HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021/01/20 MASON COUNTY LODGING TAX ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Meeting Minutes
411 North 5t" Street, Shelton , WA 98584
Monday, January 20, 20219 : 00 a . m .
Members in Attendance via Zoom : Chair Sharon Trask, Nathan Welch , Duane Wilson , Heidi McCutcheon ,
Pam Voltz, Shaun Tucker and Liz Arbaugh via Zoom . Also in attendance was Rachel Hansen and Deidre
Peterson ,
Chair Trask called the meeting to order at 9 : 05 a . m .
Approval of Minutes
Pam/Duane moved and seconded to approve the October 12, 2020 meeting minutes. Motion carried.
Quarterly Reports
Quarterly Reports from Visitor Information Centers and Northwest Event Organizers
a . Shelton Mason County Chamber of Commerce
Heidi presented the Shelton Mason County Chamber of Commerce 2020 4th quarter report .
Attendance at Hoodsport VIC was at about 40 % of the previous year. Winter hours were revised in
December to operate Friday to Sunday from 9 a . m . to 5 p . m . due to lower seasonal demand . Heidi
noted the VIC' s reopened in May and have been open since that time . They anticipate being open
for weekends only until early May . Duane asked about walk up customers and phone calls received
in Shelton . Heidi will provide those numbers .
b . North Mason Chamber of Commerce
Pam presented the North Mason Chamber of Commerce 2020 4tn quarter report . They are open in
Belfair 5 . 5 days a week; Union is currently self- serve and will staff the location starting in May .
They have upgraded the Union location to make it more inviting to visitors .
c . Mason County Historical Museum
Liz presented the Historical Museum 2020 4th quarter report . The museum closed March to June
2020 and then closed again in November, pursuant to Governor' s Order . They are working on
improving displays and the reference library . They have an active website . Shaun asked about
revenue sources . Liz responded they received a $ 5K grant; had to cancel the car show last year
that is their big revenue source and it appears they will not be able to hold the car show this year.
Heidi stated there is some COVID funding available and will provide the information to Liz .
d . Northwest Event Organizers ( NEO )
Rachel presented the NEO 2020 4th quarter report for tourism development . Her focus was on
reaching the 1 -5 corridor to attract those that can road trip to Mason County . WA 365 and
ScenicWA are picking up posts . Lodging tax starting trending up in July and Rachel believes it' s due
to the availability of short-term rentals . She launched the Waterfalltrail . com website and it has had
a great following; promotes the five waterfalls that are located in Mason County although the
website covers all the waterfalls on the Olympic Peninsula . Olympic Peninsula Group was upset
over the independent waterfall website . Rachel updated the adventure map and developed a
shellfish beach guide map . Rachel provides the Tracing the Fjord magazine at various tourism
locations . She worked with the KristmasTowne Kiwanis and hosted a Christmastown event in
Shelton that attracted 5 , 400 attendees during 12 nights of COVID conscience events . The
concierge handbook is a custom 3 - ring binder with 100+ pages and will be distributed to various
vendors . Rachel is focusing on bird watchers because that is an audience who will travel .
LTAC January 20, 2021 meeting minutes
Shaun questioned if the Christmastown event will translate into an increase in lodging tax . He
acknowledged it does provide positive attention on Shelton/ Mason County .
Rachel stated she wanted to keep the momentum that was built in 2019 and believes people remember
the positivity through out the year and they will make return visits .
Discussion — Status of VIC's
Duane noted that the VIC' s have been partially closed due to COVID and suggested the funding be
reduced . The contract and awards are based on the VIC' s being open a certain amount of time and they
were unable to do so . He also asked if the VIC' s received any other revenues due to COVID .
Shaun stated he understands the pandemic is not anyone' s fault but if the funding is for certain
expenses and if those expenses are not incurred , should the contract have some " out" clause . He asked
where the money is going if the services are not being provided .
Liz responded that even though the museum is closed to the public, they have staff expenses . They
have distributed exhibit boards throughout the County . The museum ' s value is not only serving as a VIC,
but to give visitors a reason to stop .
Pam responded that the Chamber is a good steward of the funding; they have reevaluated what services
they provide and are using more social media and promote events that can be done in low numbers to
stay in compliance with COVID regulations .
Duane asked if the VIC' s received other funding in 2020 and do they plan to apply for additional funding
in 2021 . Rachel said NEO doesn ' t qualify for any funding; Heidi responded the Chamber did not receive
other funding for VIC services; the Chamber received less than $ 7K from CARES funding; the Hoodsport
VIC had 20 to 25 active volunteers and their payroll costs have increased because they have lost most of
the volunteers; data shows that Friday to Sunday are the busy days so that' s the days they staff the VIC .
Discussion — What type of Request for Proposals does the LTAC recommend for services starting in
2022
Shaun commented that now is the time to make changes, promoting low touch areas; maps are high
touch ; supports putting more energy put into a modern approach , we still use some old -school
methods; believes we need to look at something different and explore options . He doesn 't have a
solution but believes it' s worth the energy .
Duane stated it would be nice to hear other options .
Diane asked if they want one RFP that allows for tourism promotion, festival support and VIC services
and see what the proposals look like .
Heidi supports doing the research up front and provide a RFP for specific services so there is a level
playing field .
Diane asked LTAC members to submit their ideas for 2022 services to her by March 12 .
Other Business - none
Public Comment - none
Calendar
The next meeting is April 21, 2021 at 9 a . m .
LTAC January 20, 2021 meeting minutes
Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 10 : 50 a . m .
LODGING TAX ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MASON COUNTY, WASHINGTON
ATTEST:
LTAC Clerk Chair