>>> SEPTEMBER 11th 2023 OF THE
SPECIAL MEETING. IT WILL COME T
ORDER. IT IS 9:30. I AM SARA
NELSON, CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS HAS BEEN
ASKED TO BE EXCUSED.
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WOULD
LIKE TO THINK MY COLLEAGUES TO
AGREE -- TO AGREEING TO
ATTENDING THE SPECIAL MEETING.
THE SEATTLE TOURISM IMPROVEMENT
AREA, THAT MAKES CHANGES TO THE
WAY IT CALCULATES ITS
ASSESSMENTS ON RATEPAYERS AND
WHAT IT CAN DO WITH THOSE FUNDS
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE
AGENDA? SEEING NO OBJECTION TH
AGENDA IS ADOPTED. WE WILL MOV
INTO PUBLIC COMMENT ON THAT
ITEM. TODAY, FOR THE FIRST
TIME, I WANT TO NOTE , THE
SEATTLE CHANNEL WILL BE
BROADCASTING THE IMAGE OF
PUBLIC COMMENTERS. THIS IS
RESULT OF A SUCCESSFUL AMENDMEN
I PUT FORWARD TO THE COUNCIL
RULES WHICH WE UPDATED EVERY TW
YEARS. IT PROVIDES COMMITTEE
CHAIRS THE DISCRETION TO
DETERMINE THAT POLICY FOR THEI
COMMITTEES AND APPLY IT
CONSISTENTLY FOR AT LEAST A
YEAR. I PUT IT FORWARD BECAUSE
BELIEVE SPEAKERS SHOULD BE SEEN
IT'S BY THE PUBLIC. WHEN THEY
COME ALL THE WAY DOWN HERE TO
MAKE COMMENT. IT ALSO HELPS
COUNCILMEMBERS ATTENDING
REMOTELY TO SEE THE PEOPLE WHO
ARE MAKING PUBLIC COMMENT. I
THINK THIS IS MORE CLOSELY TO
THE SPIRIT OF OPEN PUBLIC
MEETINGS ACT. WITH THAT, I WILL
MOVE INTO PUBLIC COMMENT. I WIL
CALL SPEAKERS IN THE ORDER THEY
SIGN UP TO SPEAK, STARTING WITH
IN PERSON COMMENTERS. SPEAKERS
WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
>> GOOD MORNING COUNCILMEMBERS.
AN AREA HOTEL MANAGER FOR TWO
HOTELS IN DISTRICT SEVEN AND
ONE. I AM ALSO THE CHAIR OF THE
ADVISORY BOARD. I'M HERE TODAY
REPRESENTING THE RATE PEERS
WITHIN -- I'M SPEAKING TODAY I
SUPPORT OF CB 126041 . THE
CONVERSION OF THE SEATTLE
TOURISM IMPROVEMENT AREA. THE
RATEPAYERS ARE IN STRONG --
SUPPORT OF THIS CONVERSION.
BOTH IN THE AMENDED USE OF THE
COLLECTIONS TO USE THE SALES AN
MARKETING FOR CONVICTIONS, IN
ADDITION TO THE LATER MARKET AS
WELL AS MODIFIED FUNDING MODEL
SHIFTING FROM A FLAT RATE TO A
PERCENTAGE POINT THIS CONVERSIO
IS IMPERATIVE TO THE CONTINUED
SETS -- SUCCESS HERE IN
SEATTLE. THE IMPACT RIGHT IS
FAR OUTSIDE OF THE BOUNDARIES O
THE DISTRICT. DRIVING VISITORS
TO SPEND AND SUPPORTING SMALL
BUSINESSES AND SUPPORTING THE
AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCES FOUND IN
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THROUGHOUT
SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY. THE
CONVERSION HAS TO POWER -- HAS
THE POWER FOR THE CITY AND PUT
US IN LINE WITH THE SPENDING
POWER IN OTHER MAJOR CITIES.
PLEASE SUPPORT THE CONVERSION ,
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HI. I AM THE OWNER OF --
LOCATED IN DISTRICT 3. I'M
SPEEDING -- SPEAKING IN SUPPOR
OF THE CONVERSION OF THE SEATTL
TOURISM IMPROVEMENT AREA. I OW
A RESTAURANT AND CAPITOL HILL ,
FOR THE LAST SEVEN OR EIGHT
YEARS. I LIVE THERE AS WELL. I
JOINED BECAUSE OF THE COMMUNITY
OF PEOPLE, THE CULTURE. ONE OF
THE THINGS IS MY PARENTS AND I
HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS THAT LIVE
OUTSIDE OF SEATTLE, AND ONE OF
THE COMMON THINGS I HEAR IS I
DON'T VISIT THE SEATTLE AREA.
DON'T VISIT THE SEATTLE AREA. M
BIG GOAL OF WHAT I WANT TO
CHANGE IS, WHEN YOU TURN THE
MEDIA ON, YOU CONSISTENTLY HEAR
ABOUT WHAT SEATTLE IS STRUGGLIN
THROUGH AND NEGATIVE
INFORMATION. WITH VISIT
SEATTLE, I HAVE BEEN WORKING
WITH THEM FOR SEVEN OR EIGHT
YEARS , AND THEY DO AN
INCREDIBLE JOB SUPPORTING SMALL
BUSINESSES LIKE MINE FROM
RESTAURANT EVENTS TO DIFFERENT
EVENTS WITHIN THE CITY, AND HEL
CHANGE THE CONVERSATION. I WANT
TO SEE VISIT SEATTLE TAKE THE
LEAD AND PUSH THAT IMAGE OF
SEATTLE FOR OUR LONG-TERM SAKE
SO WE CAN BE RUNNING SUCCESSFU
BUSINESSES LONG TIME. PLEASE
SUPPORT THE CONVERSION OF THE
SEATTLE TOURISM IMPROVEMENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT UP
IS MONTY ANDERSON.
>> ARE YOU READY? THANK YOU VER
MUCH. THANK YOU FOR THE
COUNCILMEMBERS FOR ATTENDING
HERE ON ONLINE. I NAME IS MONTY
ANDERSON, I AM AHEAD OF THE
SEATTLE BUILDING TRAITS. WE
WANT TO STRONGLY EXPRESS OUR
SUPPORT FOR THE TOURISM
IMPROVEMENT AREA LEGISLATION.
WE ARE SMART IN THE BUILDING
TRAITS. WE UNDERSTAND PEOPLE
WANT TO COME HERE AND BE HERE S
WE CAN BUILD STUFF. WE KNOW WE
DON'T BUILD HOTELS AND PARKS
JUST TO LOOK AT. WHEN I HAD A
CHANCE TO JOIN VISIT SEATTLE TW
YEARS AGO, I GOT A LITTLE
PUSHBACK FROM SOME OF MY
MEMBERS. WONDERING WHAT AM I
DOING THAT FOR. AFTER A FEW
YEARS HERE, EVERYBODY IS SO
EXCITED WE ARE PART OF THIS
GROUP BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND
THE CORRELATION BETWEEN GOOD
PRESS AND WE'VE GOT A GOOD
PRODUCT HERE. GETTING STUFF
BUILT IN HAVING GOOD PEOPLE
PROMOTE . I WORK WITH A LOT OF
GROUPS AND PROMOTE THINGS. I'VE
NEVER SEEN ANYBODY EVER SEND
SUCH A MESSAGE GLOBALLY SO
CLEAR ABOUT HOW BEAUTIFULLY
SEATTLE IS. I'M EVEN IMPRESSED
WHEN I SEE HER AND I LIVE HERE.
