Lodging Tax Advisory Committee 9 26 2025

The Tumwater, WA City Government's Lodging Tax Advisory Committee convened on September 29, 2025, to review and allocate lodging tax funds for various community events and organizations for the 2026 fiscal year. Presentations were made by representatives from Experience Olympia and Beyond, the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, the South Sound Block Party, the Olympic Flight Museum, the Washington State Senior Games, the Tomwater Downtown Association, and others, highlighting their event attendance, economic impact, and lodging needs. The committee discussed funding requests totaling approximately $351,000, with a final recommendation to allocate $250,000 for the 2026 ELTAC funds, including $210,000 earmarked for historic and cultural programs. The committee approved funding allocations for specific events such as the Olympic Air Show, Brewfest, and various festivals, emphasizing marketing efforts to attract visitors from outside the local area to increase hotel stays. A motion to forward the funding recommendations totaling $248,958 to the city council was passed unanimously. The meeting also addressed strategies for tracking lodging tax impacts, coordination with local hotels, and the importance of sustaining tourism-driven economic benefits for the community.