LT2025-002-Cle Elum Downtown Assoc

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Response 4.2: Describe how you will promote lodging establishments, restaurants, and business located in Kittitas County * Currently, we do not have a well-established relationship with traditional lodging facilities (hoiels and motels), but we are leveraging data from booking websites and Placer.ai (via WA Main Street) to inform our straiegies, including booking rates and estimated occupancy. Engaging these lodging facilities is a key component of our three-year strategic plan, with an anticipated focus in 2025. Presently, traditional lodging within a 1-mile radius of downtown Cle Elum is often fully booked during majorevenis, with occupancy rates ranging fromTSo/o to '100% at establishments within a 5-mile radius. This year, we have initiated collaboration with local VRBOs, Airbnb hosts, and campgrounds io incorporate their data inio our reports, enhancing our understanding of accommodation trends. We actively build partnerships through joint marketing efiorts on social media and in print. Additionally, we provide expertise to increase awareness of the importance of heritage assets and historic preservation, furlher strengthening our community connections and promoting local tourism. 2500 character limit Response 4,3: ls there a host hotel for your event or grant project? lf yes, list the hotel.* -r No ; Yes 5l Future Plans Response 5: 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. * We have implemented several cost recovery models that enable us io secure additional matching funds for events and marketing initiatives. For instance, the Cle Elum Downtown Association has expanded iis business sponsorship opportunities. As our community grows, we are increasingly attracting corporate sponsors, banking insiitutions, and other entilies eager to support and be recognized as community partners. This has resulted in both an increase in the number of sponsors and higher sponsorship levels. Our investor program offers a range of donor opportunities designed to engage businesses, organizations, corporations, and individuals at various levels of support. The receni boosi in funding from the Main Street Tax lncentive Program has allowed us to allocate more resources towards increasing siafl hours to manage the growing scale of our events. This enhancement will support in-house programming and marketing efforts. Additionally. our Board of Directors conducts an annual budget review to explore the possibility of increasing the Promotions Committee's budget for conlracting external services related to marketing and event materials that cannot be produced internally. We also leverage collaborative efforts with our partners to co-fund and share costs for activities and events. For example, ihis year, by combining our needg with the Kittitas County Chamber, we negotiaied a reduced rate for po(able toilets during Pioneer Day, achieving cost savings for both organizations. We will continue to pursue similar cosi-saving strategies as we co-market and plan events with our partners. 2500 rharacter lirnit Application Questions: Part 4 o 6l Additional lnformation