City of Bothell Lodging Tax Advisory Committee - June 16, 2026

The City of Bothell Lodging Tax Advisory Committee met on June 16, 2026, to discuss the current tourism marketing strategy, brand management, and budget allocations related to lodging tax funds. The committee reviewed the existing contract with the marketing agency Street Sense, which was selected through an RFP in 2018, and discussed the effectiveness of their social media campaigns, blogs, and email marketing in driving overnight stays and economic impact. Concerns were raised about the outdated brand materials, the relevance and engagement of social media content, and the need for a potential brand refresh or new marketing strategy. The committee also considered reallocating staff salary costs currently charged to the lodging tax fund back to the general fund to free up more funds for marketing activations and events. Additionally, the committee planned to review the latest conversion study data from 2023-2024 to better measure return on marketing investment and discussed forming a subcommittee to expedite strategy development and RFP preparations. The meeting included updates on World Cup-related hotel occupancy and promotional activities, with hotel representatives noting high occupancy rates but uncertain direct impact from the event. Overall, the committee focused on evaluating current expenditures, improving marketing effectiveness, and planning future procurement and budget decisions for tourism promotion.