Company selected to boost county tourism

Okanogan County’s Economic Alliance has selected an advertising company to get the word out immediately that the area is open for business, despite natural disaster news that dominated the county’s image this summer.

BrandQuery will immediately “create and launch a county-wide media and communications plan to inform the public that area businesses and attractions are open for business and easily accessible,” the alliance said.

Gov. Jay Inslee approved $150,000 in economic recovery aid Aug. 15 to help promote Okanogan County following the Carlton Complex Fire. The funds will supplement current tourism and marketing spending by local businesses, cities, the Okanogan County Tourism Council, and the Washington Tourism Alliance to let travelers and visitors know that businesses are open and tourists are welcome. 

BrandQuery, based in Mount Vernon, Washington, is well positioned to help Okanogan County move forward, the alliance said. The same team recently developed the “Visit Stilly Valley” campaign following the slide in Oso and the “Come In, We’re Open” campaign that addressed the I-5 Bridge collapse into the Skagit River. Their strategy worked almost immediately bringing both regions back to economic normalcy.