HomeMy WebLinkAbout031224 - Visitor Center TransitionCONTACT: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 12, 2024 Shelly Leavens, Director of Communications & Marketing
City of Port Townsend, 360.301.8680, sleavens@cityofpt.us
Dana Petrick, Executive Director
Chamber of Jefferson County, 360.385.7869,
directordana@jeffcountychamber.org
VISITOR CENTER TRANSITION IN CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND
City of Port Townsend and Chamber of Jefferson County consider
alternative models for visitor services
PORT TOWNSEND – The Port Townsend Visitor Information Center, located at 2409 Jefferson
Street, will no longer be staffed or managed by the Chamber of Jefferson County as of March 4.
The Chamber and the City have been in negotiations on a contract for the Visitor Center since
late December 2023 and Chamber leadership has decided that the Chamber's primary focus is
to promote and support business within the County. The operation of the Visitor Center’s brick
and mortar facility is no longer a sustainable element of the Chamber’s business model. As
such, the Chamber of Jefferson County’s Board of Directors has made the decision to
discontinue the management of the Visitor Center as a contractor with the City of Port
Townsend.
Director of the Chamber, Dana Petrick, stated, “After thorough and careful deliberation, we
found we no longer have the capacity to manage both the Chamber and the Visitor Center, as it
was not financially sustainable to do both. We will continue to support all City & County
government and to be a prominent vehicle for information."
Both organizations see this transition as an opportunity to move forward thoughtfully, within
the best interests of local businesses and in service to visitors’ needs. City Manager John Mauro
stated, “We appreciate all the service the Chamber provides and we know a strong Chamber
means a strong business community. We are in support of their leadership vision to focus their
work. With digital tools available on the EnjoyPT website and social media channels the City will
continue to work with our marketing team, the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, and several
local organizations to provide visitor services to the community through the spring and
summer.”
# # #
Learn more about the City of Port Townsend Lodging Tax Advisory Committee here:
https://cityofpt.us/bc/page/lodging-tax-advisory-committee
Learn more about the Chamber of Jefferson County here: https://www.jeffcountychamber.org