HomeMy WebLinkAbout030625 email - RE_ TCC_LTAC discussion from 3_3 BOCC MeetingALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
Hi Greg
Thank you for continuing the discussion and asking thoughtful questions regarding the Lodging Tax Advisory Council (LTAC) and the Jefferson County Tourism Coordinating Council (TCC).
I appreciate the time and effort being put into refining the direction of these groups.
Based on comment from the March 3rd BOCC meeting, I am unclear on why the TCC would have a role in seating LTAC. Based on Resolution No. 78-03, TCC’s role has been to coordinate and
promote tourism activities. The newly proposed resolution expands TCC’s purpose to include developing a consistent message and coordinating with stakeholders on metrics for evaluating
the impact of public investments. It seems appropriate for TCC and LTAC to remain separate. Additionally, since TCC will in the future, request funding from LTAC, this structure could
create a potential conflict of interest and not be perceived as ethical.
During the meeting there was a comment about Jefferson County being the only county on the Olympic Peninsula whose LTAC revenue has gone down the last two years. The Resort at Port
Ludlow has reviewed lodging data from 2019 to the present and noticed clear trends. During the later part of the pandemic, travelers sought outdoor experiences and avoided crowds,
leading to a surge in demand for smaller accommodations like VRBOs, Airbnb’s, and boutique hotels. As travel patterns normalized post-pandemic, both occupancy and average daily rates
adjusted accordingly, impacting revenue. The 2025 lodging report does show Jefferson County’s numbers exceeding those of January/February 2024, but it’s important to account for a
one-time correction in April 2023, which overstates the 2023 data by approximately $90,000.
I look forward to continuing the conversation and finding ways to support tourism.
Diana
Diana Smeland
President
The Resort at Port Ludlow
Westharbor Homes
Olympic Water & Sewer
Port Ludlow Associates, LLC
70 Breaker Lane
Port Ludlow WA 98365
direct: 360.437.8342
office: 360.437.2101
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