Chamber pitches aggressive tourism campaign

Chamber of commerce Manager Peggy Nevsimal presented an aggressive promotion program for 2014 to the Electric City council last Tuesday night.

Electric City, as well as Grand Coulee and Coulee Dam, finances part of the chamber’s tourism promotion activities with hotel/motel taxes collected for that purpose.

Nevsimal outlined a $62,000 promotion schedule for the upcoming year, nearly double the chamber’s $34,000 promotional efforts in 2013.

She pointed out that lodging establishments are 70 percent empty in the winter and 20 percent empty during the summer months.

Part of the chamber’s aggressive plan is to shore up the shoulder season, during marginal occupancy months, and to help fill in midweek stays during July and August.

The new plan includes all forms of media advertising — broadcast, print and Internet advertising and website development.

Nevsimal pointed out that this year’s aggressive promotion of the Colorama Festival showed attendance and revenue increased of 27 percent. A Harvest Festival is being planned for Sept. 14, a new festival this year.

Nevsimal will be making similar presentations to the Grand Coulee and Coulee Dam councils so they can get their participating contributions in their 2014 budgets.