ITEM NO:
DATE OF MEETING:

7a
January 30, 2018

Tourism Marketing Support
Program Summary

Century Agenda
Advance this Region as a Leading Tourism
Destination
- Increase visitors and visitors expenditures
throughout Washington state
- Expand utilization of the Port's assets
Maximize Value of Tourism Throughout Washington
2

Tourism Marketing Partnership
• Supports Port's goal to
grow economic opportunity
• Demonstrates partnership
with travel organizations
• Demonstrates Port's
leadership in visitor
industry

Source: UNWTO

Promoting Statewide Tourism
3

2017 Program Highlights
• Received 32 applications from throughout the state
• Over $270,000 in funding requested
• Review committee selected a total of 18 recipients
- Twelve outside King County

• Port invested $150,000
• Matching funds from recipients will exceed $100,000
2017 Program Generated Statewide Interest
4

2017 State Grant Award Locations

18 Partners Across the State
5

Yakima Valley

Walla Walla

Promoting air service via Seatac

$10,000

Advertising wine flies free

$7,100

Digital Marketing Campaigns
6

White Pass Scenic Byways

Cascade Loop Association

New drive itinerary development $10,000

Cascade Loop UK media promotions $10,000

Promoting Cascade Mountain Adventures
7

Port of Bellingham

Anacortes Chamber of Commerce

Promoting Bellingham as a craft brewery destination $10,000 Travel media and influencers campaign $5,000

Craft Breweries and Travel Writer Promotions
8

Whidbey & Camano Islands

Multi-channel marketing to international visitors $10,000

Greater Grays Harbor

Travel website development

$8,000

Attracting Visitors to the Islands and Grays Harbor
9

Long Beach Peninsula

Port of Edmonds

Whale watching advertising

$10,000

"360" destination video

$8,000

Marketing Ocean Adventures
10

Skamania County

Website design and improvement

Starfire Sports

$5,952

Campaign to grow out of state teams $6,000

Website Improvement & Attracting Sports Travel Teams
11

Chinatown International District

Ad campaign on Link Light Rail

$4,447

Greater Seattle Business Association

Digital campaign promoting gay family travel $10,000

Marketing Seattle as a Vibrant Welcoming City
12

Puget Sound Attractions

Marketing to international tour operators $5,500

Visit Ballard

Online marketing campaign

$10,000

Marketing Attractions and Communities Collaboratively
13

Seattle International Film Festival

Attracting out of state film goers

$10,000

Wintergrass Music Festival

Marketing to non-resident attendees $10,000

Increasing Festival Attendance
14

2018 Planned Improvements
• Identified process efficiencies for applying and
contracting
• Increased Commission commitment ($200,000)
• Added $50,000 to support cultural, eco, nature
and sustainable tourism efforts

2018 Program Kicks Off in February
15