WHAT AN EXCELLENT JOB. LIKE I
SAID, I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THEM.
WHAT THEY ARE DOING NEEDS TO B
DONE AFTER THE PANDEMIC WE TOOK
A BIG HIT HERE. WE NEED TO
CLEAN THAT UP. I AM ALL FOR
VISIT SEATTLE IN THE INITIATIVE
I AM RAMBLING HERE BECAUSE I
GOT SO EXCITED ABOUT BEING PART
OF THAT GROUP. I WANT TO TELL
YOU AGAIN, ISUPPORT THIS GROUP
100% AND GETTING WORK DONE,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> I WILL NOTE MONTY REPRESENTS
THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY BUILT
THE EXPANDED CONVENTION CENTER,
WHICH WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS
LEGISLATION. THANK YOU FOR BEIN
IN HOUSE. WE HAVE ONE PERSON T
SIGN UP FOR REMOTE PUBLIC
COMMENT. THEY ARE NOT PRESENT
YET . THAT PERSON IS LAURA. IF
YOU CAN HEAR THIS, PLEASE COME
ON BOARD AND PRESS STAR SIX.
OKAY, SHE'S HAVING TROUBLE
CONNECTING. THAT UNFORTUNATELY
-- IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE IN THE
ROOM THAT WILL LIKE TO MAKE
PUBLIC COMMENT? LAURA, YOU'RE
WELCOME TO SUBMIT PUBLIC
COMMENTS BY EMAIL AND MAKE SURE
THEY ARE DISTRIBUTED. I WILL
OFFICIALLY CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT
IF THERE ARE NO OTHER SPEAKERS.
I'M OFFICIALLY CLOSING PUBLIC
COMMENT. WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR
ITEM ON THE AGENDA. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE READ THE ITEM INT
RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE,
COUNSEL BILL 120641. AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO SEATTLE
TOURISM IMPROVEMENT AREAS.
ESTABLISHING A NEW 15-YEAR
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA TO BE
KNOWN AS THE SEATTLE TOURISM
IMPROVEMENT AREA; LEVYING
SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS UPON OWNERS
OF BUSINESSES OFFERING TRANSIEN
ACCOMMODATIONS WITH 60 OR MORE
ROOMS THE AREA. PROVIDING
FOR THE DEPOSIT OF REVENUES IN
SPECIAL ACCOUNT AND EXPENDITURE
THEREFROM. PROVIDING FOR
COLLECTION OF AND PENALTIES FOR
DELINQUENCIES. PROVIDING FOR TH
ESTABLISHMENT OF A RATEPAYERS
ADVISORY BOARD. IMPROVEMENT ARE
THAT WAS ESTABLISHED BY
ORDINANCE 123714 PROVIDING FOR
THE TRANSFER OF ANY REMAINING
FUNDS FROM THE 2011 STIA
ACCOUNT AND RATIFYING AND
CONFIRMING CERTAIN PRIOR ACTS.
>> FORMED IN 2021, IN ACCORDANC
WITH WASHINGTON STATE LAW, TO
ESTABLISH A NEW LASER TOURISM
MARKETING FUND THAT ENABLES
HOTELS TO COMPETE AND GROW
THEIR MARKET SHARE. IT STARTED
AS A FLAT TWO DOLLAR FEE PER
NIGHT. COUNSEL AMENDED LAST YEA
TO BECOME A FOUR DOLLAR FLAT
FEE, AND THEY WANT TO CONVERT
THE FLAT FEE TO A
PERFORMANCE-BASED THAT AT 2.3%
THAT'S WHY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
STIA AGAIN. THE REPAIRS ARE
LOOKING TO ALLOW THE USE OF THE
FUNDS COLLECTED TO INCLUDE SALE
AND MARKETING IN THE CONVENTIO
CENTER. CURRENTLY STIA FUNDS CA
ONLY BE USED FOR LEISURE
MARKETING DEVELOPMENT, BUT WITH
THE NEW SUMMIT BUILDING WE HAV
THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND SALE
IN THE MEETINGS IN THE MARKET
SEGMENTS. THE PROPOSED
CONVERSION OF THE STIA HAS BEEN
MET WITH THE SUPPORT FROM
RATEPAYERS WITH THE DEFINED -
WITHIN THE IMPROVED AREA ZONE.
CURRENTLY OVER 70% OF PROPERTIE
REPRESENTING THE 80% OF GUEST
ROOM INVENTORY HAD SIGNED THE
PETITION TO SUPPORT THESE
IMPORTANT CHANGES. THAT'S A BIG
PERCENTAGE WHEN THERE IS
ANYTHING HAVING TO DO WITH THE
CHANGES OR EXPANSIONS, ET
CETERA. THAT'S IMPRESSIVE.
PRESENTERS, WILL YOU PLEASE
INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND BEGIN
YOUR PRESENTATIONS?
>> SURE, I WILL START, GOING
DOWN THE LINE. MY NAME IS
JASMINE WITH CENTRAL CENTRAL
STAFF.
>> MY NAME IS COUNT UP THIS
CASEY ROGERS.
>> TMA WITH VISIT SEATTLE.
>> VISIT SEATTLE.
>> I WILL GO AHEAD AND KICK US
OFF . TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF
THE PROCESS. AS THIS COMMITTEE
MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH, SINCE THI
IS THE THIRD ONE IN RECENT
MONTHS , THE PROCEDURES FOR
ESTABLISHING AND OPERATING ARE
GOVERNED BY STATE LAW AND CITY
POLICIES THAT WERE ADOPTED BY
RESOLUTION IN 2016. PER THE
ADOPTED POLICIES, THE CITY WILL
CONSIDER A NEW ONE WHEN
PRESENTED BY A PETITION FROM
RATEPAYERS REPRESENTING 60% OR
MORE OF THE PROPOSED ONE. AS
CHAIR NELSON MENTIONED, THE CAS
BEFORE YOU TODAY. THESE
PETITIONS CAN BE FOUND IN CLERK
FILE 322-0074. AGAIN, AS THIS
COMMITTEE MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH
BY NOW, CREATING A NEW ONE IS
PRETTY PROCESS INTENSIVE. TO
INCLUDES FOUR PIECES OF
LEGISLATION AS REQUIRED BY LAW.
A RESOLUTION THAT ESTABLISHES
THE INTENT TO ESTABLISH THE
BIA AND SETS THE HEARING.
INTENT TO DISAPPEAR THE EXISTIN
BIA AND SETS A PUBLIC HEARING
ON THAT. AND FINALLY AN
ORDINANCE THAT FORMALLY THIS
ESTABLISHES THE EXPIRING BIA,
CREATES A NEW ONE, AND LEVIES A
SPECIAL ASSESSMENT TO FUND THE
ACTIVITIES. THE COUNCIL
INTRODUCED ALL FOUR PIECES OF
LEGISLATION AND VOTED ON THE
ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTIONS.
THESE RESOLUTIONS AT THE PUBLIC
HEARING DATE FOR SEPTEMBER 13th
AT 9:30 A.M., THIS WEDNESDAY.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE
NOTICE OF THE UPCOMING PUBLIC
HEARINGS WAS PUBLISHED IN THE
DAILY JOURNAL COMMERCE AND
MAILED TO ALL POTENTIAL RATE
PAYERS IN ADVANCE OF THE
HEARING , AGAIN AS REQUIRED BY
STATE LAW. TODAY , WE ARE
HEARING AN INITIAL PRESENTATION
ON THE COUNSEL BILL . LOOKING
AHEAD, THE NEXT COMMITTEE
MEETING ON WEDNESDAY MORNING
WILL CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING,
CAN -- CONSIDER ANY AMENDMENTS
AND POSSIBLY VOTE ON THE
LEGISLATION. WITH THAT OVERVIE
OF THE PROCESS I WILL TURN IT
OVER TO THE PROPONENTS.
