2017-016-Kittitas Valley Vintners

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ANSWERS TO THE 2017 LODGING TAX FUND APPLICATION Promoting Kittitas Valley Vintners, their wineries, vineyards and tasting rooms is a Year -Round activity. Our current and future contract with the Chamber of Commerce affords us the buying power of not only the west side, but as far east as the Idaho border. All media is geared towards audiences 50 miles or more away. Additionally, all of our new campaigns strategies have included links, logos and direct access to the Live Life in Color and Discover Cle Elem marketing campaigns, as well as all county farmer market websites, links to visitor's guides and of course to the many overnight accommodation choices of motels, hotels, and camp sites. One strategy that we have not tried, that we are committed to doing this year is to better educate the front desk staff of local hotels, motels and campsites. It seems that the days of extended concierge services have gone by the way side. Two members of our Association spent two busy weekends this summer promoting our wine trail map to hotel guests within the City of Ellensburg. Guests were happy to the have this tourist option and many of them visited us that same day, but more eye opening was the fact 100% of the staff we spoke to, had no idea that a Wine Trail map even existed for Kittitas Valley. We believe that the education of the first points of contact i.e. check-in desk staff is key to furthering wine tourism. With this education in mind, our Association has formed a task force that will personally meet with front line staff to discuss, educate and distribute material regarding all aspects of enhancing a tourist's visit by visiting our vineyards, wineries and tasting rooms. In turn, all vineyards, wineries and tasting rooms will offer information on overnight accommodations, places to dine, shop, and visit. Kittitas Valley Vintners Page 7 of 13