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closeThursday, Jul. 09, 2009
Tri-City tourism officials target Canada, Bay Area
Ingrid Stegemoeller, Herald staff writer
KENNEWICK -- Tourists from Canada and San Francisco may be among the newest group of visitors to the Tri-Cities after Tri-City Regional Hotel-Motel commissioners expressed interest Wednesday in reaching into those markets.
"I think there's a big market up there," said Mark Blotz, general manager of the Clover Island Inn in Kennewick. "I think we need to take a look at that."
Blotz and other commissioners discussed the 2010 business and marketing plan and budget for the Tri-Cities Regional Tourism Promotion Area at the commission's monthly meeting.
They reviewed an annual survey conducted of area hotels that showed sports groups and conventions make up a key part of their business.
Commissioners also talked about the direction of marketing in the coming year.
Blotz told the group about a couple staying at his hotel from Canada who "stumbled" on the hotel online and were enjoying their visit to the area.
"They're having a great time," he said.
Commissioners also asked staff at the Tri-Cities Visitor & Convention Bureau to consider reaching out to the San Francisco market now that there's a direct flight from Pasco.
"We definitely want to get our arms around that pretty quick," said Kris Watkins, president and CEO of the bureau.
The two areas also share a focus on wine tourism, said Kim Shugart, the bureau's vice president of operations.
Like many organizations, the Tourism Promotion Area is having to do more with the same amount of money or less as the national economy continues to struggle.
The TPA was created in 2004 and allows hotels with more than 40 rooms to collect a $1.50 fee for each hotel room rented. The money is used to market the Tri-Cities throughout the Northwest and to bring in more sporting events, conventions and individual travelers.
Officials decided to keep revenue projections flat in 2010, at the 2009 budget level of $810,000.
"I think $810,000 is conservative but still achievable," Shugart said. "We planned for the worst case scenario last year and we're exceeding that."
Revenue through the first half of the year is about $7,000 above budget, according to information from the bureau.
"We are in pretty good shape," Watkins said.
Also at the meeting, Watkins reported the bureau's new website is up and running and people can follow the bureau on social networking site Twitter.
-- Ingrid Stegemoeller: 582-1537; istegemoeller@tricity herald.com; Business Beat blog at www.tricityherald.com
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