>> THANKS, JASMINE. THANKS FOR
EVERYONE. THANKS FOR HOSTING US
AT THE MEETING TODAY. APPRECIAT
IT. MY NAME IS CASEY ROGERS I'M
UP IS TO -- BUSINESS DISTRICT
PROGRAM MANAGER. I WILL GIVE YO
A REVIEW OF THE BIA PROGRAM AN
WHAT WE ARE INTRODUCING AND THE
I WILL PASS IT OVER FOR THE
DETAILS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
OUR BIA PROGRAM, CURRENTLY WE
HAVE 11 ACROSS THE CITY OF
SEATTLE INCLUDING SETTLE
TOURISM IMPROVEMENT AREA AND
VISIT SEATTLE. THAT MONEY GOES
BACK TO ENHANCED BUSINESS
SERVICES AND PROGRAMS. BIA
PROVIDE LOCAL CONTROL WITH
FUNDING AND PREDICTABLE
SUSTAINING FUNDING AS WELL.
HIRING STAFF, AND LOOK FORWARD
AND PLAN FOR THE FUTURE. THE
REVENUE THAT IS COLLECTED
THROUGH THE ASSESSMENT IS 100%
DELEGATED TO THE DISTRICT, SO I
STAYS WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOODS
ITSELF . THE PROGRAM IS
SUPPORTED BY OED AND THE CITY'S
TREASURY SERVICES. HOW A BIA I
FORMED IS, THE FIRST THING THE
MUST DEMONSTRATE 60% OF SUPPORT
FROM THE RATEPAYERS VIA A
PETITION PROCESS. THEN THE
PROPONENTS CAN UTILIZE ANY
REASONABLE FACTOR THAT RELATES
TO THE BENEFITS RECEIVED,
INCLUDING HOTEL OCCUPANCY,
BUSINESS AND OCCUPATIONAL
VALUES, LOT SQUARE FOOTAGE .
WHEN A BIA IS PROPOSED FOR
CHANGE TO PROPOSE, IT COMES TO
THE CITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
WE REVIEW THE PROPOSAL TO MAKE
SURE IT'S COMMENSURATE WITH
CITY POLICIES AND STATE LAWS.
AND THAT THE REPAIRS ARE
RECEIVING BENEFITS PROPOSED WIT
THE BIA. LASTLY, THE BIA --
EXCUSE ME, LASTLY, THE PI NEEDS
TO BE APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL,
WHICH IS WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. STIA
BACKGROUND. FORMED ORIGINALLY I
2011 THROUGH THE PROCESS I
MENTIONED ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE
FOR THIS CHANGE HERE, THEY HAV
SECURED 72% OF SUPPORT THROUGH
THE PETITION PROCESS, WHICH IS
MUCH HIGHER THAN THE 60% MINIMU
I BELIEVE ACTUALLY IT'S NOW 74
SINCE WE'VE SUBMITTED THESE
DOCUMENTS, IF I'M RIGHT. NEXT
SLIDE. JUST A LITTLE CONTEXT
HERE. HERE ARE THE BOUNDARIES .
YOU CAN SEE IT'S PROBABLY
DOWNTOWN. WITH THE RED OUTLINE
THERE. I JUST WANTED TO NOTE
THE BOUNDARIES ARE NOT CHANGING
WITH THIS ORDINANCE. NEXT SLIDE
PLEASE. JUST ANOTHER MAP TO
SHOW THE RATEPAYERS , 71 IN
TOTAL. THE BOUNDARY IS NOT
CHANGING WITH THIS. NEXT SLIDE
PLEASE. THERE ARE TWO MAIN
UPDATES WITH THIS PROPOSAL. THE
FIRST BEING EXPANDING THE TYPE
OF TRAVEL THAT VISIT SEATTLE CA
MARKET TO INCLUDE BUSINESS
TRAVEL. THEY ARE CURRENTLY
RESTRICTED TO LEISURE TRAVEL,
WHICH PRECLUDES THE CONVENTION
CENTER, WHICH IS NOTABLE RIGHT
NOW WITH THE NEW SUMMIT
BUILDING. THIS UPDATE WILL
ALLOW THEM TO MARKET BUSINESS
TRAVEL AS WELL. THE OTHER MAIN
COMPONENT TO THIS ORDINANCE IS
TRANSITIONING FROM A FLAT FEE
MODEL TO A PERCENTAGE MODEL.
RIGHT NOW IT'S FOUR DOLLARS PER
NIGHT. THIS WOULD ACTUALLY
CHANGE IT TO A 2.3% CHARGE. TH
PERCENTAGE MODEL IS MORE
EQUITABLE. YOU CAN THINK OF $10
A NIGHT HOTEL VERSUS A $400 A
NIGHT HOTEL, SPENDING TWO
DOLLARS AND 30% -- I CAN'T DO
THE MATH RIGHT NOW. DO YOU
UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING. THE
PERCENTAGE MODEL IS MORE IN
ALIGNMENT WITH WHAT OTHER
JURISDICTIONS ARE DOING ACROSS
THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE
WORLD. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. I
MENTIONED BEFORE THAT 100% OF
THE ASSESSMENTS GO BACK TO THE
BIA FOR VARIOUS PROGRAM AREAS.
I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF
THE PROGRAM AREAS THAT STIA
HAS. I WANTED TO SHOW
ADVERTISING , GROUP SALES. YOU
CAN SEE WHAT VISIT SEATTLE
DOES. NEXT SLIDE. I THINK THAT'
IT. MAYBE WE MOVE QUESTIONS TO
THE VERY END.
>> THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.
>> GREAT. WITH THAT I WILL PAS
IT OVER TO TAMMY AND ALLIE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUC
FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY AND
MAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN TO OU
PRESENTATION. MY NAME IS TAMMY
I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF
VISIT SEATTLE. WE ARE THE
PROGRAM MANAGER FOR STIA. I'M
HERE PRESENTING WITH ALLIE, OU
CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER. NEXT
SLIDE. WE HAVE BEEN AROUND FO
A LONG TIME. JUST A LITTLE BIT
OF HISTORY ABOUT THE IS T.I.A.
IT WAS ESTABLISHED 12 YEARS
AGO. A MINIMUM OF 60 ROOMS
WITHIN THE BIA BOUNDARIES. AN
11 MEMBER BOARD IS WORKING
WITH US . AND MUST BE IMPROVED
BY THE RATEPAYERS EACH YEAR. I
GENERAL TERMS, AND WILL TALK
MORE ABOUT SPECIFICS, THESE
FUNDS HAVE BEEN INVESTED TO
GROW THE ECONOMY THROUGH
ADVERTISING, MEDIA RELATIONS,
SPECIAL EVENTS, SALES MISSIONS
AND OTHER WORK THAT INCREASES
AWARENESS OF SEATTLE AS A
LEISURE DESTINATION. WHILE THE
STIA IS MANDATED TO BENEFIT TH
RATEPAYERS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO
NOTE THAT BENEFITS ARE BEYOND
THE HOTELS. OUR RATEPAYERS
RECOGNIZE THAT PEOPLE STAY IN
HOTELS TO ENJOY THE DESTINATION
ALL THE THINGS THAT MAKE IT
SPECIAL. THIS IS A VERY
COLLABORATIVE EFFORT. VISIT
SEATTLE HAS MORE THAN 700
MEMBERS REPRESENTING EVERY
SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOOD . THESE AR
BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS ACROS
THE CITY. WE'VE HAD AMAZING
SUCCESS AS A RESULT OF THE
FUNDS AND ARE LOOKING TO DO
MORE. WE'RE LOOKING FOR JUST A
COUPLE OF ADJUSTMENTS. THE
OBJECTIVES HAVE REMAINED
CONSISTENT OVER TIME. WE
LEVERAGED IT WITH OTHER FUNDS
AND USE IT TO BUILD AWARENESS
AND FALL, WINTER AND SPRING.
