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Home My WebLink About091322M Tourism Coordinating Council – Jefferson County Minutes of the Meeting of the Coordinating Council September 13, 2022 (DRAFT) The September 13, 2022 meeting of the Tourism Coordinating Council (TCC) for Jefferson County, convening a virtual meeting via Zoom, was called to order at 10:0) AM by TCC Chair Bill Roney. Noting that a quorum was in attendance. The Jefferson Co. two-week COVID-19 case rate is 324/100,000. Above the < 200/100K case-rate for consideration of a Hybrid assembly. Council members present: Bill Roney, Diana Smeland, Marsha Massey Amy Neil Excused: Aaron Terada, Cleone Telling, Crystie Kisler, Chrisina Maloney, Bethany Smith, Andrew Nordstrom Valued Partners: Commissioner Greg Brotherton, Arlene Alen TCC Marketing Coordinator: Steve Shively No Public Comments received. Correspondence sent this past month on behalf of TCC to WSDOT related to 2023 proposed summer weekend bridge closures, and Port Ludlow’s grant application for funding of a Level 2, 80 Amp twin head EV charging station. Consent Agenda Approval of August 9, 2022, TCC minutes and current TCC budget, JeffCo. and Olympic Peninsula Hotel Room Tax reports were presented. The Consent Agenda was moved and approved by unanimous consent. CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMENTS CONSENT AGENDA Commissioner’s Update – Commissioner Brotherton’s highlights included updates regarding: • BoCC has restarted with hybrid meetings again. Continuing to monitor CDC COVID-19 case rates across the County. • Chamber mergers with Jefferson and Hood Canal VIC considerations has been rejected by Hood Canal area Chamber. • Festival season is full swing. Happy to be outside experience extended recreation and events. OPTC Highlights – Marsha shared the following updates: • Positive WSDOT acknowledgment of Hood Canal bridge 2023 closure weekends letter to Steve Roark of WSDOT, who will join the October t OPTC to brief council • New outdoor recreation leadership at Olympic National Park • Ruby Beach reopens as Hurricane Ridge closes for needed road and parking maintenance. • Echo Commissioner Brotherton’s joy of summer festivals. • Season continues with Fall joint marketing campaign, and jurisdictional 2023 LTAC requests. Marketing Report - Steve Reviewed with TCC the following: • Travel sentiment and statistics were reviewed. Travel by train, plane, auto, and cruise ships are all at or above pre-pandemic levels, apart from international travel which is still 18% below 2019’s volumes. • Impacts remain due to inflation (especially high summer gas prices), wildfire related air quality and social unrest and area protests impacting already scares service industry labor forces. • Successful media coverage has helped fuel returns of summer festivals across Peninsula. Hoping the trend will continue for Farm Tour weekend and combo Apple & Cider & Crab Festivals. • FAM (Familiarization) tours continue to be hosted, resulting in future articles and press. • Reviewed Destination Analysts survey of ours and 12 DMO’s (Destination Management Organizations) across U.S. finding that printed travel planners enjoy $67.08 ROI COMMISSIONER UPDATE OPTC REPORT TCC MARKETING COORDINATORS REPORT • Reviewed fall joint marketing “You Can’t Get Any More Northwest” campaign in conjunction with OPTC running Sept. - Dec. In targeted WA and OR markets. TCC polled regarding preferred ad creative image and tag line. • Reviewed busy fall tourism schedule with FAM’s, Two-Nation Vacation sales & trade show, “Travel & Words” conference, The State of Washington and Sustainable Outdoor Travel conferences, and hosted Industry Update webinar. • Bill and Steve shared rational and recommendations for 2023 LTAC proposal with requested funds being the same awarded in 2022. Area Updates: Tri-Area - Crystie – Shared, via email, the following mid-summer highlights: • Finnriver is going to transition to seasonal hours in October open Wednesday through Sunday from 12 to 8 PM. Wednesday continues to be a bring your own food day which has been an interesting experiment. • We are continuing to have live music every weekend on Friday Saturday and Sunday. • It’s farm tour weekend of course and we hope it’s lively and lovely for all. Heading into October we are participating in the Olympic Peninsula Apples and Cider festival and renaming our portion of the event to Finnriver Apple day on Sunday, October 9 • As far as larger Chimacum area, I feel like it was a peculiar season for Farmers given the spring weather, but it looked like there was still an abundance of food grown at a pretty lively market season. I’d be curious to hear Amanda Milholland’s report about market volumes this summer. • One thing of particular concern to me is the number of commercial properties that are for sale in Chimacum including Farm’s reach Café, The Keg & I and the Chimacum Cafe. With my Chimacum Center hat on, I have been advocating for innovative economic partnerships and creative collaborative solutions to making these viable entrepreneurial endeavors. If anyone else is interested in exploring that please let me know! I took a walk with the members of the EDC and the center for inclusive entrepreneurship around Chimacum last week to present a sense of the economic landscape. Gateway VIC – Bill reported: • An increase in extended length of stay, with Wednesday and Thursday now being the VIC’s busiest day spike in last minute seekers looking for lodging accommodations. • Plenty of visitors seeking off-the main trek itineraries and suggestions. • Proud of the team of volunteers who help keep the VIC open six days/week. • ADA access has been completed and winterized. • Looking forward to fall activity Port Ludlow – Diana shared these highlights: • Clean Bay pump-out boat has been successful, was at Wooden Boat Fest. • Seasonal slowdown starting soon. • Winemakers and Farm dinners continue with 3-course farm dinners for September. • Q4 events and group business booking returning • Some retail and office spaces available in Port Ludlow Village Quilcene –- Cleone provided the following update: • Quilcene Fair on Saturday 9-17-22 with a Parade at 11am. Plenty of music, food, vendors and car show • Outdoor Movie Saturday evening at Worthington Park. 7-9pm, part of Farm Tour AREA UPDATES • Quilcene Oyster Run Sunday, 9-18-22 features 1/2 marathon, 5K and 3K. Serving fresh Quilcene Oysters, BBQ Sans and Beer Garden with Disco Bay beer West End – Amy shared these highlights: • Smokey in Forks – otherwise clear air at the Kalaloch coast. • Ruby beach is reopening this weekend. • The Hoh is still backed up. NPS Visitor booth notices that mid-week volume often exceeds weekend volume. • Sept. 24 is National Public Lands Day with programing at Port Angeles Ranger station. • The EV charging station at Kalaloch has remained popular all summer long. • Kalaloch’s new Gazebo kit is arriving this week, hope to have it back up by the end of month. • Creekside Restaurant and – Mercantile will combine to feed visitors into the fall. The “Merch” offers grab-and-go breakfast and lunch. With the Creekside offering dinner 5:00-8:00 care of walk-up ordering and service in the dining room with guest options to take items To Go, or eat on deck or in dining room. SWT (State of WA Tourism… formerly WTA/WTMA) – Marsha shared the save the date of October 11-12 for statewide conference in SeaTac and Sustainable Outdoor Travel at Bell Harbor October 13. Early bird registration is still open. Fall “True to Nature” state-wide campaign launches soon. Adjournment – Bill invited everyone to join us next month. Meeting adjourned at 11:24 AM Next meeting of TCC is Tuesday October 11, 2022 – 10:00 AM hybrid – in-person at Hilton Seattle Airport & Conference Center location or access via Zoom. Respectively Submitted – Steve Shively AREA UPDATES (Cont.) ADJORN