Visit Issaquah has quickly become a community resource since launching the destination marketing organization (also referred to as a DMO) in March 2020 amid the pandemic.
“DMOs are one of the most visible and reliable resources for information for travelers and visitors to a community and have become an important tool in helping generate awareness for businesses in the economic recovery,” says Visit Issquaah’s Executive Director Beth Javens.
Cities such as Seattle, Bellevue, Spokane, Sea-Tac, Olympia, Tacoma and Snohomish County all have dedicated DMOS.
Visit Issaquah’s vision and mission is to “celebrate Issaquah as a dynamic, energetic and memorable destination integrated with nature,” with the aim of enhancing the region’s economy and quality of life by collaboratively leading the promotion of the city.
The strategy for creating the Visit Issaquah “brand” began in 2019 and continues into 2021.
“We immerse ourselves in all things Issaquah to create messaging that appeals to visitors and reflects and resonates genuinely with the residents,” Javens says.
“Our lens is community-wide. We feature hotels, meeting spaces, historic places, notable attractions, local businesses and service-related hospitality, including the beloved ‘Issaquah Treasures.’ We tell Issaquah’s story to literally thousands of engaged people every day with our messaging.”
Visit Issaquah projects its story-telling via a popular website – visitissaquahwa.com – in addition to grant-funded advertising, a variety of social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Google, Instagram, LinkedIn), and co-op marketing programs.
Featured points of interest include Issaquah History Museums, Issaquah Fish Hatchery, Lake Sammamish State Park, the “Issaquah Alps,” Village Theatre, downtown Issaquah, Grand Ridge Plaza, Gilman Village, Cougar Mountain Zoo, Tiger Mountain paragliding, Boehms and Triple XXX Drive-In Root Beer.
“The Issaquah area is recreation powerhouse and a desirable destination for both the active and passive traveler,” Javens says.
Visit Issaquah is funded by lodging tax. For more information on how to become involved contact beth@visitissaquahwa.com and find us on social media.