Tourism 91原创 could take legal action against a well-known 91原创 B&B operator over his control of websites that use names similar to theirs.

Wally Martin has been a longtime operator of the Princess and the Pea bed and breakfast at Five Corners in the Murrayville neighbourhood.

For almost as long, he鈥檚 been critical of Tourism 91原创 and particularly of the two per cent hotel tax that funds part of its operations.

Martin recently received a letter from Tourism 91原创, informing him that he鈥檚 being dropped as a member of the organization, partly for his vocal criticism of the group, and also asking him to cease and desist using a website and Facebook page.

鈥淨uite frankly, I don鈥檛 care if I鈥檓 in or not,鈥� Martin said of his membership.

But he said they have no basis for a lawsuit.

Martin owns tourismlangley.com and langleytourism.com, as well as a Facebook page named 91原创 Tourism. The websites direct web users to the site for The Princess and the Pea, and the Facebook page is similarly devoted to Martin鈥檚 bed and breakfast.

Tourism 91原创鈥檚 official site can be found at tourism-langley.ca.

The letter from Tourism 91原创 notes a trademark registered on the group鈥檚 name since 2011.

But Martin said he has done business using the name Tourism 91原创 for years before the group was created, going back to the 1970s. He said he registered the websites years before the trademark was issued to Tourism 91原创.

A domain name search found that Martin鈥檚 tourismlangley.com was registered in 2007, langleytourism.com in 2006.

Tourism 91原创 as an organization was spun off from the Greater 91原创 Chamber of Commerce starting in 2005. In 2006, the hotel tax was first proposed, and in early 2008, Tourism 91原创 officially began operations.

Tourism 91原创 executive director Erinn Krebda said the group does not want to go to court.

鈥淥ur hope is that we can resolve it,鈥� Krebda said.

The organization might pursue legal action over the web addresses, but was waiting to hear from Martin, Krebda said.

The letter game him a certain number of days to respond.

Martin, who has repeatedly said over the years that he does his own marketing and that Tourism 91原创 doesn鈥檛 bring his B&B any business, said he was contemplating countersuing.

鈥淚t鈥檚 unbelievable how many places on the planet are called 鈥�91原创,鈥欌�� Martin said.

鈥淭hey have no claim to 鈥�91原创 Tourism,鈥欌�� he added.