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Home My WebLink AboutM061119 Tourism Coordinating Council – Jefferson County Minutes of the Meeting of the Coordinating Council June 11, 2019 (DRAFT) The June, 2019 meeting of the Tourism Coordinating Council (TCC) for Jefferson County, was called to order at 10:00 am by TCC Chair Roney, noting a quorum was present with Council members Cleone Telling, Diana Smeland, Bill Roney, Marsha Massey, Aaron Terada • Partners Present: Commissioner Greg Brotherton, Arlene Alen, Christina Pivarnik and Bethany Smith • TCC Marketing Coordinator present: Steve Shively CALL TO ORDER Bill welcomed all, the TCC consent docket, including minutes from the meeting conducted on May 14, 2019, and available June 2019 TCC financials, was Moved by Bill, Seconded by Marsha were approved by unanimous votes. CONSENT AGENDA Commissioner Brotherton shared information on the following topics of tourism related interest and insight: • Official news of BoCC approval of Diana Smeland’s appointment to TCC is forthcoming. • County maintenance assessments underway at both Quilcene Food Bank building and Brinnon Community Center. • Navy supplemental EIS is out. It lacks sufficient options for reducing noise impacts. • Hood Canal closures and impacts to both traffic and Orcas is being studied. • Growth management considerations to title 8 and 18 regarding shooting ranges is being discussed. • ROC funding to renew emergency response and youth programs for Search & Rescue are being processed. • Bill gave kudos and a very complementary report regarding the state of the Hoh River’s Oil City road. “Excellent condition!” • County Town Halls are coming starting June 18 at Port Ludlow’s Bay Club. All Town Halls start at 6PM. Watch for press release. • Public hearing this Monday regarding Four-Corners to Anderson Lake ODT locations. Funds are in place, looking forwarding to moving ahead with this critical piece of the trail. OPTC Update: Marsha Massey updated TCC on OPTC’s recent meeting held in Lake Quinault, highlighting: • “Erik the Travel Guy” provided lots of good video footage, inclusive of final day highlights of Finnriver and Hama Hama Oyster shucking. • FAM tours of 20 Germany travel planners was a great success. Three other FAM tours in queue. • Growth in OPTC social media with 47K Facebook followers is matched by 2.5 times distribution for Travel Planners • Spring ads are out. • SeaTac Spotlight ad program, through Port of Seattle is up, and due to terminal construction will get an extra long display run. • Phase 2 of OlympicPeninsula.org website refinements and rebuild of OlympicPeninsulaWaterfallTrail.com are both underway. • Fall’s OPTC Tourism SUMMIT will be postponed until late winter 2020. Expect a one-day end of peak tourism season event this fall. • Iris Winslow is OPTC/OPVB’s new marketing coordinator. COMISSIONER’S UPDATE OPTC UPDATE Marketing Report Steve provided a TCC briefing of current marketing activities, including: • Overtourism making – ugly – headlines around the world. Impacts are coming home, including trade tariffs contributing to the reduction of Chinese tourists to the Olympic Peninsula and throughout the US. • Working with Marsha’s team on various website updates. • Continue work on EnjoyOlympicPeninsula.org website • Highlighted various social media campaign results • Food travelers continue to be a strong travel persona. The PT Leader’s Eat Local and the annual NW Travel & Life “Food Traveler” inserts both have multi page advertorials. • Exploring Actuate Media for possible TCC fall campaign work. • Review of the 2018 Dean Runyan tourism findings. • May JeffCo. Hotel / Motel lodging tax earning seem to indicate that continued positive YTD ahead of budget growth has weathered the anticipated losses from last February’s heavy snows. • All-in-all a continued sign of growth, with a wide eye on the necessary mitigation needed to prevent overtourism impacts on the Peninsula and its residents. Area Updates: Port Ludlow – Diana shared a wonderful printed listing of upcoming events, including: • Cruise-In Port Ludlow every Wednesday continues to be well received with about 20 cars every week. Added food vendors and other fun keep people returning. • Fireside Restaurant begins seasonal Farm Suppers every Wednesday. Al Fresco Cooking class on June 14, and Guardian Wine Dinner June 28. • Rocky Mountain Juniors (Big Hitters) Golf Tournament underway. • Artist reception June 13 Gateway VIC – Bill • More visitors stopping by. Bringing plenty of good complements for the OPGVC’s great customer service. • Seasonal build-up at VIC is underway. Summer hours 9AM -5PM, with 10-4 on Sunday’s, continues, including normal hours of operation July 4. • Parking lot regrading has been completed. Ready for the season. • PT Leader Getaway Guide and Lodging matrix printed and being distributed. • Good TCC discussion regarding observed VIC trends and shifting visitors needs for in-person VIC’s along with experiential offerings. Added value provided through personalizing and interpreting the mass volumes of internet information (and misinformation) to visitors. Quilcene – Cleone Quilcene headlines are “Cougar Sightings” • Anticipating results of Conditional Use Permit conversion from single family dwelling, • August 9 craft beverage night at the Worthington House, 5-8PM Fort Flagler – Aaron reported • Bride on SR 116 has started. Construction related planned power outages on Marrowstone Island • The park is in the middle of $4M capital renovations. New roofing. New foundations on historic buildings. • Increasing problematic interactions from deer and visitors. • New regs barring public or commercial drone flights in State Parks within 3,000 feet of waterways due to DOD/Navy edict. TCC MARKETING COORDINATORS REPORT AREA UPDATES •Anderson Lake working with Department of Health and Department of Ecology, as well as Fish and Game to seek possible solutions to toxic algae bloom. Tri-Areas. Bethany reported the following: •“Hadlock Block Party” Aug. 3 (Sat.) •Old Alcohol Plants goal of becoming single use plastic free by 2021. From food service, to housekeeping and guest room amenities. Excellent efforts! Brinnon & Hood Canal – Joy shared that its been busy and great. •Falls at Rocky Brooke. 16 cars averaging daily. No restrooms. •Multi generational families visiting Does state park thanks esp. to cabins. Westend (care of Marsha) •King5’s Evening Magazine piece on John’s Beach Combing Museum •Forks VIC is piloting a phone tree with last minute area lodging info. •Rome beyond added six additional Rome Trailers south of Kalaloch along with 2 Airbnb’s. Seasonal contributing to Jefferson Co. Lodging Tax Port Townsend Marketing – Christina •R2AK has first teams arriving in Ketchikan. Good examples of viral Instagram stories •Centrum festivals starting this month. Voice Works, American Fiddle Tunes, Fourth at the Fort – no fireworks at the Fort. Followed by Jazz and Blues. •Chetzemoka. (čičməhán). Interpretive Trail grand opening in June 29. Partnership with Jamestown Tribe, Port of PT and City of PT. 17 signs, making up 3-mile, 6-mile and 12- mile loops. With donated totem and canoe by local tribes. •JungleCity.com – all Japanese NW travel site has a feature about Port Townsend WTA/WTMA – Christina •WTA meeting in Wenatchee in July. •Digi Marketing contractor RFP out. •RFQ out for rebranding the state of WA. Goal of getting it right the first time. •Initial match met. Resulting in unlocking $1.5M in matched funds from state. JC Chamber – Arlene •Live posting R2AK sailing updates •New park – old blue VIC building removed. Anticipate November grand opening. •New Chamber website and rebuilding the EnjoyPT and visitjeffersoncountywa.com sites. Adjournment - There being no further business the TCC meeting was adjourned at 11:55 AM Next meeting of TCC is Tuesday August 13, 2019 – 10:00 AM at the Inn at Port Ludlow. AREA UPDATES (cont.) ADJORN