Amended LT-2020-009 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Collaboration *Yes, KEEN panners wiih several groups in Kitiitas County and across the state to promote and encourage tourism. For Bird Fest rare specifically partner with Seattle, Kittitas and yakima County Audubon groups and the Kittitas County Field and Stream Club. These organizations provide epertise, field trip leaders, event volunteers, and planning committee members. We also work with CWU interns and professors, epert field trip leaders from around the state, and WA State Parks for ihe location of the event. This event v\ould not be successful without these partnershipsl We also partner with Canyon River Ranch Lodge for the dinner, auction, and social gathering for the event. 2500 character linit 5lFuture Plans Please explain what plans exist to allow this project to become self-sustaining. lnclude any plans for ticket sales, event sponsors, and other cost-recovery models. Future Plans*KEEN increased sponsorship levels, vendor's fees, and other cost-covering fees for participation in 2018. As the event grolris we believe that our sponsorship levels will increase and ine will attract more vendors over time causing this to continue io be a revenue positive event for KEEN and eventually to become self-sustaining. As happens in the bird-uatching world, once an event is established, birders start to look for event details earlier and earlier (ue have in fact, as of this writing, already heard from several birders looking lor 202O details). 2500 character linit Application Questions: Parl. 4 6l Additional lnformation Provide any additional information which will assist the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee in evaluating your project and its benefit to tourism, Additional lnformation Unfortunately KEEN vras not be able to undertake the Yakima River Canyon Bird Fest in 20'19 and raas forced to decline the lodging taxfunding v\r-d \,ere avrarded. The washington orniihological Society planned their annual meeting and field trips (essentially the exact same model as our event) for the same weekend in Moses Lake. Many of our field trip leaders are members with that organization and could not attend both. We could not move our vr,eekend due to other conflicting dates within our organization and other nearby bird festivals. WOS moves their conference location every year, but this year it happened to conflict with ours. We rnere intensely disappointed, and epressed our concerns to WOS clearly, but ultimately decided thal we couldn't compete with something so similar so close by. Please eryress our deep appreciation to the members of the combined Lodging Tax Advisory Commiitee. We are thankful for their support and look fonaard to applying again for 202A and having another successful Bird Fest! 2500 character linit