Federal Way gets tourism boost from Legislature
Published 12:33 pm Tuesday, April 21, 2015
The city of Federal Way can celebrate a victory in the state Legislature, and will now have the autonomy and the funding to aggressively promote tourism in the city.
Last week, on the final day for the House and Senate to consider policy bills from the opposite chamber, the Senate gave a 46-3 up-vote to House Bill 1279. The measure was sponsored by Rep. Linda Kochmar, R-Federal Way, and co-sponsored by Rep. Carol Gregory, D-Federal Way.
“Kemper Freeman, the builder of Bellevue Square, said Federal Way is one of the best kept secrets in the Puget Sound area” Kochmar said. “Kemper is right. Federal Way is a vibrant community that has much to offer. The city needs this bill in order to attract tourists and strengthen our local economy.”
Gregory said those who are fortunate enough to live in Federal Way know what the city has, including fine hotels, affordable motels, unique B&Bs, an Olympic-class aquatic center, the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection, a fast-growing creative arts scene, terrific restaurants and unparalleled outdoor recreation.
“It seems a shame to keep those a secret,” Gregory said.
Federal Way hoteliers met with city officials and agreed to charge up to a $2 lodging fee on visitors to help promote the amenities within the city.
Kochmar said the local tourism promotion area will allow the city to promote its amenities.
Currently, King County allows for two or more adjacent cities over a certain population limit to enter into an agreement for a tourism promotion area, but due to Federal Way’s unique geographic location, it does not meet the requirements to enter into a tourism-promotion-area agreement.
The bill that recently passed removes the requirement that a tourism promotion area could only be created by two or more cities acting together.
”The welcome sign is out in Federal Way,” Gregory said. “I congratulate my seat-mate, Rep. Linda Kochmar, and I want to thank my colleagues in the House and Senate for their votes.”