AND TO TELL THE STORY OR STORIE
OF SEATTLE. THIS HAS BEEN VERY
SUCCESSFUL ECONOMIC WORK AND
WE'RE LOOKING TO DO MORE OF THI
WITH THE NEW STIA. THANKS.
WHILE WE'VE HAD GREAT SUCCESS,
WE HAVE FOUND OURSELVES IN A NE
CHAPTER, WITH THAT HAVE
DISCOVERED SOME CHALLENGES WITH
THE STIA. THE OTHER MAIN SOURC
OF MARKETING COMES FROM THE
CONVENTION CENTER. RIGHT UP
UNTIL 2020, THOSE FUNDS WERE
WORKING WELL TOGETHER. WE NOW
HAVE OPENED A SECOND CENTER
BUILDING WHICH GRATES -- BRINGS
GREAT OPPORTUNITY. THE PANDEMI
AND THE DEBT SERVICE OBLIGATION
HAVE RESULTED IN THE EROSION OF
THE AVAILABLE SALES AND
MARKETING FUNDS. THIS LEAVES US
WITH A GAP OF ABOUT $30 MILLION
OVER A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD, MONEY
WE WERE COUNTING ON TO STAFF U
AND RECOVER FROM THE PANDEMIC.
IT IS GREATLY AFFECTING OUR
MOMENTUM IN BUILDING CONVENTION
BUSINESS. THE STIA AS IT'S
BUILT NOW, CANNOT HELP US BRIDG
THE GAP. IN ADDITION TO THAT,
THE FLAT FEE MODEL HAS ITS
LIMITATIONS. AS WE SEE
INFLATIONS EFFECT ON
EVERYTHING, WE ARE IN DANGER OF
BEING MORE AND MORE UNDER
RESOURCED IF WE LEAVE THINGS TH
WAY THEY ARE. WE ARE STILL
WORKING ON RECOVERY. WE'VE HAD
GOOD MOMENTS AND GREAT MOMENTS
WE CAN SEND BUNTS. WE TRULY ARE
NOT BACK. CERTAINLY WE HAVE A
LOT OF GROUND TO MAKE UP . WE
ARE STILL 18% BELOW 2019 IN
OVERNIGHT VISITOR LEVELS. 10%
DOWN IN VISITOR SPENDING, AND
THAT'S NEARLY $1 BILLION. 10% I
NO SMALL CHANGE. EMPLOYMENT IS
LAGGING BY 24%. ON THE NEXT
SLIDE, IT SHOWS A GRAPH ABOUT
CONVENTION CENTERS. THEY NEED
RUNWAY. THE BOOK WELL IN
ADVANCED GENERALLY . THEY
TRADITIONALLY BOOK SEVERAL
YEARS ELSE. WE TRACK WHERE WE
SHOULD BE IN ORDER TO MEET OUR
ANNUAL LOOKING TARGETS. RIGHT
NOW, WE SHOULD BE WHERE THE
YELLOW LINE IS RIGHT NOW. WHERE
WE ARE IS THE BLUE LINE. YOU CA
SEE WE'VE GOT SOME GROUND TO
MAKE UP , AND NEED A LITTLE BIT
OF HELP THERE. ON THE NEXT SLID
YOU SEE WE ARE FOLLOWING BEHIN
OUR COMPETITIVE CITY BUDGETS.
POST-COVID RECOVERY IS ON
EVERYONE'S RADAR, AS IS
INFLATION OF COURSE. WHEN WE
BEGAN THIS SURVEY IN THE EARLY
SPRING , WASHINGTON, D.C.'S
BUDGET WAS AT $25 MILLION. IF
YOU LOOK AT THE GRID NOW, THEY
ARE $50 MILLON. IN A FEW SHORT
MONTHS THEY HAVE DOUBLED THE
RESOURCES THEY HAVE AVAILABLE T
GROW THE SAME KIND OF BUSINESS
WE ARE PURSUING. WE ALREADY LAG
BEHIND DENVER AND SAN DIEGO, LO
ANGELES. PORTLAND AND SAN
FRANCISCO ARE PREDICTING
SIGNIFICANT FUNDING INCREASES I
2024 POINT ON THIS GRAPH WE AR
THE LITTLE BLUE LINE ON THE
RIGHT-HAND SIDE. WE ASPIRE TO B
NOT ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE. WE
ARE PROPOSING TO SIMPLE CHANGES
. WHEN I SAY WE, WE ARE
INCLUDING THE RATEPAYERS. WE
HAVE CONTINUED TO COLLECT
PETITIONS SINCE WE ORIGINALLY
SUBMITTED. WE HAVE 51 SIGNED OU
OF THE 71 HOTELS. 72% OF THE
HOTELS REPRESENTING 79.4% OF
THE ROOMS , AND LIKELY MORE OF
THE RATE PAYING . THE FIRST
ADJUSTMENT IS CHANGING FROM A
FLAT NIGHTLY FEE TO A
PERCENTAGE OF THE NIGHTLY RATE.
