Who are we? What is our region?

Who are we?

• Who are we?

• What is our region?

• What is our brand/identity?

Map environment and take asset inventory

• Map environment and take asset inventory

• Develop a mission and vision statement

• Develop guiding principles

• Develop a strategy

• Identify funding opportunities

• Draft an organizational structure

• Agree to a one & two year work plan

• Establish performance measurements

• Implement management structure

Active outdoor activities/recreation

• Active outdoor activities/recreation

• Historic and cultural sites

• Scenic (Mountains to Sound Greenway)

• Shopping

• Special events/festivals

• Arts and culture

• Wine

• Proximity to Seattle

• Authentic Northwest experience

• “Safe, affordable family fun”

Cities (Newcastle, Issaquah, Snoqualmie, North Bend, Redmond, Woodinville, Bellevue, Kirkland, Mercer Island, Duvall, Roslyn, Cle Elum)

• Cities (Newcastle, Issaquah, Snoqualmie, North Bend, Redmond, Woodinville, Bellevue, Kirkland, Mercer Island, Duvall, Roslyn, Cle Elum)

• Counties (King, Kittitas)

• Snoqualmie Nation

• Puget Sound Regional Council

• Enterprise Seattle

• 4Culture

• Mountains to Sound Greenway

• Seattle Convention and Visitors Bureau

• Eastside Arts Coalition

“A Visitors Bureau that markets the experiences that make the Eastside a compelling destination”

• “A Visitors Bureau that markets the experiences that make the Eastside a compelling destination”

“Promote the cultural, historical, natural, recreational attractions on the Eastside by building a partnership, developing a brand, and marketing the destination”

• “Promote the cultural, historical, natural, recreational attractions on the Eastside by building a partnership, developing a brand, and marketing the destination”

Develop a network of Eastside tourism stakeholders to promote the interests of the entire region

• Develop a network of Eastside tourism stakeholders to promote the interests of the entire region

• Facilitate collective marketing opportunities

• Primarily focus on sustainable economic development and vitality

• Deliver exceptional (ROI) to stakeholders

Create an ‘inclusive’ rather than an ‘exclusive’ organization

• Create an ‘inclusive’ rather than an ‘exclusive’ organization

• Maintain excellent communications between member organizations, Board of Directors, and staff

• Promote ‘Green Tourism’ and make management decisions to support ‘Green’ initiatives

Brand region (Napa Valley model)

• Brand region (Napa Valley model)

• Support and encourage strong branding of our member communities

• Leverage funds to promote our amenities to regional, national and international guests

• Develop cooperative promotion opportunities

• Develop multi-site itineraries

• Work with Seattle and other regional tourism organizations

Mountains to Sound Greenway Visitors Bureau

• Mountains to Sound Greenway Visitors Bureau

• Washington State’s Central Park

• Seattle’s Eastside

• Mountains to Sound Playground

• Outside Seattle (east-bound)

Develop a brand

• Develop a brand

• Launch a regional website (activity based)

• Produce a visitors guide

• Maintain an electronic press kit

• Maintain a ‘news bureau’ (an internet site press room) to announce important events and activities in the region

Develop an advertising program to increase awareness of area, especially in the shoulder and off-season

• Develop an advertising program to increase awareness of area, especially in the shoulder and off-season

• Participate in consumer trade shows, media fams, and other tourism promotion opportunities

• Maintain a photo collection

• Generate press releases

Develop a group tour planner guide (electronic and print)

• Develop a group tour planner guide (electronic and print)

• Develop and maintain a meeting facilities guide for the region

• Organize sales blitzes and sales/media missions

• Develop cooperative advertising promotions (all media)

City and County contributions

• City and County contributions

• Corporate contributions

• State support???

• Kittitas County?

• Port of Seattle?

• Other?

Tourism Promotion Area (RCW 35.101)

• Tourism Promotion Area (RCW 35.101)

• House Bill 1276 (State tourism funding)

• Membership??

