TOURISM PROMOTION PROGRAM
LINKS FOR:
GENERAL: The Pierce County Tourism Program is funded through a tax on lodging in hotels, motels, inns, Bed & Breakfasts, camps, and other tourism facilities in which guests stay for a short term. The tax produces approximately $400,000 annually which is allocated to activities that promote tourism in unincorporated Pierce County, and in the cities and towns of Bonney Lake, Carbonado, Edgewood, Fircrest, Milton, Orting, Roy, Ruston, South Prairie, Steilacoom, Sumner, University Place and Wilkeson. The cities of Buckley, Dupont, Eatonville, Fife, Gig Harbor, Lakewood, Puyallup, and Tacoma directly receive the taxes generated by tourism facilities located within their jurisdictions and are excluded from the Pierce County allocation. The 2009 application process is closed. Check this website periodically for information about the 2010 application process.
|
 |
|
 |
Lodging Tax Allocation Committee
LODGING TAX ALLOCATION COMMITTEE: A 12 member Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) is appointed by the County Executive and conformed by the Pierce County Council to recommend use of the annual allocation of funds and to advise the county on tourism activities. The LTAC is composed of 1 County Council Member (who serves as chair), 1 representative of the participating cities and towns, 4 members who are associated with the lodging industry, 4 members who are users of lodging taxes, and 2 members at-large who are neither associated with the lodging industry nor are users of the tax. The committee meets at 2 PM generally on the 2nd Wednesday of months from January through June, at the offices of Community Development, 3602 Pacific Avenue, Suite 200, Tacoma. Additional meetings may be scheduled during the application review process. Click Membership Application if you wish to apply. Members of the public are welcome and are encouraged to attend. back to the top
|
ELIGIBILITY: Activities which will be considered for funding include, but are not limited to, those that increase tourism in the LTAC's area of interest by:
- advertising, publicizing and distributing information for the purpose of attracting and welcoming tourists;
- developing strategies to expand tourism in the area of interest;
- operate tourism promotional agencies in the area of interest;
- fund and market events and festivals in the area of interest;
- and/or construct/renovate tourism related facilities in which Pierce County retains an interest*.
The expected outcome of such activities would be to increase economic activity in the affected areas during the funding year and subsequent years by increasing the number of guests lodged in the area, by providing additional meals and sales of souvenirs and gifts, and by increasing the availability and accessibility of tourism related facilities.
*NOTE: Pierce County must have an 'ownership interest' in any facility before it can allocate lodging tax funds to the construction and/or renovation of that facility. Questions relating to this, or any related issue may be referred to Pierce County Community Development staff at phone (253) 798-7205. back to the top
|
APPLICATION PROCESS: The 2009 application process is CLOSED. Check this website periodically for information about the 2010 application process.
Click for a copy of the 2009 Application Staff will not call for corrections to the application. Even if postmarked earlier, applications are rejected if not received by the deadline, March 14, 2008. Applications are not accepted electronically. Application workshops are offered after the RFP, and are highly recommended for first time applicants and encouraged for all who are not confident of process. Selected applicants will be requested to provide an oral presentation to the LTAC. Committee recommendations will be completed and submitted to the County Executive and County Council by July 1. Recommendations are incorporated in the County Budget which is approved by the County Council and Executive at year end.
After approval, staff will prepare Public Benefit Agreements for approved activities beginning January 1 and may continue until December 31 of that same year.
Applications may be submitted by any organization, group, business, or persons interested in promoting tourism in the eligible areas noted above. back to the top
| |
ACTIVITIES: 2008 funded projects:
- Alta Crystal Resort, Marketing and Visitor Center $75,000
- Mount Rainier Vistor Association, Festivals & Visitor Center $80,000
- Sports Commission, Development Program Marketing of Pierce County through Amateur Sports $15,000
- Tacoma Regional Convention & Visitor Bureau, Professional Sales and Marketing Program for Unincorporated Pierce County $102,900
- Visit Rainier, Website and Marketing $239,500
- Washington Renaissance Fantasy Faire $35,000
back to the top
|
|
|
|