THIS CHANGE MAKE THINGS MORE
EQUITABLE FOR THE REPAIRS AND
ALLOWS IT TO GROW WITH RATE A
AND OCCUPANCY. WITH THE FLAT FE
THERE'S LIMITED OPPORTUNITY TO
GROW AS WE DON'T HAVE PLANS FO
NEW HOTEL ROOMS COMING ANYTIME
SOON. THE PERCENTAGE RATE HAS
BEEN CHOSEN QUITE PURPOSELY. W
DID A GREAT DEAL OF STUDYING. W
LOOKED AT OUR COMPETITIVE
MARKETS. WE LANDED ON 2.3
PRECISELY TO GENERATE AS MUCH
REVENUE AS POSSIBLE WHILE STILL
UNDER THE TOP REVENUE OF TAX
AND FEES AND OTHER DESTINATIONS
THE OTHER ADJUSTMENT ON THE
NEXT SLIDE IS A MODIFICATION OF
THE USE. THE SECOND CHANGE IS
ADDING THE ABILITY TO USE THE
FUNDS FOR THE SALES AND
MARKETING'S OF CONVENTIONS AND
MEETINGS. WE ARE THE ONLY PLACE
ON THE PLANET WITH TWO
STATE-OF-THE-ART DOWNTOWN
CONVENTION CENTERS AND THE
CLOSER PROXIMITY. WE HAVE A
GREAT OPPORTUNITY, BUT WE NEED
RESOURCES TO MAXIMIZE THAT AND
WIN BUSINESS IN WHICH THERE'S
INCREDIBLY FIERCE COMPETITION.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF CASE
STUDIES, JUST TO ILLUSTRATE WHY
THE MEETINGS MARKET IS SO
IMPORTANT. THE FIRST ONE IS THE
INTERNATIONAL ANTIVIRAL SOCIETY
THEY WERE HERE IN FEBRUARY OF
THIS YEAR. IN A MONTH WHERE
TRADITIONALLY WE DON'T HAVE A
LOT OF LEISURE VISITORS IN TOWN
THIS CONVENTION BROUGHT OVER $1
MILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT,
INCLUDING $400,000 IN LOCAL
TAXES. WE WORKED WITH THEM, AS
WITH ALL GROUPS, TO SOURCE LOCA
PRODUCTS FOR THEIR WELCOME BAGS
DR. MADE US -- HELPED US MAK
NATIONAL HEADLINES AS WELL. TH
BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATION WAS
HERE IN FEBRUARY ALSO, LITTLE
SMALLER THAN THE OTHER GROUP,
BUT STILL IMPORTANT AND
IMPACTFUL EVENT. NOT ONLY DID
THEY INFUSE OUR ECONOMY WITH
MORE THAN $3 MILLION, BUT THEY
EMBRACED OUR COMMUNITY. WORKIN
WITH THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
AND OTHER LOCAL NONPROFITS TO
NOTE -- DONATE BOOKS TO OUR
TEACHERS. THEY USED OUR LOCAL
PRODUCTS FOR THEIR WELCOME
GIFTS. WHEN WE ATTRACT GROUPS
LIKE THIS, IT'S NOT JUST A
CONVENTION, IT'S A COMMUNITY
BENEFIT. IT HELPS US BALANCE
THE IMPACT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
AND BRINGS GROUPS ALIGNED WITH
THE VALUE OF OUR CITY. TAYLOR
SWIFT ON THE SCREEN. THE
TOURISM COMEDY -- ECONOMY IS
MULTIFACETED. THE REVENUE AND
OCCUPANCY RECORD-BREAKING
WEEKEND WAS AMAZING. YES, THE
SWIFTY IS MADE A BIG IMPACT,
BUT IT WASN'T JUST THEM. IT WAS
THE BLUE JAYS IN TOWN THAT
ALWAYS PULLS A HUGE CROWD. TWO
CITYWIDE CONVENTIONS AND
FESTIVALS. ALL OF THAT ON ONE
WEEKEND IS WHAT MADE THAT
WEEKEND SO INCREDIBLY SPECIAL
AND PROFITABLE. THERE'S NO ONE
SEGMENT ALONE THAT CAN CARRY US
WE NEED DIVERSE GROUPS , JUST
LIKE BUSINESS NEEDS DIVERSE
REVENUE STREAMS. THE ONE
SEGMENT WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT
YET IS INTERNATIONAL. THIS
CROWD IS CRITICAL TO OUR OVERAL
RECOVERY. THEY SPEND MORE, THE
STAY LONGER. THEY COME IN ON
SUMMER MONTHS. OVERSEAS IS THE
SLOWEST TO RECOVER. WHILE THERE
ARE -- AND AIRLIFT ARE PART O
THAT POINT WE NEED TO BE
INVESTING MORE IN GROWING THESE
MARKETS. YOU CAN SEE ON THE
SCREEN THE TRADITIONAL MARKETS
HAVE IMPORTANCE, AND WHERE WE
ARE AT IN RECOVERING THOSE
VISITORS. CANADA IS OUR LARGEST
MARKET , AND IS NOT ON THE
GRAFT. WHEN YOU PUT THAT THERE
YOU CAN'T READ OF -- ANY OF TH
OTHER LINES. SUCH A HUGE MARKET
WHILE THEY ARE RECOVERING, THEY
ARE STILL AT 32% BELOW 2019
LEVELS. YOU CAN SEE WE ARE
ANYWHERE BETWEEN 20 OR 90%
BELOW WERE 2019 BROUGHT US.
LOOK AT CHINA. IN OUR LARGEST
OVERSEA MARKET, TRADITIONALLY,
IT'S NOWHERE NEAR RECOVERING.
THERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS FOR
THAT. SOME OF THE FLIGHTS ARE
COMING BACK, BUT IT'S GOING TO
TAKE A LONG TIME, IF EVER, THE
CHINA COMES BACK AS THE
IMPORTANCE OF A MARKET TO US. I
ADDITION TO INVESTING IN THE
MARKETS WE ARE ALREADY IN, WE
NEED TO EXPLORE OTHER
OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THIS IS
MY THIRD TIME PRESENTING IN
FRONT OF COUNSEL ON STIA, AND
EACH TIME I GET MORE EXCITED.
I'M SO PROUD TO BE A STORYTELLE
FOR THE CITY WE LOVE SO MUCH.
THESE ARE A SLICE OF THE
PROGRAMS WE WORK ON, BUT THIS I
A COMMITMENT WE'VE MADE TO
OURSELVES BUT TO OUR RATEPAYERS
THAT WE HAVE A COMMISSION --
COMMITMENT TO SHINE A LIGHT ON
MUSIC, UNDERREPRESENTED
COMMUNITIES AND BUSINESS OWNERS
I DID A QUICK COUNT LAST NIGHT
ACROSS OUR CAMPAIGNS. 91% OF
THE WORK WE PUT OUT IS ABOUT ,
OR FEATURES , ARTS, CULTURE,
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, AND
LGBTQ COMMUNITY. NEXT SLIDE,
PLEASE. THE SEATTLE MUSEUM
MONTH IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE. 10
YEARS AGO WE GOT ALL THE HOTELS
TOGETHER AND THE ARTS AND
CULTURE INSTITUTIONS AND
CREATED SEATTLE'S MUSEUM MONTH
IF YOU STAY IN A DOWNTOWN HOTEL
YOU RECEIVE HALF OFF ADMISSION
AT OVER 30 ARTS AND CULTURAL
INSTITUTIONS THROUGHOUT THE
REGION. NOT ONLY DID IT GIVE US
A CHANCE TO HIGHLIGHT THE
DIVERSE ART SCENE WE HAVE HERE,
FROM THE PINBALL MUSEUM , TO TH
KLONDIKE GOLD RUSH MUSEUM, TO
THE ZOO, BUT WE HAVE A CHANCE T
HAVE OUR ARTS AND CULTURE
COMMUNITY WORK TOGETHER WITH OU
HOTEL COMMUNITY AND REALLY LIFT
ALL BOATS. WE KNOW FEBRUARY IS
ROUGH MONTH FOR ALL INVOLVED.
