HomeMy WebLinkAboutTri-Cities Visitor and Convention Bureau - Visit Tri-Cities - Promotion of Tourism 2015 - 2020RENEWAL AGREEMENT FOR THE PROMOTION OF TOURISM
THIS RENEWAL AGREEMENT is entered into between the CITY OF PASCO, a
municipal corporation, hereinafter referred to as the "City", and the TRI -CITIES VISITOR AND
CONVENTION BUREAU, a Washington non-profit corporation, doing business as "Visit TRI -
CITIES", hereinafter referred to as the "Bureau."
IN CONSIDERATION of the mutual covenants as set forth herein, the parties agree as
follows:
I. The Bureau agrees to perform promotional services for the City including, but not limited to,
advertising, publicizing and otherwise distributing information for the purpose of attracting .
visitors and encouraging tourist expansion to and within the City. In providing such services
the Bureau shall:
Develop and implement a marketing and promotional plan that advertises and
promotes the Tri -Cities and the City for the purpose of attracting visitors. Appropriate
activities would include the publication and distribution of a visitor guide, brochures,
participation in travel shows, conducting advertising campaigns and other activities
designed to promote the attractions of this area in targeted markets.
2. Manage and execute a comprehensive website and internet marketing campaign
designed to educate travelers, assist local tourism businesses in staff recruitment &
relocation efforts, and complement City economic development strategies.
Provide City staff with accurate and detailed information on tourism statistics
including but not limited to hotel occupancies, economic impact figures, and group
histories to support the City's efforts to recruit businesses within the hospitality
industry.
4. Act as a membership organization and liaison to small businesses located in the City
of Pasco that are dependent on tourism spending for financial success.
5. Solicit convention business and sports tournaments for the Tri -Cities and the City at
the regional and state level through activities such as:
A. Calling upon convention and sports planners and executives of organizations
and groups to solicit sports, meetings and conventions in the Tri -Cities and the
City.
B. Researching convention and sports leads and contacting convention
representatives of association groups and tournament representatives of sports
groups, promoting the Tri -Cities and the City and offering convention and
sports planning assistance.
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C. Preparing and distributing invitational convention and sports packets including
information on the Tri -Cities and the City and the convention and sports
facilities available therein.
6. Provide prospective sports organization and convention representatives with
familiarization tours of venues and convention hotel facilities in the Tri -Cities and the
City for the purpose of assisting in the selection of a hotel(s) and/or other venues in
which to hold sports tournaments, conventions and meetings.
Provide convention chairpersons and/or association executives and sports tournament
directors with a bid packet and a planner's workbook to assist in planning conventions
and/or sports tournaments.
Assist future conventions and sporting events in maximizing attendance through pre -
event promotion. Produce promotional brochures, flyers, press releases, display
booths and marketing materials to be used twelve to eighteen months prior to the event
to increase awareness and create enthusiasm for attendance at Tri -Cities events.
9. Operate a visitor information center in the Tri -Cities, providing literature and
information to visitors to the Tri -Cities and the City and encouraging visitors to stay
in the area. The visitor information center includes a toll free (800#) call center, to
encourage visitor inquiries nationwide.
10. Include advertising material in promotional packets and other releases promoting
regular Tri -City activities and events.
11. Reserve a seat on the Bureau's Board of Directors for representation by the City
Manager or City Council Member.
12. Specific activities to be undertaken by the Bureau each year reflecting actions to be
taken in the above -noted categories of service shall be detailed in an annual work plan.
The work plan will be presented to the City for approval in February of each year.
II. For the services herein contemplated and more fully described in the annual work plan, the
City agrees to pay the Bureau fifty percent (50%) of the annual average hotel/motel tax
receipts of the City collected from the first two percent (2%) levied for the five year period
immediately preceding each year of the contract period. The Bureau shall invoice the City
for such services on a monthly basis on the I" of each month for the services provided the
month prior.
On or before August 15 each year, the Bureau shall deliver a mid -year review and provide a
written status report detailing the services provided and the activities and accomplishments of
the Bureau. A formal presentation to the City Council will be made if requested.
III. Pursuant to the governing statute, (Ch. 67.28 RCD), restrictions have been placed on the use
of hotel/motel tax funds as set forth in relevant part as follows:
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"...used solely for the purpose of paying all or any part of the cost of tourism promotion,
acquisition of tourism -related facilities, or operation of tourism -related facilities."
Funding is conditioned upon the Bureau entering into this Agreement setting forth the
purposes for which the funds will be used, providing a procedure for a project -end accounting
and insuring compliance with the statute.
To this end, the parties agree as follows:
The Bureau agrees to expend such funds to promote tourism in compliance with Ch.
67.28 RCW.
2. At the conclusion of the calendar year, the Bureau shall provide a complete accounting
of the expended funds and the purposes therefore.
In the event the accounting indicates that funds were used for purposes not permitted
by law, the Bureau shall, within 30 days of notification by City to the Bureau of such
improper expenditures, remit the disallowed amount back to the City.
4. Failing of the Bureau to either provide the accounting or remit disallowed funds as
required herein shall constitute a breach of this Agreement. The remedies available to
the City shall include but not be limited to, return of all funds delivered to the Bureau
and denial of the right of the Bureau to apply for any future funding.
5. In the event of a dispute regarding the enforcement, breach, default, or interpretation
of this Agreement, the parties shall first meet in a good faith effort to resolve such
dispute. In the event the dispute cannot be resolved by agreement of the parties, said
dispute shall be resolved by arbitration pursuant to RCW 7.04A, as amended, with
both parties waiving the right of a jury trial upon trial de novo. The substantially
prevailing party shall be entitled to its reasonable attorney fees and costs as additional
award and judgment against the other.
IV. This Agreement shall be effective on January 1, 2016, and shall expire on December 31, 2020;
provided, however, the City may terminate the Agreement with at least one (1) year written
notice delivered to the Bureau.
IN WITNES H REOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed
this , day of 2015.
CITY OF PASCO
Matt Watkins, Mayor
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1 i 1AWN"O'bal
1XROM— t �
TRI -CITIES VISITOR AND
CONVENTION BUREAU,
a Washington non-profit corporation,
d/b=isit-CITTS
Kris Watkins, CEO
APPRO D AS TO FORM:
Leland B. Kerr, City Attorney
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