CLARK COUNTY HOSPITALITY PARTNERS TRAVEL TO OLYMPIA IN SUPPORT OF TOURISM

Vancouver, Wash. – The Southwest Washington Convention & Visitors Bureau along with partners from Clark County’s hospitality industry joined fellow tourism industry representatives from across Washington State on the capital steps in Olympia on Monday March 9th, to show how critical tourism is to the states economy. Tourism is ranked as the 4th largest industry behind software, aerospace and agriculture & food in the state of Washington.

Hundreds of hoteliers, waiters, chefs, artists, clerks, porters, adventure guides, tour operators etc., helped to illustrate how far-reaching the tourism industry is in Washington State and to show our state government “Why Tourism Matters,” the slogan for the new state wide campaign that was launched yesterday, along with a website www.whytourismmatters.com. The campaign features “Tourism Ambassadors” from all over the state including Vancouver’s Gerry Link, General Manager of the Vancouver Convention Center.

Kim Bennett, President and CEO of the Southwest Washington Convention & Visitors Bureau and co-chair of the Washington State Tourism Commission, played a key role in the days events by reading a proclamation signed by Governor Christine Gregoire, on the steps of the capital during the rally and press conference. The proclamation declared March 9th 2009 Tourism Day in Washington. Later that evening at a reception held at the Governors Mansion, Kim Bennett had the honor of introducing Governor Gregoire to over 200 invited guests from the tourism industry.

Clark County’s tourism industry is an important part of the area’s economy generating nearly $400 million in visitor spending each year and providing nearly 4,000 jobs and over $102 million in job earnings. Visitor spending also generates over $28 million in state and local taxes helping our economy even more. On the state level, tourism in 2008 generated $15.7 billion in direct travel spending, up 5.7% over 2007. The impact to the state was $1 billion in state and local taxes with 149,900 jobs and $4.3 billion worth of job earnings.