THIS GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO
CELEBRATE ALL OF THAT. YEAR
OVER YEAR, WE GET MORE PRESS O
THIS CAMPAIGN THAN ANY OTHER
EXISTING CAMPAIGNS. THIS WAS
CREATED BY VISIT SEATTLE. VISIT
SEATTLE.TV , IN 2015, WE HAVE
NOW OVER 160 PIECES OF CONTENT
RANGING FROM 50 SECONDS TO 40
MINUTES TELLING STORIES ABOUT
OUR CITY, NONTRADITIONAL
CONTENT. WE KNOW PEOPLE DON'T
ALWAYS KNOW THEY ARE PLANNING
THEIR NEXT TRIP. IT'S A WAY FO
US TO USE OTHER PEOPLE'S VOICES
TO TELL ABOUT OUR BEAUTIFUL
CITY. PEOPLE TRUST PEOPLE LIKE
THEM MORE THAN THEY TRUST
PEOPLE TO PROMOTE A PRODUCT. W
LEAN INTO THAT. OUR LATEST IS
CALLED BOOKMARKED. WE ARE PROU
CITY OF LITERATURE. WE HAVE
SEATTLE AUTHORS , PASSAGES, AND
INFLUENCERS ALL MIXED TOGETHER
IN ONE BEAUTIFUL CAMPAIGN WE AR
THRILLED TO SHARE. WE HAVE ALS
HAD ANOTHER HIGHLIGHT THAT IS
FAMILY-STYLE. FIRST GENERATION
IMMIGRANT CHEFS SHARING THEIR
FAMILY REPRESENTS AND
RESTAURANTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY
AS THEY FEEL LIKE IT'S THEIR
RESPONSIBILITY TO BRING THESE
RECIPES TO SEATTLE, AND WHY THE
CHOSE TO DO IT HERE AND WHY THE
ARE SO PROUD TO DO IT. NEXT
SLIDE, PLEASE. THE I KNOW A
PLACE CAMPAIGN, I BELIEVE I
SHARED WITH THE LAST YEAR, IT
STARTED IN CITIES THAT KNEW US
ALREADY. VANCOUVER, BC.
PORTLAND, SAN FRANCISCO AND L.A
AS WE WERE ABLE TO LAUNCH INTO
NEW MARKETS, WE DIDN'T WANT TO
DO IT WITH JUST BILLBOARDS.
FOLLOWING YOU AROUND YOUR NEWS
CHANNELS. WE WANTED TO DO IT IN
A TRUE SEATTLE WAY. WE TOOK OVE
LOCAL COFFEE SHOPS IN BOISE AND
HOUSTON. WHEN YOU WENT IN FOR
YOUR MORNING COFFEE ON A MONDAY
WHAT A TREAT YOUR FIRST CUP OF
COFFEE IS ON SEATTLE. THEN WE
FOLLOWED YOU WITH THE
BILLBOARDS AND BUS PORTS. COFFE
IS NOT AS POPULAR DURING THE HO
MONTHS AND HOT DESTINATIONS. WE
TOOK POPSICLES. WE TOOK SEATTL
POPS, LOCAL FAMILY-OWNED,
WOMEN-OWNED, LGBTQ BUSINESS. WE
HANDED OUT FREE POPSICLES IN
THE SUMMER. OF COURSE BUS BOARD
AS WELL. ONCE YOU GO TO I KNOW
PLACE, ON THE WEBSITE, USING
LOCAL STORIES. HIGHLIGHTING
PEOPLE OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT W
LOVE SO MUCH. REALLY ASKING
THEM TO SHARE THEIR FAVORITE
PLACES WITH LOVED ONES. HOW YOU
TAKE A LOVED ONE AROUND THE CIT
IS HOW YOU -- IS DIFFERENT HOW
YOU SHARE THINGS ON SOCIAL
MEDIA. WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO
TAKE THEIR SISTERS, BEST
FRIENDS, AND SHOW THEM THE PART
OF SEATTLE THEY LOVE THE MOST.
THE CHEF WAS PART OF THAT
CAMPAIGN.
ACTORS, AND THE VOICE OF THE
SEATTLE KRAKEN WERE PART OF
THAT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. WE
TALK ABOUT NEGATIVE PRESS COMIN
OUT OF COVID. SEATTLE TOOK A
HIT, FOR SURE. WE WANTED TO MAK
SURE WE WERE IN THE NATIONAL
NEWS FOR THINGS NOT ONLY THAT
BROUGHT JOY, BUT THINGS WE CAN
CONTROL. WE TOOK A NEGATIVE
STEREOTYPE THAT IT RAINS A LOT
HERE, AND FLIPPED IT ON ITS
HEAD, AND CREATED SOMETHING
CALLED COZY SEASON. WE BROUGHT
SEATTLE RAIN, SEATTLE MISSED ,
TWO HOT MARKETS LAST YEAR. WHAT
RESULTED WAS OVER 167 MILLION
EARNED IMPRESSIONS, TALK TO
ABOUT A REASON TO COME TO
SEATTLE IN THE FALL AND WINTER,
ALL ACROSS THE WORLD. CLOUD
BREAK WE LAUNCHED LAST YEAR . A
CELEBRATION NOT ONLY OF MUSIC
VENUES, BUT OUR INCREDIBLE MUSI
SCENE. AN OPPORTUNITY, AGAIN,
WHEN YOU STAY IN A DOWNTOWN
HOTEL, TO RECEIVE FREE ACCESS
TO THESE MUSIC VENUES THROUGH 2
DAYS THROUGHOUT NOVEMBER.
ANOTHER PART OF OUR SHOULDER
SEASON. AN OPPORTUNITY NOT ONLY
TO DRIVE TRAFFIC TO MUSIC
VENUES, BUT BRING MORE PEOPLE
INTO THE CITY AND CELEBRATE
EVERYONE FROM SIR MIX A LOT ,
TO THE CONCLUSION WITH THE DUST
45S. NEXT SLIDE. WERE FACT, A
CELEBRATION OF GLASS ART. WE
LAUNCHED THE FESTIVAL FIVE
YEARS AGO. FOUR DAYS THAT
REALLY HIGHLIGHTS NOT ONLY WHAT
PEOPLE THINK OF GLASS ART, BUT
OPENS HER EYES TO SOMETHING NEW
DID YOU KNOW THERE'S AN ARTIST
THAT KNITS WITH GLASS? IT'S MIN
BLOWING. NOT ONLY TO CELEBRATE
THIS WITH OUR COLLECTORS, BUT
WITH THE GLASS ART CURIOUS.
PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY MIGHT
KNOW WHAT GLASS ART IS, BUT HAV
NO IDEA. WE HIGHLIGHT EVERYTHIN
FROM ART AT THE AIRPORT, AND
THROUGH DEMOS ENTERS AND
PARTIES. THIS YEAR WE ARE
ADDING A SHUTTLE SERVICE TO MAK
SURE IT IS AS ACCESSIBLE AS
POSSIBLE TO GIVE VISITORS AND
LOCALS AROUND. NEXT SLIDE. WE
KNOW MLB ALL-STAR WEEK WAS HER
EARLIER THIS YEAR. WHEN ALL EYE
WERE ON OUR CITY, AND PEOPLE
WERE HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME, W
MAJOR PEOPLE USE THE OPPORTUNIT
TO INTEREST -- INTRODUCE THEM
TO MORE THAN JUST BASEBALL. WE
HAD POP-UP CONCERTS. WINDOW
CLINGS HIGHLIGHTING BUSINESSES
FOR THEM TO PLACE ALONG THE
GREEN PATH. AS VISITORS WERE
TRAVELING BETWEEN THE HOTEL AND
THE STADIUMS, WE ENCOURAGE THEM
TO SUPPORT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 50 YEARS,
THE MONORAIL LET OTHERS PUT AR
ON THE MONORAIL COLUMNS AS A
SURPRISE AND DELIGHT. A LOCAL
ARTIST WITH OVER 100 COMMUNITY
MEMBERS CREATING THE ÷16. AGES
SIX TO 60, HIGHLIGHTING
BASEBALL PLAYERS AND THE FANS
AND LOCALS ALIKE. FREE EVENTS,
SUCH AS -- TO MAKE SURE THIS
EVENT WAS AS SUCCESSFUL AND
INCLUSIVE AS POSSIBLE. FINALLY,
SEATTLE GOOD NEWS. WE TALKED A
LOT ABOUT IT TODAY. BRAND
REPUTATION IS IMPORTANT TO US.
COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC
AGAIN. IT WAS IN THE PANDEMIC.
IN 2020 WE LAUNCHED A CURE
RATION OF THE STORIES THAT
CELEBRATE SEATTLE. NOT ONLY FRO
A TOURISM AND BUSINESS
PERSPECTIVE, BUT SEATTLEITES.
HOW WE WEATHERED THE PANDEMIC.
HOW WE ARE RECOVERING. WE ALSO
ENCOURAGE PARTNERS TO SHARE
THOSE MESSAGES AS WELL.
RE-CREATED VISUAL ASSETS FOR
THEM TO ADD e-SIGNATURES TO HEL
SPREAD THE WORD OF ALL THE GOO
THAT COMES OUT OF THIS PLACE.
BACK TO YOU. I WILL TAKE THIS
ONE. SUPPORTING SEATTLE. WE DO
THIS IN ALL KINDS OF WAYS. WE
PARTNERED WITH THE INTENTION
LIST TO UPLIFT LGBTQ OWNED
BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT SEATTLE.
LAST YEAR WE SPONSORED 20
BUSINESSES TO BECOME PART OF
VISIT SEATTLE. NOT ONLY DOES
THAT GIVE THEM PARTNERSHIP
BENEFITS EMMA BUT ALSO AN
OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT THEM
THROUGHOUT THE MEDIA AND GIVE
THE NATIONAL MEDIA EXPOSURE. WE
ARE A KEY PART OF THE DOWNTOWN
ACTIVATION PLAN. WE HAVE
MULTIPLE MEMBERS THAT'S IT WITH
THAT GROUP. WE ARE ALIGNED WITH
ALL FIVE STRATEGIC PILLARS IN
THE NEW ECONOMY AGENDA. TAMMY
MENTIONED ABOUT USING LOCAL
PRODUCTS AND GIFT BEDS. ANY
OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE TO TELL OU
STORY THROUGH PRODUCTS AND MAK
THIS PLACE SO SPECIAL, WE TAKE
FULL ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
>> THE ECONOMY IS CRITICAL TO
SEATTLE'S VITALITY. THEY ARE
LOWER THAN 2019 AS WE DISCUSSED
THEY ARE IMPORTANT , AND WE NEE
TO MAINTAIN AND GROW THEM. THE
OVERALL SPENDING EQUATES TO AN
AVERAGE OF MORE THAN $20 MILLIO
A DAY. IN KING COUNTY. STATE AN
LOCAL TAXES PAID BY VISITORS
MEANS WE AS RESIDENTS GET A TA
BREAK EVERY YEAR. NEARLY 61,00
OF OUR NEIGHBORS GO TO WORK I
TOURISM EACH DAY. SURE THEY
WORK IN HOTELS , BUT THEY WORK
IN FOOD AND BEVERAGE, ARTS AND
CULTURE. THEY WORK IN RETAIL.
MAYBE THEY HAVE A BUSINESS IN
PIKE PLACE MARKET. THE TOURIS
INDUSTRY MAKES THE DREAMS
POSSIBLE. IT BRINGS VITALITY T
OUR STREETS. WITH YOUR HELP, W
CAN MAKE SURE IT CONTINUES TO
GROW.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL
OF THAT INFORMATION. I REALLY
LOVE ALL THE TOOLS YOU USE. IS
THERE ANOTHER -- OH, GO AHEAD.
>>, IN CASE YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.
>> ALL THE CREATIVE WAYS IT
PROMOTES SEATTLE'S IN OTHER
MARKETS. WHEN YOU ARE TALKING
ABOUT YOUR BUDGET SHORTFALL,
LAST YEAR THERE WAS A
LAST-MINUTE PANIC CALL FOR HELP
FROM THE CONVENTION CENTER FRO
SEATTLE FOR FUNDING SUPPORT .
COSPONSORED A BUDGET ITEM , IT
DID NOT FLY. THERE WERE
QUESTIONS AND THINK OF HOW THE
WOULD END UP MARKETING. WHAT WA
THE FUNDING SOURCE FOR THAT,
AND WHY IS THERE A SHORTFALL?
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT IS IS WE
GO TO OTHER ISSUES?
>> ABSOLUTELY. THE FUNDING
SOURCE COMES FROM THE PUBLIC
FACILITIES DISTRICT . IT IS ROO
TAX. OF COURSE DURING COVID, &
SIGNIFICANTLY. THE PROJECTIONS
WERE INFINITELY MORE OPTIMISTI
THAN WHAT REALLY HAPPENED.
THEY CONTINUED TO BUILD
SUMMITS. BUT THE OBLIGATION
CONTINUES TO BE THERE. THEY
DEPLETED ALL OF THEIR RESERVES.
THEY LEVERAGED EVERYTHING THEY
POSSIBLY COULD. THEY BORROWED
MONEY FROM EVERYWHERE THEY CAN.
THEY DID CONTINUE TO FUND THIS
BUT AT A MUCH REDUCED LEVEL. W
WERE ABLE TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON
BUT WOUND UP HAVINGTO LAY OFF A
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF OUR STAFF
PRE-COVID , WE WERE AT ABOUT 72
STAFF. WE WENT TO LESS THAN 30
DURING COVID. WE HAVE NOT BEEN
ABLE TO GET BACK TO THE FORMULA
AND THE CONVENTION CENTER
BECAUSE OF THEIR OBLIGATIONS.
THEY CONTINUE TO HAVE MONEY
COMING THROUGH, BUT NOT ENOUGH
TO FUND AT THE LEVEL WE NEED IN
ORDER TO SELL TWO BUILDINGS, AN
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT
OPPORTUNITY.
>> AUDITS. IT DOES NO GOOD TO
HAVE A BRAND-NEW GORGEOUS
EXPANSION IF YOU CAN'T TELL
EVERY SINGLE ASSOCIATION WITHIN
THE COUNTRY, AND INTERNATIONALL
, YOU CAN DO MARKET
INTERNATIONALLY. WE DON'T HAVE
THE STAFF AND THE DOLLARS TO
PROMOTE IN MARKET AND FILL
THOSE ROOMS. HELP TO THOSE
CONVENTIONS. I THINK THAT'S
IMPORTANT. I WILL ENTER MY
BOILERPLATE LANGUAGE I WE SAY
WHEN WE ARE DISCUSSING BIA'S.
HERE WE HAVE HOTEL RATEPAYERS
THAT ARE ASKING FOR THE
PERMISSION TO CHANGE THE
ASSESSMENT STRUCTURE SO THAT
THEY CAN PROMOTE NOT
THEMSELVES, NOT JUST DOWNTOWN,
BUT THE MONEY THEY HAVE GOING
INTO THE OVERALL POT HELPING
THE SMALL BUSINESSES , AND ART
INSTITUTIONS AND MUSEUMS ALL
OVER THE CITY. I ALWAYS THINK
THAT IF THEY THINK IT'S OKAY TO
CHANGE HOW THEY HAVE THEIR
GUESTS PAYING FOR THE
ASSESSMENT THAT ENDS UP
PROMOTING ALL OF SEATTLE, I
THINK WE SHOULD FIRST TAKE OUR
CUE FROM THEM. WHEN IT COMES
RIGHT DOWN TO IT, IT DOESN'T
MATTER IF IT'S A BUSINESS
TRAVELER, OR A LEISURE TRAVELER
THAT IS PAYING THE CHECK AT THA
RESTAURANT. IT REALLY HELPS
THAT RESTAURANT, NO MATTER WHER
THE COMPANY IS COMING FROM. IT
INDICATES. I WILL STOP HERE AN
ASK OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS. OKAY.
