HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019/04/17 MASON COUNTY LODGING TAX ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Meeting Minutes
Commissioners' Chambers
411 North 5t" Street, Shelton, WA 98584
Wednesday, April 17, 2019 9 : 00 a . m .
Members in Attendance : Chair Sharon Trask, Nathan Welch , Duane Wilson , Stephanie Rowland , Shaun
Tucker and Heidi McCutcheon . Also in attendance were Rachel Hansen and Jake Geist .
Chair Trask called the meeting to order at 9101 a . m .
Approval of Minutes
Nate/Duane moved and seconded to approve the February 6, 2019 meeting minutes. Motion carried.
1st Quarter Reports
Stephanie presented the 2019 1st Quarter report from the North Mason Chamber of Commerce . They are
offering free 2- hour customer service training to local businesses . They are also printing the padded
maps of the County to serve visitors . The Union VIC will be open and staffed on Fridays . Stephanie
reported the requests for information from local VRBO 's has increased . The Chamber's website traffic
has reduced .
Heidi presented the 1st Quarter report from the Shelton Mason Chamber of Commerce . Included in the
report is Facebook usage, visitor counts and website traffic . The Hoodsport VIC will have a Parks Service
Wilderness Officer and they anticipate this will increase visitors . They have rebranded the Hoodsport VIC
and will sell apparel and other accessories . They will also increase the signage at Hoodsport . The
Chamber is working with Alderbrook to host a speed networking event.
Rachel presented the 1st Quarter report from Northwest Event Organizers for tourism development.
Rachel has contracted with Certified Folders to distribute the Hood Canal Adventure Maps that were
printed a couple of years ago . Included in the report is website traffic, Facebook, and Instagram
information . She attended a travel trade show in Norway in January; the Northwest Aviation Conference
and Trade Show in February, Travel Adventure Show in San Francisco in March and the Puyallup Spring
Fair . Rachel plans to attend travel events in 2020 and is working with ScenicWA writing tourism
promotion information . Rachel is also attending several local events . Requests from outside the county
for the Fjord Magazine continues to increase and Explore Hood Canal pays for an advertisement section .
Rachel promotes local events to targeted audiences and assists the festivals with promotion . Rachel 's
2019 goals include outreach at events that develop new clients, create experience packages, create
partnerships with businesses and groups and increase the tourism climate to facilitate infrastructure .
2020 Services
The current funding ( based on previous year revenue) 68 % to Tourism Development; 30 % to VIC's ; 2%
to reserves ( $477, 923 received in 2018 ) .
Tourism Development
Heidi stated she is happy with NEO's services and recommended renewing that contract at the same
percentage amount.
Nathan questioned the funding mechanism .
Heidi recommended 68 % of 2018 revenue for 2020 contract; 68 % of 2019 revenue for 2021 contract.
Shaun asked if there is something to measure besides lodging tax dollars because the increase could be
because lodging rates are increasing and VRBO 's are generating lodging tax . He recommended a two-
LTAC April 27 , 2019 meeting minutes
year contract extension and request more data for a measurable . He wants to know where the money is
being spent and have a clear strategy .
Discussion points — count number of events attended ; Rachel will provide a detailed spreadsheet showing
how the money is spent and will include financial information in her quarterly reports .
Shaun/Stephanie moved and seconded to extend the NEO contract for 2020 and 2021 at 68916 of revenue
from 2 years prior to contract year. Motion carried,
Visitor Information Center Services
Sean stated he has no other solutions for VIC's and supports continuing VIC services .
Duane would like to continue to explore providing a kiosk for an Internet hotspot .
Stephanie stated she would like to integrate VIC services with Explore Hood Canal .
Shaun brought up a master plan for marketing general tourism .
Nate/Shaun moved and seconded to call for RFP' ; for VIC services at 30% of 2018 revenue for 2020
services with an option to renew the contract for one year. Motion carried. Heidi & Stephanie — recused.
LTAC membership
Diane confirmed the current members are willing to continue to serve on LTAC . Shaun asked that Jake
Geist be listed as Alderbrook's representative with Shaun as alternate . We still need a generator and it
would be nice to have the north end of the Canal represented .
Duane stated he also sits on the City of Shelton LTAC and suggested the City may want to join with the
County for tourism marketing .
Stephanie left the meeting at 11 : 12 a . m .
There was no public comment .
Diane will schedule a July LTAC meeting for quarterly reports and to make VIC recommendations .
The meeting adjourned 11 : 22 a . m .
LODGING TAX ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MASON COUNTY, WASHINGTON
ATTEST :
L`fAC Clerk - Chair