. It should be further advanced as the renovation concept is developed. In this context, there will be an anonymous online employee survey to determine the status quo in terms of level of knowledge and involvement in the strategic development of “Borkum 2030” – as the first part of the restructuring concept.

As already reported, a short-term introduction of a Borkum Card in cooperation with AG EMS is not realistic, although this path will continue to be pursued. Nevertheless, as part of digitalization, the analog system should definitely be further developed into a digital guest contribution system. For this purpose, a multi-stage implementation model was developed with the help of selected landlords, which will be implemented gradually.

Current status of the allocation of milk stall parking spaces

After the milk stall parking space 5 (Bismarckstrasse extension) on Markus Wilken and 6 (Südstrand) to Manfred Okken were awarded as part of a restricted tender in December of last year, the tender for locations 1 (currently Nils Oltmanns) and 7 (currently Manfred Okken) has now taken place ).

The current operator, Nils Oltmanns, submitted an offer in response to the limited tender for milk stall location 1 (“Strandflair”), in which three potential bidders were invited to take part in the competition. Since there were no further offers, the supervisory board followed the recommendation of the selection committee to conclude a contract to build and operate a milk stall from the 2023 season with a term of ten years.

The current operator of the “Wattwurm Borkum” on the main beach, Tobias Graß, was the only one to submit an offer for the also limited tender for milk stall location 7. Here too, the Supervisory Board followed the recommendation of the selection committee. The “Wattwurm Borkum” will begin operations on the southern beach from the 2023 season.

The basis for all offer assessments by the selection committee was the written application and a presentation. The selection committee consisted of seven supervisory board members and five NBG employees in accordance with the procedurally relevant expertise.

Due to the statement by the planner commissioned by the milk stall operators that the agreed timeline in accordance with the resolution passed on the compromise proposal “Tendering process for the milk stall locations” was stated, an amendment to the supervisory board resolution of January 2020 was necessary. Due to the new schedule presented by the milk stall operators, September 30, 2021 is now the latest date for the approval of locations 5 and 6.

The milk stall locations 2, 3 and 4 will be publicly advertised at the same time in accordance with the Europe-wide procurement regulations as soon as the building permits are available.

Approval of investment with funding commitments

Due to drastic changes in tourism in the wake of the corona pandemic, the Lower Saxony state government launched the “Touristic Projects” funding program in January 2021. The aim is to support tourism projects that contribute to the adaptation to the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in Lower Saxony, in particular "promoting the development and implementation of digital and/or other tourism measures that are necessary due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic." Pandemic will occur.” The program's funding quota is 80 percent of eligible expenses, but a maximum of 200.000 euros. The granting of the grant requires that there is a factual and temporal causality to the pandemic.

The NBG then submitted a funding application for the project “Digital expansion of the North Sea Aquarium in connection with the inclusion of the previously underused, adjacent multifunctional room in the exhibition”, which was estimated to cost 23.000 euros for the necessary digital technology (screen, touchpads). . Another funding application was submitted for the “Decentralization of sound technology for spa music on the promenade” project. This involves converting the Kurmusik's sound system in order to support compliance with Corona-compliant distance rules through appropriate visitor guidance.

The supervisory board approved both the investment costs for the North Sea Aquarium and for the events department.

Business organization and real estate management

The presentations and subsequent discussions shown during the closed meeting made it clear that it is necessary to develop a concept for merging the administration of the NBG. The Supervisory Board also recommends the specification of the functional program for a combined tourism service, separate from the current locations (Kulturinsel and Georg-Schütte-Platz) in connection with the functional program of a national park house/world heritage center, as well as the creation of a concrete functional program including space requirements for the Kulturinsel project 2.0, which meets future requirements.

Borkum 2030 – emission-free island

Also at the closed meeting in May, it was decided that a special purpose company would be founded for the climate-neutral heat supply of the island by converting the current one Nordsee Windport Borkum Verwaltungs GmbH is fundamentally supported. The city council is responsible for making the final decision.

Borkum nature experience

The Borkum Nature Experience project begins with the concretization of the currently finalized master plan until its comprehensive, concrete implementation. The supervisory board therefore recommends that the implementation of the project be pushed forward in cooperation with the national park administration. The specific design of the respective projects is subject to individual decisions by the council.

Cooperation agreement with the national park administration

At the supervisory board meeting on March 3, 2021, the final status of negotiations on the update of the cooperation agreement between the NBG and the national park administration was announced. This clearly describes the active actions for both partners. Areas of action are primarily the development of tourism as well as the water and energy supply in the context of the protection needs of the national park.

There was consensus at the meeting that it should be examined which topics - in addition to those of the NBG - affect the city of Borkum. In particular, questions of customs, such as Pentecost tents or Easter fires, the pasture cooperative and the hunting community, should also be included in the city's own agreement to secure the future Borkum should be regulated on an equal footing with the national park. All members of the Supervisory Board agreed that they would not accept additional restrictions if the cooperation continued.

In addition, the supervisory board voted to discuss the opportunities and risks of Borkum's participation in the design of the local model region for sustainable development (Lower Saxony Wadden Sea biosphere reserve) at a public information event for the city of Borkum. Provided there are no further restrictions from the national park, the supervisory board will then deal again with the signing of the cooperation agreement.

Adjustment of the structure in the tourism service area in conjunction with the establishment of a deputy tourism director

The company's focus in the tourism sector is to be further strengthened in the future. The main goal of the corporate culture should be the implementation of a deputy tourism director. In addition to managing the tourism service, the holder of the position will also be responsible for key tasks in the “destination management” pillar and act as a general representative of the management. There was agreement that such a role was needed. The management will present the fiscal effects of the planned adjustments to the job profiles at the next Supervisory Board meeting as a basis for a final resolution.

New homepage for the Nordsee Windport

The new homepage has been available since June 10, 2021 Nordsee Windport on-line. Special features are the bilingualism in German and English as well as the integration of private service providers, which are of particular importance for a well-rounded overall offer for offshore port users.

Round of negotiations for the selection of the service provider to create the living space concept

In April, Mariko approved funding for the sub-project “Living Space Concept” as part of the INTEREGG project “SAVE”. It is the first part of the Stadt-Borkum Group's restructuring concept. The negotiated award with a participation competition for the selection of the service provider to accompany the creation of the habitat concept is planned for mid-August.

Start with nudist buddies in the Olde Dunes

Since mid-June 2021, guests and residents of Borkum have been able to book the new nudist beach huts directly at the Tourist Information Office or online at www.borkum.de for an introductory discount. The unique feature: the huts are modeled after the style of Borkum's historic bathing carts, but with modern amenities. Equipped with a solar panel, USB port, lighting, a bench, and coat hooks, the 1-meter x 1,60-meter huts offer ample space to charge electronic devices and securely store clothing. Each of these cozy nudist beach huts also includes a sheltered plot of unspoiled nature in the dunes of the eastern part of the island.