>> I AM GOOD.
>> I DID HAVE ONE POINT, MADAME
IF I MAY.
>> YES.
>> TWO THINGS. WERE THE ORIGINA
PEOPLE PRESENTING -- AND THANK
YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
PRESENTATION -- WERE ANY OF YOU
THERE IN 2011 WHEN THIS WAS
CREATED ORIGINALLY?
>> YOUR HISTORIAN, REPORTING FO
DUTY.
>> YOU BOTH WERE?
>> JUST MYSELF.
>> WHAT WAS THE CONVENTIONAL
THINKING BACK THEN TO
DISTINGUISH BETWEEN BUSINESS
AND LEISURE , THAT THE FEE COUL
GO ONLY GO FOR LEISURE BUT NOT
BUSINESS?
>> THERE'S BUSINESS AND THEN
MEETINGS AND CONVENTIONS, AND
LEISURE. WE TALK ABOUT THREE
DIFFERENT SEGMENTS. SEATTLE
NEVER HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO
PROMOTE THEMSELVES AS A LEISURE
DESTINATION EVER. THIS WAS
FOLLOWING THE FACT THAT THE
STATE TOURISM OFFICE WAS CLOSIN
. THIS WAS A WAY THAT HOTEL
YEARS KNEW THEY NEEDED TO
COMPETE. AT THAT TIME WE HAD ON
CONVENTION CENTER. WE WERE
TURNING AWAY MORE BUSINESS THAN
WE WERE BOOKING ABOUT TIME. IN
2011, IT WAS THE BEST USED OF
-- USE OF THE OPPORTUNITY.
>> IT COULD BE A QUESTION AND
STATEMENT. TAKING A PAGE OUT OF
WHAT THE CHAMBER IS DOING AS
WELL,. ARE YOU ANTICIPATING
WORKING WITH LOCAL TRIBES ? I
UNDERSTAND THEY CAN BE
COMPETITORS AND PARTNERS. IN
KING COUNTY . CONTRIBUTING
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO THE
ECONOMY. THEY OFFER MORE THAN
JUST -- OF COURSE THEY HAVE
BUSINESSES AND CONVENTION
CENTERS AS WELL. NOT AS BIG AS
WHAT DOWNTOWN SEATTLE HAS TO
OFFER. THE MUSIC VENUES, THE
SHUTTLE SERVICES, IT WOULD SEE
TO ME THAT THAT WOULD BE A
GREAT PARTNERSHIP IN WORKING
WITH TRIBES AND LOCAL EVENTS
WHERE PEOPLE COME AND STAY
DOWNTOWN , GO TO THE CASINO, GO
TO A MARINERS GAME, AND STILL
STAY DOWNTOWN. I'M GUESSING IF
YOU HAVE THE CAPACITY TO
HANDOUT -- YOU SHOULD HAVE
CAPACITY TO WORK WITH LOAL
TRIBES WHO CONTRIBUTE BILLIONS
OF DOLLARS TO THE ECONOMY, AND
JOBS. UNDER THE CHAMBER , KUDOS
TO THEM, THEY ARE BOOKING THEIR
NEXT BIG EVENT . THERE'S A LOT
OF TAX BENEFITS AS WELL. I
DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS SOMETHING
YOU ARE GOING TO DO. I WOULD
CERTAINLY LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WIT
THE THOUGHT THAT THAT MIGHT BE
SOMETHING YOU SHOULD EXPLORE.
>> YES, MA'AM. YOU ARE
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. WE DO HAVE A
GOOD RELATIONSHIP. WE PARTNER
WITH THEM QUITE OFTEN. ALSO WIT
THE OTHER TRIBE . PROBABLY THE
MOST ACTIVELY INVESTED IN THE
WORK WE DO. WE DON'T SEE THEM A
COMPETITORS. WE SEE THEM AS
PARTNERS THAT ARE GOING TO HELP
ATTRACT BUSINESS TO THE GENERAL
AREA. THAT'S GOOD FOR EVERYONE.
>> OH, OKAY. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
GREAT TO HAVE A SLIGHT ON THAT.
CAN I ASK YOU WHAT SOCIAL MEDIA
PLATFORMS YOU ARE ON? THIS IS
SOMETHING, BELIEVE IT OR NOT,
WITH OUR NEWSLETTER, WE REACH
ABOUT MY DOZEN PEOPLE. A LOT OF
IT IS INDIAN COUNTRY. I AM
PROBABLY THE PREPEND -- PRETEND
RECORDER . THERE IS NOT AN
OUTLET , REALLY. IS THERE SOME
SOCIAL MEDIA YOU SEND OUT A
NOTICE WEEKLY LIKE SOME OTHER
GROUPS DO THAT WE COULD
ADVERTISE AND PUT INTO OUR --
AND EVERY DISTRICT HAS A
NEWSLETTER. AS WELL AS USING
THE SEATTLE CHANNEL. IS THERE
SOMETHING YOU GUYS PUT OUT WE
CAN USE?
>> WE ARE ACTIVE ACROSS ALL
CHANNELS. WE ENCOURAGE ALL OF
OUR PARTNERS TO ENSURE THEY TA
US AND USE THE HASHTAG VISIT
SEATTLE. WE LOVE TO REPOST ALL
OF THAT GOOD NEWS. THERE IS NO
A SOCIAL CHANNEL WE ARE NOT ON
RIGHT NOW.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MOST OF THE CHANNELS I AM
NOT ON.
>> ME EITHER. NONE. ZERO.
>> IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS I AM IN
100% SUPPORTIVE THIS POINT I
WOULDN'T HAVE CALLED A SPECIAL
MEETING TO TRY TO GET THIS DONE
BEFORE THE BUDGET SEASON GOES
INTO FULL FORCE. I SUPPORT THIS
POINT I WILL TALK ABOUT NEXT
STEPS HERE FOR THE NEXT
MEETING. WE WILL HOLD A PUBLIC
HEARING THAT WAS REFERENCED AT
THE TOP OF THE MEETING. WE WILL
HOLD THAT OUR NEXT REGULAR
MEETING ON WEDNESDAY. THAT'S AT
9:30 , IN TWO DAYS. THERE WILL
BE A PUBLIC HEARING . A COMBINE
PUBLIC HEARING ON THE INTENT TO
ESTABLISH AND DISESTABLISH THE
EXISTING BIA. THEN WE WILL
HOPEFULLY , AFTER THE PUBLIC
HEARING, HOLD A VOTE. THAT IS
THE PLAN. ANYBODY OUT THERE WHO
WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT AT THIS
PUBLIC HEARING, PLEASE MAKE SUR
TO IDENTIFY WHAT YOUR INTENTION
IS. DON'T SIGN UP ON THE PUBLI
COMMENT SHEET. SIGN UP ON THE
PUBLIC HEARING SHEET SO THERE'S
NO CONFUSION, AND THAT YOU HAVE
ENOUGH TIME. ALL RIGHT. ARE
THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFOR
WE ADJOURN? ALL RIGHT. THIS
CONCLUDES THE AGENDA OF THE
SEPTEMBER 11th SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
TECHNOLOGY, AND CITY LIKE
COMMITTEE. OUR NEXT MEETING IS
SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY,
SUBEDITOR THIRD -- SEPTEMBER
13th AT 9:30. IT IS 10:18, AND
THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. THAN
YOU, EVERYONE.