• LTAC funds

• Assessments

• Participation fees

• Other

Established in 2004 (Spokane)

• Established in 2004 (Spokane)

• Objective to fund DMOs and protect their funding from PFDs

• Who is currently using or soon will be (Spokane, Walla Walla, Tri-Cities, Wenatchee, Clark County, Liberty Lake, Snohomish County, Kitsap County, Pierce County)

• Most DMOs are currently considering

An assessment on an occupied hotel room per night, not to exceed $2

• An assessment on an occupied hotel room per night, not to exceed $2

• There are 6 potential categories of assessment

• All monies are governed by the hospitality community and cannot be used for capital expenditures

• Our proposed work plan meets the criteria

East King County has 6,000 rooms

• East King County has 6,000 rooms

• Estimated average collection of $1/night

• Estimated occupancy of 70%

• Estimated budget $1,533,000 annually

Tri-Cities ($1.50/rm) $ 800,000

• Tri-Cities ($1.50/rm) $ 800,000

• Clark Cnty ($2.00/rm) $ 913,600

• Spokane Cnty ($.50-1.50) $1,533,000

• Liberty Lake ($.50-1.50) $ 24,400

• Yakima ($.50-1.50) $ 352,000

Bellevue 3714

• Bellevue 3714

• Issaquah 382

• Kirkland 724

• Redmond 846

• Snoqualmie 95

• Snoqualmie Pass 81

• Woodinville 88

Need to form a DMO (501-C6)

• Need to form a DMO (501-C6)

• Need to amend the definition of “Legislative Authority” (Counties with populations over 1 million are excluded)

• 60% ‘yes’ vote by number of rooms in defined TPA region (weighted vote)

• Designate the “Legislative Authority”

Do we proceed on a legislative initiative?

• Do we proceed on a legislative initiative?

• Do we become a real organization?

• Do we get city commitments before we begin the legislative initiative?

• Do we hire state expert to guide us through the process? If so, what is the budget and how is it funded?

Original Language

• Original Language

• (2) “Legislative authority” means the legislative authority of any county with a population greater than forty thousand but less than one million, or of any city or town within such a county including unclassified cities or towns operating under special charters.

Added language

• Added language

• “In counties with populations greater than one million, a legislative authority may be established by three or more participating cities or towns within the county that are also within a single tourism promotion area”.

Bill will be dropped by 1/18/08

• Bill will be dropped by 1/18/08

• Jarrett has secured support

• Need to thank Rep. Glenn Anderson 5th District

• Start working the hill (Steve Buckner), Skip Rowley’s lobbyist

• Local community needs to voice support

Form a governing board (Hoteliers)

• Form a governing board (Hoteliers)

• Define what tourism means

• Set-up the governance structure

• Define (6) categories within TPA

• Decide on the “Legislative Authority”

• Create an Eastside DMO

• Request State set-up a TPA

• Allocate revenues (Hoteliers decide)

It is controlled by the Hotel community

• It is controlled by the Hotel community

• It cannot be used for capital projects

• Funds can be used to create tourism venues (granting organization)

• If the legislative authority does not endorse the hoteliers’ work plan and budget, the hoteliers can dissolve the TPA

• The work plan and budget prepared by the DMO is reviewed by the Hotel Council for approval

Contract with the Spokane law firm to set up the TPA ($5,000 estimated cost)

• Contract with the Spokane law firm to set up the TPA ($5,000 estimated cost)

• Work through the process (6-9 months)

• Obtain 60% vote by member hotels (weighted by # of rooms)

• Define participating cities

• Establish TPA

• Increased State Funding by $3,500,000

• Monies from WSCTC (Room Tax)

• Funding opportunity

• Matching grants ($200,000)

• Focus on rural communities

• Focus on eco-tourism

The governance model will be driven by our funding model

• The governance model will be driven by our funding model

• City/County funding

• Private/Public

• Stakeholder groups

• Membership based

• TPA: RCW 35.101

• HB 1276

• Establish a 501-C3 or 501-C6

• Have a Board of Directors and Executive Committee

• Executive Committee would have final say

• Do not create a membership based organization (e.g. Chamber of Commerce)

• Represent all tourism attractions and tourism related businesses

Work plan would be developed and submitted to the Board

• Work plan would be developed and submitted to the Board

• Final work plan would be approved by Executive Committee

• Each member of the Executive Committee would have an equal vote

• No determination on committees or committee structure

• Ultimate authorizing body would be the Executive Committee

Do we move forward?

• Do we move forward?

• Do we form a TPA?

• If so, do we contract with the attorney?

• If so, how should we pay for services?

• Do we contract with the Cities for 2008?

• What Cities should be involved?

• What is our time line?

• What committees need to be formed?

• When should we meet again?