HomeMy WebLinkAboutM111020Tourism Coordinating Council —Jefferson County
Minutes of the Meeting of the Coordinating Council
November 10, 2020 (DRAFT)
The November 10 meeting of the Tourism Coordinating Council (TCC) for Jefferson County, was CALL TO ORDER
called to order at 10:02 am by TCC Chair Roney. A quorum assembled with
Council members present: Marsha Massey, Cleone Telling, Diana Smeland, Aaron Terada,
Crystie Kisler, and Bill Roney in attendance.
Partners present: Commissioner Greg Brotherton, Arlene Alen
TCC Marketing Coordinator present: Steve Shively
CONSENT AGENDA
Consent Agenda Moved for Approval by Marsha October 13, TCC minutes and current TCC
Financials as presented, motion seconded by Diana. Consent actions approved unanimously.
Commissioner's Report — Greg shared tourism related news and updates, including: COMISSIONER'S
• Acknowledge the Marrowstone Island community impacts associated with the recent REPORT
Nordland Store fire.
• Coronavirus— Jefferson County remains in Phase 2, moving away from Phases as the
metric and towards Case Count ratios. JeffCo. — currently — still doing well with
35/100K, but regionally, and nationally trends are rising rapidly.
• Libraries and other services are reopening
• TCC joined Greg in a discussion regarding the Fort Worden PDA and challenges and
opportunities of potential JeffCo. fiscal involvement.
• Black Point Resort — broken ground. Infrastructure phase 1 through 2021. Building
projected in 2022. Buildings will be manufactured onsite. Hockey rink is a part of their
recreation facility plans.
OPTC Highlights — Marsha shared various items of OPTC information, including:
NPS update with seasonal update to Hurricane Ridge road and 2020 lack of concession OPTC REPORT
services at the summit.
WTA "Explore WA backyard" campaign features a digital Passport that using geolocation to
`stamp' visitors travel through the geofenced areas of discovery.
"Scout the Golden Retriever" Instagram FAM campaign has been well received.
"Book>Direct" website feature was decided on by OPTC.
Regional "The Peninsula's" state-wide re -branding exercise recently conducted by WTA. The
Olympic Peninsula was well represented in the workshop.
2021 OP Travel Planner is staying with current inventory, eyeing a possible reprint in spring
based on demand. NEW BUSINESS
New Business - Action was taken to authorize TCC to send a statement concerning
considerations of service reductions, or eliminations by Washington State Transportation
Commission. Bill and Steve will write letter. Motion approved by common consent.
Marketing Report TCC MARKETING
Steve provided a TCC briefing of COVID-19 marketing highs and lows, including: COORDINATORS
• Financial update review, October LTAX generated above budgeted amount for month, REPORT
beating both budget and prior years revenues for period in excess of 28%. TCC's spring
prediction of 2020 coming in approximately 33% below budget may have been
overstated.
• COVID travel trends continue to be challenging. The "Roadtrip", direct bookings through
lodging and "Home is where the WiFi is" messaging are very prevalent.
• Steve recapped many of the best features of the very successful TCC coopt fall
marketing campaign "You Can't Get Anymore NW..." Features included:
o The Most Northwest Contest
o Bus Ads in Seattle, Tacoma and Portland
0 30, 15 and 5 second TV commercials, broadcast on KOMO and ABC regional
networks.
o Digital banner ads supported by Google/Bing promoted search
• TCC's in-house promotions were reviewed, noting how the General Elections eclipsed
all ad buy competition. And how consumers were hungry for some post -election 'calm'
on November 4.
• Analytics and engagement of TCC's partnered media buys through MyOlympicPark.com
were reviewed. And thanks to JeffCo. BoCC's assurances that 2021's LTAC funding will
be bridged by TCC's withheld 2020 allocation, we were able to resign this campaign for
2021— starting December 2020
Area Updates:
Port Ludlow - Diana shared:
• The Inn's hosting of successful FAM tour with Scout the golden retriever, lead to
contact by Katie Perz, the "blushingwino" I Wine Influencer and possible future
FAM's
• Golf's winter series continues strong.
• Thanksgiving and Christmas meals will be a combo of modified sit down, plus take out
• Partnering with Quilcene's "Gravel Unravel" race for lodging packages next spring.
• "What do you do in the rain?" and other one -day itineraries being developed
Gateway VIC — Bill noted:
• Visitor Center remains open for walk-in entry, but visitor count has dropped.
• Many interior improvement projects underway.
• West End days — 11/29-12/31 — featuring virtual self -guided itineraries, with with
Kalaloch lodging specials being offered.
• Concern of maintaining brochure supply levels into future remains.
• General tone of travel remains positive. Visitor COVID compliance still being seen.
Quilcene — Brinnon — Cleone reported:
• Halloween scarecrow contest went great with 800+ votes cast.
• Plenty of volunteer activities continue.
• Approved commercial water system for Worthington House is a big milestone!
Tri-Area — Chimacum Valley & Marrowstone Island - Aaron shared that:
• Nordland Store — "Norland Mall" fire late last Thursday is a big loss to island.
• The bridge is fully open, and the restored waterway is flowing well
• Park attendance is down, largely as a result of seasonal stoppage of advance online
reservations. Group Camp & open -Air Shelter reservations will resume for WA State
Parks in Phase 3 Counties
• Historic preservation projects are wrapping up.
• Whale beached on shore, creating 'quite a site and stink'
TCC MARKETING
COORDINATORS
REPORT (Cont.)
AREA UPDATES
West End — Marsha shared:
• Continued solid numbers from Forks Visitors Centers.
• The Makah reservation remains closed, including visitors' coastal access.
• Bill commented on his very successful Coho and Chinook fishing on the Hoh. AREA UPDATES
(cont.)
Port Townsend — Arlene shared:
• Consolidation mode at the PT VIC. Due to cutbacks from PT LTAC and COVID. Moving
more visitor services to digital, physically moving the VIC from unit A to unit B.
• VisitJeffersonCoWA.com site recently redone with new launch — linking page to TCC and
other Olympic Peninsula tourism partners.
• Thanksgiving holiday guide will go live soon.
• "Wandering Washington" a program of WTA and Microsoft will kick-off noon on
Wednesday 11/18.
Adjournment - There being no further business the TCC meeting was adjourned at 11:57 AM
ADJORN
Next meeting of TCC is Tuesday December 10, 2020 —10:00 AM via Zoom, with advance RSVP's
requested so that Santa's elf's can get busy on a special surprise!