HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023/08/02MASON COUNTY LODGING TAX ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Meeting Minutes
411 North 5t" Street, Shelton, WA 98584
Wednesday, August 2, 2023 10:00 a.m.
Meeting was held hybrid — in -person and via Zoom. Members in attendance: Chair Sharon Trask, Rachel
Hansen, Deidre Peterson, John DeLeva, Greg Oldham, Shaun Tucker and Duane Wilson.
Chair Trask called the meeting to order at 10:02 a.m.
Approval of Minutes
Rachel/John moved and seconded to approve the July 19, 2023 minutes. Motion carried.
Recommendations for 2024 Visitor Services
Board members reviewed the proposals received in response to the Request for Proposals for 2024
visitor services. There is $204,000 available for award.
The following proposals were received:
1. North Mason Chamber of Commerce - $56,000 — VIC's in Belfair & Union
2. Bailey Fuentes - $204,000 — Hoodsport Visitor Center and Townhall
3. Northwest Event Organizers, Inc. - $127,500 —Tourism Support Services
4. Shelton Mason County Chamber of Commerce -$152,971 -VIC's in Shelton & Hoodsport
5. Mason County Historical Society - $25,000 — Museum operations/VIC
Discussion points:
John - Parts of all the proposals are great and asked if there can be partial awards.
It was explained there is an option to have one large contract to manage tourism promotion and visitor
information services. In the past individual awards were made and currently there is one tourism
promotion contract and separate visitor information center contracts.
Suggestion is to continue funding the Chambers and Museum and if the model is to change, make it
effective in 2025.
Rachel believes that all contractors need to work together with the same theme.
Duane —these discussions have been happening and he has stated that if VIC services don't improve he
is ready to wash his hands of VIC's.
Rachel — we have to moveI with technology because everybody uses cell phones. Possibly move to using
kiosks. Information must be current, reliable, consistent and available to visitors where visitors stop.
John — he sees the County as having three gateways and suggested dividing the funding and have those
communities figure out how to use it and in a year transition to a new model. It's important that all
businesses are educated on visitor services.
Deidre — Hoodsport provides valuable visitor services because they have forest service personnel.
Sharon — what path are we going to take — divide among proposers or change to a new model.
Rachel — supports moving jto a new model through a transition; she doesn't support the proposal
submitted by Bailey Fuentes because it doesn't qualify (no capital improvements for privately owned).
LTAC Meeting Minutes —August 2, 2023
Shaun —for 10 years the discussion has been moving to technology and he supports that; if it was his
money, he would move away from the human side. The idea of training the community is a good idea
and using technology to do that. He supports creating a technology platform and market the Wild Side
branding. A large percentage of visitors to Alderbrook are from King County. VIC's are dependent on
the LTAC funding and he suggested giving them a one-year contract to prepare for no or reduced
funding.
Deidre — supports working as partners and move to technology; create a working group.
Duane — frustrated that we continue to talk about changing but nothing happens.
Rachel — suggested funding 60% to proposals and move to technology.
John — both technology and print materials are important and to provide information to visitors in the
format they want.
Discussion of various funding scenarios and moving to technology.
Deidre/Greg moved and seconded to award the following 2024 contracts: $49,500 to NEO; $94,500 to
Shelton Mason County Chamber; $43,100 to North Mason Chamber; $16,900 to Mason County Historical
Museum and to form a work group to develop the scope of work. Motion carried.
Scope of work needs to show new expectations and measurables.
Meeting was scheduled for August 23, Wednesday, 4 p.m. 6873 SR106 (Cameo Building) to discuss the
scope of work.
Other Business - none
Public Comment — none
Calendar - Next meeting is August 23, 4 p.m. for scope of work discussion; regular LTAC meeting is
October 18, 2023 at 9 a.m. and will be held hybrid. The regular meeting schedule is the 3rd Wednesday,
9 a.m. every quarter —January, April, July and October.
Adjourn
The meeting ended at 11:15 a.m.
LODGING TAX ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MASON COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Chair