Tourism

Vision for Tourism

The premier tourism and convention destination in Eastern Washington.

10-Year Outcomes and Goals:

  • Develop a first-class regional convention center.
  • Ensure long-term funding of tourism programs.
  • Develop a visitor-friendly regional information & welcome center.
  • Coordinate successful regional Lewis & Clark bicentennial commemoration (2003-2006).
  • Develop/enhance river front to improve our community's quality of life and economic viability.
  • Become the premier wine tourism destination in the northwest.
  • Become the "Sports Mecca" of the northwest.
  • Develop and maintain a positive quality-of-life image through trade/travel publicity and advertising.

Key Measures of Success Over 10 Years:

  1. The Tri-Cities has become a premier sports and convention destination in the northwest with new facilities and continued growth in valley and off-season business.
  2. The Tri-Cities is recognized throughout the northwest as a "river city" destination for water sports, trails, and shoreline businesses, activities, and events.
  3. The Tri-Cities serves the needs of visitors and businesses in the region with a first-class information and visitor welcome center.
  4. The Tri-Cities is recognized as a premier visitor destination on the National Lewis & Clark Trail.
  5. Tourism funding is adequate and self-sustaining.

Accomplishments During 2003:

  • Kennewick, in partnership with Benton County and Pasco, began construction of Regional Convention Center; sales and management staff hired; facility expanded from 74,000 to 75,000 square feet; logo and branding materials developed; facility named Three Rivers Convention Center. Contacted more than 300 local meeting planners during 2003 "Bring Your Meeting Home" campaign.
  • Richland completed construction of Lee Boulevard cruise boat dock, and construction began on Anthony's Home Port Restaurant at Columbia Point.
  • Columbia Point selected for Hanford Reach National Monument Heritage and Visitor Center; completed economic assessment and initial designs; began construction of infrastructure and utilities; completed initial re-vegetation and dust abatement at Columbia Point.
  • Conducted trail improvement and cleanup activities, and established base for interpretive kiosk at Richland's Chamna Natural Preserve.
  • Construction completed on an 82 room Holiday Inn Express in Richland; Construction began on a 120-room Courtyard Suites by Marriott in Richland; a 110-room Best Western Inn & Suites, and an 85-room AmeriSuites in Pasco.
  • Partnered with Washington State Tourism to complete "wine country" consumer profile survey.
  • Continued successful golf & wine package promotions with hotels, golf courses, and wineries.
  • Pasco and Kennewick working to lower levee between blue and cable bridges; Richland working on habitat/trail enhancements for Columbia Park West; continued pursuing long-term lease for shoreline lands.
  • Bridge-to-Bridge, River-to-Rail community master plan developed for downtown Kennewick.
  • Secured $1.4 million for improvements at Sacajawea State Park; secured local funding for support of The Confluence Project (Maya Lin artwork); installed four Lewis & Clark Interpretive markers along Sacagawea Heritage Trail; Richland developed plans for new Lewis & Clark/informational kiosks; partnered with Tri-City Herald to showcase weekly Lewis & Clark journal vignettes; held Lewis & Clark speaker series with nationally recognized speakers; and coordinated the 16th Annual Washington State Heritage Conference.
  • Secured National Park Service grant; and conducted very successful, first annual Lewis & Clark Heritage Day, "Down the Great Columbia," at Sacajawea State Park.
  • Secured more than 280 positive articles and interviews in publications and broadcast stations worldwide reaching 12 million people with a positive message about the Tri-Cities' quality of life.
  • Held fifth annual Central Washington Sports Hall of Fame banquet and induction.
  • Helped coordinate the "Bringing the World to Eastern Washington" tour for international officials.
  • Helped secure legislative approval for the Tourism Promotion Act, creating a potential new funding source for tourism programs.

Spring 2003 Workshop Update (PDF 28kb)