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Tourism in Numbers!
Visitor spending
$15.2 Billion
Tourism related jobs
143,800
Visitor tax revenues
$992 Million
Source | Dean RunyanTravel Impact Study 2010
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Year four of the Olympic Peninsula Tourism Commission marketing campaign to the residents of southern Vancouver Island will run mid-April to mid-June. Market research shows that when these Canadian travelers travel to the Olympic Peninsula they stay an average of 4.3 nights in hotel, motel or B&Bs. The 2012 program will continue the 2011 campaign with radio, print, social media and web-based promotions, as well as participation in some local events around Victoria. Black Ball FerryLine has become a supporting partner in the program for 2012. |
San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau
 Destination weddings are a very important marketing niche for the San Juan Islands - since one bride and groom can invite hundreds of guests to their big day. These guests typically spend more time in the islands pre or post wedding, and/or return on their own vacation. As part of our marketing strategies, staff spent the weekend of January 7 & 8 exhibiting at both the Seattle Wedding Show and Portland Bridal Show talking about destination weddings, honeymoons, anniversaries and romantic getaways. More information can be found at www.visitsanjuans.com.
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Seattle Southside  Seattle Southside will be hosting the Annual Tourism Networking Meeting Wednesday, February 8th at the Seattle Airport Marriott from 4:00-7:00PM. We will be celebrating 10 years as an organization with the presentation of the annual report, information on what is to come in 2012 and delicious treats and prizes.For more information or to register please visit the website. |
Seattle's Convention and Visitors Bureau will announce its annual tourism impact numbers, compiled by Dean Runyan Associates, at its annual meeting on February 29 at the Westin Seattle Hotel. The keynote address for the meeting will be given by Peter Greenberg, CBS News Travel Editor. The meeting will also award Seattle's 2012 Tourism Ambassador of the Year. Registration for the event will open soon. |
More than 300 of the world's top gymnasts will head to Everett, Wash., for the 2012 Kellogg'sŪ Pacific Rim Gymnastics Championships, March 16-18, at Comcast Arena at Everett. This biannual international gymnastics competition provides a stage for Olympic hopefuls to hone their skills and artistic routines prior to the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London. The three-day event is expected to feature athletes from more than 14 countries, including Canada, China, Japan, Russia and the United States, competing in men's, women's and rhythmic gymnastics and trampoline. Special athlete appearances and community events are in development and details will be posted on www.Snohomish.org as they are confirmed. |
Tacoma Regional CVB 
Now it's easier than ever to measure the economic value of a prospective or booked event! With the Destination Marketing Association International's [DMAI] Event Impact Calculator, the Tacoma Regional Convention + Visitor Bureau [TRCVB] is better prepared to calculate the economic benefit of specific and unique events. Backed by Oxford Economics and Tourism Economics, the Event Impact Calculator provides an industry-wide standard that is flexible, localized and comprehensive. According to this calculator, in 2011 the TRCVB generated a total of $8,339,816 in Direct Business Sales, $637,848 in Net Local Tax ROI and supported 3,750 direct persons employed (not including events with no room nights). |
Tri-Cities VCB
The Tri-Cities Visitor and Convention Bureau has been chosen as one of SportsEvents Magazine's Readers' Choice Award winners. Sports event professionals throughout the country were asked to name the sports commission, convention and visitors bureaus, or sports events venues that they believe display exemplary creativity and professionalism toward the groups they host. The Tri-Cities Visitor and Convention Bureau was chosen based on the exceptional service offered by the staff to sports planners. |
In our ongoing mission to create positive economic growth throughout Clark County, the board of directors of the Vancouver USA Regional Tourism Office has voted to create a new sports commission that will serve as a catalyst for attracting and promoting sports events and tournaments in Clark County, Wash. The newly formed Vancouver USA Regional Sports Commission will serve as a special advisory committee to the board. With Vancouver becoming increasingly known as a sports event destination, the commission is the natural next step in driving more athletic competitions, tournaments and conventions to the area, thus improving local economic development through visitor spending and tax revenue. |
The 2012 Wintergrass Music Festival is returning to Bellevue for the third straight year on February 23-26 at the Hyatt Regency. Bellevue Wintergrass is one of the biggest and best bluegrass festivals in the country, attracting an estimated 4,000 fans as well as musicians and artists -- from regional and national favorites to international acts. Wintergrass visitors consume over 2,500 room nights across Bellevue over the course of the weekend. In addition they shop, dine and play here on a winter weekend when hotels, retailers and restaurants can all use a boost. If you are in town, be sure to stop by and welcome the Wintergrass fans! |
Visit Rainier
Visit Rainier reports a 3.6% growth rate in lodging tax revenue for unincorporated Pierce County from the year 2010 to 2011. This growth is a bit higher than the 3% growth experienced from 2009-2010. The trend of increased revenues is important both from the standpoint of lodging tax revenues as well as the retail sales tax revenue and employment numbers reported in the tourism industry. Marketing the Mt. Rainier area experiences a valuable return on investment as we show increased awareness in the visiting Mt. Rainier.
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Visit Spokane
 Meet new partners! Make new packages! Create new customers! Those were the goals Visit Spokane had in mind when it developed Vendor Showcase. March 1 2012, we will be holding the second annual Vendor Showcase for our regional tourism partners. We bring partners together in a speed-dating environment, creating new connections to better market to Spokane's visitors. Last year, it was one of the most popular events we organized and we anticipate more than 60 hoteliers and attraction partners participating this year! |
Whidbey and Camano Islands Tourism 
Washington state's newest ferry the M/V Kennewick was christened this month and will serve the Coupeville/Port Townsend route. Canopy Tours NW, a new zipline at the 100 year old Kristoferson Farm, is generating year round tourism revenue for Camano Island. For the first time, Deception Pass Tours will be offering gray whale watching in March/April from Oak Harbor. Tourism continues to grow steadily in Island County, with lodging tax revenues up 15% from one year ago.
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Yakima Valley VCB  Our consumer web site visityakimavalley.org continues to be an effective communications tool. A strategic advertising schedule in 2011 of print media, partner advertising, seasonal or themed micro websites and giveaways focused on driving consumers to the website was successful. The year ended with 211,943 unique visitors to the VCB's website, a 28% increase in traffic over 2010 and a 76% increase over 2009. |
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