LT-2019-002-WA ST Horse Park - Laserfiche WebLink

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Response 3: What tools will you use to rreasure your event's irrpact on tourisrrf? Rease be specific and provide exarrples, Measuring Results* Currently, our core operating months are April through October. We will open sooner and close later depending on the weather, but we do not yet have a covered arena that would allow us to attract events that demand protection from unpleasant weather. May -June has consistently been our busiest period for large events because the weather and footing (ground) are much better at the Park than on the west side of the mountains where most of the active horse community resides. We were successful this year in better -balancing the season with more and larger events in the July -October timeframe. Since that encompasses hot and dry months with wild fire threats, we will be actively promoting the benefits of the Park to overcome perceptions and realities, including firewising projects and emergency preparedness plans. Throughout the Park's season we will continue gathering zip codes and other individual details from Park users directly or from the event organizers about their participants. We expect our metrics to become even more complete and accurate as we mature and have staff on the property consistently to monitor use and ensure proper completion of registration and survey paperwork. We have developed a set of questions to help us solicit input from event organizers about their groups and where they are staying overnight, where they purchase food/drinks or dine out, where they shop and other information that will inform us about their experience while visiting the Park and the local area. We have tried several ways to gather this information directly, but our ability to do so will require volunteer assistance since the Park's small staff is very busy during events. We have had very little luck getting information from hotels and restaurants about business from Park visitors. 2500 character lirrit Response 3 A: A. Is your project/event year-round or is it seasonal or date -specific? Measuring Results* r Year Round G Seasonal r Date Specific Your selection here should be supported by the dates you provided above, in the R-cject or Event Inforrration section, Response 3 B: B. What strategies will you errploy to assure you are attracting tourists from at least 50 rriles away? Measuring Results* As long as we continue marketing to and attracting large and diverse events, we will be drawing heavily from people over 50 miles away since that is where the majority of competitive riders live. As we host more western disciplines that will bring in more local residents, but they will remain a small percentage of our overall attendance. 2500 character lirrit Response 3 C: G What strategies will you use to assist in rrarketing all of Kttitas County as a tourist destination with your Measuring Results* event/project funding request? We will continue to provide the Cle Elum's "This Is How We Do" guide, the Chamber's Central Washington Visitors Guide, the Tribune's Explore Kittitas County guide including the local Visitors' Map at our registration booth and the Park office. We also have a link on our website and Facebook to the Central Washington Color.com website and actively direct people to the information available there as well as the Chamber of Commerce website. We intend to revamp and reintroduce a program developed in 2017 with businesses around Kittitas County that encourages Park visitors to stop by their locations and identifies the visitors as coming from the Park. 2500 character lirrit Application Questions: Part 3 41 Collaboration If your organization collaborates or has created partnerships with other organizations, groups, or other events, how is this accomplished?