JULY 2019 Tourism Marketing Support Program 2019 RECIPIENTS Prepared by: Ron Peck and Gail Muller 2019 Tourism Marketing Support Recipients In its fourth year, the cooperative Tourism Marketing Support Program (tourism grants) efforts enhance, facilitate and increase the economic value of tourism across the state. It has been effective in promoting visitors and use of Port facilities. The program provides matching support of up to $10,000 to non-profit destination marketing organizations (DMO's), attractions, cities, tribal organizations and Chambers of Commerce to effectively market their destination to non-resident visitors. The funds are used for advertising, publicizing, promoting events or conducting research to attract visitors. Marketing efforts for the tourism grants include promoting our natural scenic beauty, outdoor recreation, cultural attractions, online digital marketing campaigns, promotion of Washington's growing wine and craft brewery industry, networking with tour operators and travel media. For 2019 we obtained 47 applicants (the highest number received in the four years of the program) and awarded to 30 organizations. In the four years of the program, 166 applications have been received and 87 projects awarded, netting approximately $1,050,000 in additional marketing promotion efforts for Washington. 2019 Awarded Recipients Organization Name City of Kirkland POS Awarded Amount $7,000 Tourism Initiatives Summary of Proposed Project   Digital media Event promotion Website enhancement & online targeted marketing promoting Kirkland and outdoor recreation to potential travelers in San Francisco and Los Angeles.      Trade show/sales trip Digital media International marketing Event attractions Eco/culture/nature tourism Puget Sound Attractions Council $5,000 Discover Lewis County 8,000    Digital media Video advertising Eco/culture/nature tourism Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) $7,000    Digital media Event attractions Eco/culture/nature tourism 1 Participate in U.S. Travel's IPW in Anaheim CA, as a presenter to international tour operators to generate tour travel to Washington state. Conduct targeted marketing via video and digital advertising in Southern California, focusing on Lewis County offseason outdoor adventure activities. Digital advertising in Arizona, California, Colorado and New York promoting Mohai's Seattle Style exhibition. Utilizing Experience WA website platform to reach non-residents and promote the PBY Naval Museum on Whidbey Island. PBY - Naval Air Museum $5,000   Digital media Event attractions Museum of Flight $7,500    Digital media Video advertising Eco/culture/nature tourism $10,000   Event attractions Digital media Conduct geotarget marketing impacting cruisers in the POS cruise terminal area and online SEO marketing to non-residents interested in Seattle. Digital media Eco/culture/nature tourism Conduct a digital marketing campaign and sweepstakes contest promoting Port Townsend and Jefferson County in Texas, New York, Colorado, Arizona, and Florida. Museum of Pop Culture (MOPOP) Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce City of Stanwood Goldendale Chamber of Commerce $8,000 $7,500 $10,000     Digital media Eco/culture/nature tourism     Familiarization tour Digital media International marketing Eco/culture/nature tourism Digital media Event attraction promotion Eco/culture/nature tourism Digital media Event attraction promotion Eco/culture/nature tourism WA State Geocaching Assoc. (WSGA) $5,200    NW Agricultural Business Center $5,250    City of Blaine Port of Walla Walla Yakima Valley Tourism $8,000 $7,500 $5,000      Digital media Eco/culture/nature tourism Creation of 30- or 15-second commercials for online marketing focusing on selected California markets and residents. Improve the Stanwood/Camano site to be traveler user-friendly and conduct a social media advertising campaign to nonresidents. Market the Goldendale Observatory thru web-based marketing and print marketing materials by targeting astronomy focused tour promoters and influencers. Increase out of state participation in Valley Cities GeoTour by promoting the event online via Geocaching.com website. Launch a new Whidbey Island Vintners Distillers website and initiate social media advertising promoting food/beverage activities to non-residents. Creation of an online "Salish Sea Trail" water-based itinerary encouraging out of state boating enthusiasts, including the POS's recreational marinas. Port will partner with a travel marketing firm specializing in "traveler-to-purchase" data to execute digital advertising campaign to increase air travel to Walla Walla. Digital media Digital media Travel Articles/PR 2 Through a multi-channel digital campaign focus on prospective air travelers interested in craft brewing via promoting Yakima Valley as "Hop Country" USA. Washington Tourism Alliance $5,000 White Pass Scenic Byway $6,000 Trade show/sales trip International marketing Eco/culture/nature tourism Travel Articles/PR   Digital media Eco/culture/nature tourism Trade show/sales trip Digital media Travel articles / PR Familiarization tour Eco/culture/nature/tourism Attend the Travel Media Showcase in Atlanta GA, and showcase Leavenworth as well as bring and host select travel media and influencers in Washington state. Host and conduct a travel media familiarization tour showcasing the Tri-Cities as the "Heart" of Washington Wine Country. Plans include a combination of print and website work designed to reach a targeted audience promoting Long Beach outdoor shoreline activities. Increase the number of national conventions and delegates flying to Tacoma by developing a "video-centered" recruitment campaign that includes highlighting the proximity of Mt. Rainer. Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce $7,000      Visit Tri-Cities $3,000    Familiarization tour Travel articles / PR Eco/culture/nature tourism Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau $5,000    Print advertising Digital media Eco/culture/nature tourism $7,500      Trade shows/sales trips Digital media Video promotion Event attraction promotion Eco/culture/nature tourism Travel Tacoma & Pierce County Olympic Peninsula Visitors Bureau Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) Visit Kitsap Peninsula Methow Trails $10,000 Participate in U.S. Travel's IPW in Anaheim CA, as a presenter to interested tour operators and travel media with the potential to generate travel Washington state. White Pass Byway will promote the South Cascades Loop focusing on outdoor experiences in our state and national parks lands via digital marketing and social media.     Conduct a targeted digital and social media campaign in California, Arizona, Texas and New York focusing on shoulder season and Olympic Peninsula public forests and waters.   Digital media Eco/culture/nature tourism $8,500    Print advertising Event attraction promotion Eco/culture/nature tourism Print advertising placement in Alaska Airlines Inflight magazine promoting SIFF as a great festival and way to experience Seattle and Washington State. $10,000     Digital media Video promotion International marketing Eco/culture/nature tourism The project includes the development of video sales packets that will be directed to international travel retailers and tour operators. $7,500     Digital media Familiarization tour Travel articles / PR Eco/culture/nature tourism Creation of "Plan your trip" website section, host a familiarization tour for travel media and promoting cross country skiing, snowshoeing and fat tire snow biking. 3 Suquamish Museum Harbor Wildwatch City of Port Angeles Cascade Farmlands Wing Luke Museum $6,486    Print advertising Familiarization tour Eco/culture/nature tourism Create collateral and work with Seattle Hotel Concierge members to aid in promoting visitors to take the ferry to Bainbridge and experience the Squamish Museum. Host a familiarization tour $5,064    Digital media Video promotion Eco/culture/nature tourism Conduct a marketing effort to develop short film video, online marketing reaching potential participants in beach tours focusing on the Salish Sea environment. $2,500   Digital media Eco/culture/nature tourism Conduct a digital marketing campaign reaching non-residents promoting Port Angeles as a transportation and lodging hub for Olympic NP and the Pacific Ocean. $3,000    Digital media Event attraction promotion Eco/culture/nature tourism Increase out of state attendance by promoting cider event and agri-tourism in North Central Washington. Utilize SEO via Google and social media with Facebook. $7,500    Event attraction promotion Digital media Eco/culture/nature tourism 4 Will target both potential travelers and recently arrived inbound tourists with a series of digital and social media advertising promoting the Wing's cultural tours.