Everett to Spend $10,000.00 per Month on Tourism Website, Social Media and Events

On January 18th of 2012 the Everett City Council authorized the Everett Tourism Strategy Plan. Since that time approximately $90,000.00 has been spent with a company called Videri, LLC to create “Experience Everett” which includes a website, development of events and a social media strategy. On Wednesday, the Everett City Council voted unanimously to spend another $120,000.00 to extend the agreement with Videri, LLC through February of 2014. This extension allows the city to move from phase 1 of the Tourism Strategy Plan into phase 2 which includes the development of the website and media tours. Here is how the city describes Experience Everett in a recent press release…

Experience Everett is a new initiative to provide tourists and residents information about Everett events and activities via a destination website: experienceeverett.com.

In addition to the new web presence, Experience Everett is active in social media, including Facebook and Twitter, to maximize reach inside and outside the region and continue the conversation online.

“This website was a vital first step,” said Sean Straub, coordinator of Experience Everett. “To promote the lively, fun place that makes travelers want to stop or stay in Everett, it’s important that we get the word out about the richly authentic events and attractions our city has to offer. We firmly believe that this website showcases our unique qualities to travelers while engaging local residents, too.”

The money for the Tourism Strategy Plan comes from the city’s Hotel-Motel Tax Fund. That fund is made up through a fee added to the bill of every guest staying overnight in a qualifying hotel in Everett. That money then comes back to the city for tourism promotion.

In addition to the $120,000.00 allocated for the next 12 months the Everett City Council also authorized a separate payment of $10,000.00 to promote something called Snohomish County Craft Beverage Tours and Marketing Strategy. Here’s a description of their next event…

Join Experience Everett and the Sno-Isle Co-op for a tour of three of the Everett-area’s finest craft breweries.

We’ll begin by meeting at the Inn at Port Gardner on Everett’s waterfront at 11:30am for sign-in and pre-tour pastries. From there we’ll hop on a bus to visit the brewing operations of Diamond Knot, Lazy Boy and Scuttlebutt breweries. You’ll have a chance to meet the owners/brew-masters at each location and taste a selection of their hand crafted micro-brews. Sno-Isle Co-op will also provide some snacks. The tour will conclude at about 6pm back at the Inn at Port Gardner.

The cost of this event is $50.00 per person.