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Resea rch a nd Discove ry: Executive lnterviews <br />Executive lnterviews <br />Stakeholder"s from the city, business, the chamber, the university, <br />downtcwn association and local arts, events and historicat organizations <br />in Fllensburg were interviewed for input into this plan. lnterview <br />candidates were identlfi*ci by the strategic plan commiitee. JayRay <br />reached out to more tharr 2$ candidates and conducted i.6 interviews, <br />Questions focused on these key areas: goals, positioning, audiences, <br />resources and success factors. <br />Learnings <br />uudt5 <br />Ellensburg seeks is grow tourism into an increasingiy importani <br />economic driver, while not sacrificing the relaxed, small-town <br />atmosphere that makes it so attractive to residents and visitors alike. <br />Rather than be a "tourist town" like Leavenworth, poulsbo or other <br />destinations, it seek to offer an authentic small-town experience <br />enlivened by the presence of a vibrant university culture and <br />punctuated by regular festivals and events that earn it a reputation for <br />"always having something going on." <br />ln additional to leisure tourism, Ellensbrrrg's location, affordability and <br />facililies make it a gao<i rit isr smaiLto-msdium sized grcup activities <br />frorn canferences tr) rlo*th and adult sports tournaffie$ts_ <br />Positioning (how visitors think of Ellensburg, distinct from other <br />weekend getaways) <br />Ellensburg is still very much what it has been*a relaxing, friendly small <br />ranching and college town. lt's on its way to becotnlng nrore artsy <br />(m*sie, galleries, crait beer/cuirine), but it hasn't fully leaned into any <br />one of the arts. ll also has trernendous recreational opportunities and <br />natura! bear;ty, not +nly f*r the avid ouldccrsman, but fcr ilre S*nday <br />nature walker, the onee-a-year kayaker and the recreationalcyclist. lt's <br />a toun that likes variety, wiih some event or festivai happening most <br />weekends. lt's centrally lorated and affordable, The roeieo is still it_s <br />most well-known evFnt <br />lf Ellensburg were to more clearly distinguish itself from its destination <br />competition, the most common positions mentioned by stakeholders <br />were: <br />r "There's always something happening" events townr "Westei'n heritage" iown <br />t "A place to escape" town <br />r "Meet in the middle" town <br />Cii;y of iilensburg <br />Fjve-Ye ar Tcuiisnt St!'aiegic i'iail <br />QUOTES OF NOTT <br />"Unlike Ledvenworth or <br />Wintfu ap, the activitiee <br />change sa there's a <br />Jegson ta totrte batk, <br />We always hove same <br />tun s$lvity gaing on." <br />"Yau tan't have lestivals <br />atl tbe time, but yau cdn <br />have a lestive <br />otmasphere dlthe time, <br />Ellensburg should hsve <br />mwe street vendors snd <br />the dty needs ta help <br />mdke that happen." <br />"lhe rodeo is still very <br />impartant, but the <br />westerfi therne for <br />Ellensburg is woning, <br />Aur culture hos <br />changed; we arc more <br />snd mare influenced by <br />the callege and by then'wgtn'side." <br />"t'd lllrc to see ils play up <br />the Western way of ttfe. <br />city dwellers who lind <br />the country liJe <br />appealing"" <br />7t019