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Home My WebLink About041321M Tourism Coordinating Council – Jefferson County Minutes of the Meeting of the Coordinating Council April 13, 2021 (DRAFT) The April 13, 2021 meeting of the Tourism Coordinating Council (TCC) for Jefferson County, was called to order at 10:02 AM by TCC Chair Roney. A quorum assembled in attendance as visitors arrived (on cue!) into the Gateway VIC needing Bill’s attention. Bill handed over TCC openings to Steve, where recently updated agenda was noted: Council members present: Cleone Telling, Marsha Massey, Diana Smeland, Crystie Kisler, and Bill Roney all present. Partners present: Commissioner Heidi Eisenhour, Bethany Smith, Arlene Alen Excused: Aaron Terada TCC Marketing Coordinator present: Steve Shively Consent Agenda Marsha and Diana moved approval of consisting of March 9, 2021, TCC minutes and current TCC Financials as presented, Clone and Bill seconded each motion – Consent Agenda approved by unanimous approval (by consent). CALL TO ORDER CONSENT AGENDA Commissioner’s Update – Heidi’s update to TCC included information related to: • Ongoing Olympia State budget conferencing. • Beginning of HB 1590 approved 1/10 of 1% additional sales tax dedicated to affordable housing, • Ongoing Port Hadlock sewer infrastructure meetings. • EDC Team Jefferson renewed as the Washington State Department of Commerce designated Associate Development Organization (ADO) for Jefferson County. • Current and ongoing status of COVID’s “Road To Recovery” Phase 3 distinction. • Continued progress on Olympic Discovery Trail development within E. JeffCo. OPTC Highlights – Marsha shared various items of OPTC information, including: • March 10 launch of the joint Spring campaign Google, Bus and KOMO TV ads. • Bus, 8 weeks, Pierce and Seattle, 6-weeks in Portland. • Averaging 120-150 weekly travel planner requests. Indicating good Spring campaign returns. • Book > Direct feature in final testing and configuration phases. • Flip book for digital travel planner is online, providing digital version of print Travel Planner print piece. • Ongoing “Mask Up” and “Recreate Responsibility” messaging efforts. • Opportunity NWWeddingshow.com, digital wedding show May 15, 10-4PM. Marketing Report Steve Reviewed with TCC the following: • Reviewed record March record LTAX returns, related to results from neighboring cities. • Statewide LTAX totals, indicated overall drop of ~29% YoY 2019 v. 2020. • Impacts and ongoing issues related to Pierce and other counties dropped to Phase 2. • The on-going – and every changing – WA “Roadmap to Recovery” was traveled. • Current travel sentiment and key trends of “Vaccine Passports”, “dry cruising” to Alaska, and rising prices for both gas, airfare and hotel room rates, all reviewed. • Trending increases (“record setting trajectory”?) seen throughout travel industry. COMMISSIONER UPDATE OPTC REPORT TCC MARKETING COORDINATORS REPORT • Still, many destinations are choosing to not return to pre-COVID overtourism, e.g., Venice Italy banning cruise ships, and African wildlife camps rebuilding for socially distant, sustainable, travel. • NOAA’s newest Olympic Coast Nat. Marine Sanctuary Research Vessel naming – “RV Kingfisher” should be announced soon. Area Updates: Chimacum Valley– Crystie shared regarding expanding crowds at Finnriver and the tension between meeting Health Dept. COVID distancing and visitors’ expectations of having – often – traveled far, yet needing to stay safe. • Expanding to Thursday – Sunday operating hours. • Looking forward to Andrew Wiese joining their team May 1 as Food & Beverage Director. • More solar added • Increased community wellness projects and new seed processing center. All exciting! Tri-Areas Bethany – shared updates: Old Alcohol Plant’s restaurant continues busy operating both outdoors and at 50% indoor capacity. Plenty of signage for keeping social distancing. • Reservations are still strongly encouraged. • Still holding off requests for party and wedding reservations. • The 5th anniversary of Bayside Housing is being celebrated, over 33,000 bed nights provided. Westend - Marsha noted that Neah Bay and Quileute tribal lands remain closed. • Forever Twilight’s advance sale September events are already sold-out. • Renee Rucks is new GM for Oceanside Resort – aiming for possible June reopening. • Vince Cook of Makah commented that their tribal council is still considering reopening dates. Quilcene – Brinnon – Cleone reported: • Successful Annual Easter egg event which pivoted to a community Easter basket delivery campaign of 35 Easter baskets delivered to home bound seniors. • Interior of Worthington House is now complete! • Looking forward to a planned September grand opening. Watch Worthingtonpark.org • Museum seasonal hours will begin 4/24 each Saturday and Sunday. • ShrimpFest – and Gravel Unravel events are being planned for 2021 returns. Port Ludlow - Diana shared: • Marina gear swap is this Saturday. Golf fitting day coming up • Live winemaker dinner, April 29 – is close to selling out. • The Marina is tent up enabling socially distant seat capacity for 50 people. • The Fireside Restaurant’s veranda’s radiant heat and vinyl curtains are providing nice outdoor dining options. • Diana is working on Hood Canal Bridge to Port Ludlow trail taskforce with eye on linking it to the Olympic Discovery Trail as an annex route. • Ongoing County owned Port Ludlow sign on SR19 efforts continue. Gateway VIC – Bill noted: • Slowly continuing expanding hours of service. Hoping to bring volunteers back in April. • Jefferson County Public Works has resurfaced parking lot, filling in plenty of potholes! TCC MARKETING COORDINATORS REPORT (Cont.) AREA UPDATES • Working with Steve on PT Leader’s Getaway guide lodging listing and display ad • Lots of Calif. Road trippers. Much better masking, and donations of gratitude flowing in. Port Townsend / Chamber – Arlene’s update including these highlights: • Their outdoor kiosks are being well used, as Chamber traffic for VIC info. Is way up. • So happy that Wooden Boat Festival will again be live and in person this September. • Enjoy seeing “Plenty of feet on the street!” • Everyone is invited to log into the Chamber site and input their calendar of events details. WTA/WTMA – Marsha updated TCC that: • WTA is close to concluding the process of rebranding for the state. • Continued work on WA State Visitors guide. • Explore WA Backyard campaign and Road Trips campaigns have been refreshed for spring with exciting new itineraries. • National search for hiring a WTA Director of Marketing is still underway. Adjournment - There being no further business the TCC meeting was adjourned at 11:32 AM Next meeting of TCC is Tuesday May 11, 2021 – 10:00 AM location/mode TBD AREA UPDATES (cont.) ADJORN