TDMO-10-2025.docx

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Tourism Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) Grants Commerce is soliciting applications for a $1 million grant program for qualifying statewide or local destination marketing organizations* (DMOs) for activities related to promoting tourism in advance of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The 2026 World Cup will draw more than 750,000 out-of-state visitors to Washington to attend matches in the greater Puget Sound region and Vancouver, B.C. Tourism-related activities to entertain these visitors between matches are anticipated to create significant tourism attraction opportunities for counties and communities statewide.

This grant program is designed to help DMOs engage in tourism attraction strategies prior to the World Cup through needs-based grants as outlined below.

Who’s eligible to apply:

Qualifying DMOs are eligible to apply if they:

· Were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency and;

a. Have revenues at the time of applying for this grant that are less than their revenues in calendar year 2019;

b. Have used reserve operating funds after March 3, 2021 to make up for revenue shortfalls;

· Have a demonstrated need for funding to support programs designed to increase tourism to Washington State from across the country and the world in advance of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

*A destination marketing organization (DMO) is loosely defined as a group that promotes a location as a travel destination, with the goal of increasing tourism and economic activity. DMOs are also known as convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs), tourist boards, or tourism authorities. Historically, DMOs are generally tied to the local government infrastructure and are supported by specific taxes such as those on hotels or rental cars, membership fees or government subsidies.

Applications from “qualifying DMOs” must be received by Nov. 4, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. PT to be considered.

Pre-Proposal Conference: Monday October 14, 2024, 1-2pm PST Microsoft Teams Need help?

Join the meeting now Meeting ID: 251 454 408 42 Passcode: GuqJ2i Dial in by phone +1 564-999-2000,,815954379# United States, Olympia

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Use of Grant Funds Eligible Uses Marketing and Promotion

a) National and international advertising campaigns (TV, radio, digital, print).

b) Social media marketing targeting out-of-state tourists.

c) Creation of promotional videos and virtual tours.

d) Participation in travel and tourism trade shows and fairs.

e) Partnerships with travel influencers and bloggers.

Event Organization and Management

a) Hosting pre-World Cup events and activities to build excitement.

b) Organizing cultural, music, and sports events to attract tourists during the World Cup.

c) Coordination of community fan zones and public viewing areas.

d) Development of special tours and experiences of interest to World Cup visitors.

e) Activities that showcase indigenous culture and heritage.

Accommodation and Hospitality

a) Training programs for hospitality workers to improve service to a wide range of travelers.

Visitor Experience Enhancement

a) Development of multilingual tourist information materials and guides.

b) Installation of wayfinding signs and information kiosks.

c) Creation of mobile apps and mobile-friendly websites to help tourists navigate and explore the state beyond the World Cup.

Collaborations and Partnerships

a) Partnering with airlines and travel agencies to create attractive travel packages.

b) Working with local businesses to offer discounts and promotions to visitors.

c) Collaborations with British Columbia organizations and businesses to promote joint tourism initiatives.

Community Engagement and Support

a) Programs to involve local communities in World Cup-related activities.

b) Support for local entrepreneurs and small businesses in the tourism sector.

Administrative and Overhead Costs

a) General administrative expenses, including salaries for regular staff, office rent, utilities and other general overhead costs.

b) General office supplies, including purchasing general office supplies or equipment for the purpose of visitor attraction.

c) Operational costs related to 2026 World Cup visitor attraction activities.

Ineligible Uses:

Non-Tourism Related Projects

· Local-only Events: Events that do not attract visitors from outside the state.

Debt and Financial Obligations

· Debt Repayment: Using funds to pay off existing debts or financial obligations.

· Interest Payments: Paying interest on loans or other financial instruments.

Political or Religious Activities

· Political Campaigns: Supporting political candidates, parties, or causes.

· Religious Events: Funding events with primarily religious purposes.

Private or For-Profit Entities

· Private Gain: Activities that primarily benefit private individuals or for-profit businesses.

· Non-Open Access: Events or projects that are not open to the general public.

Non-Compliant Marketing

· Local Marketing Only: Marketing efforts that do not target out-of-area visitors.

· Inappropriate Content: Marketing materials that contain inappropriate, discriminatory, or offensive content.

Capital Expenditures

· Personal Property: Purchasing items for personal use or items that are not directly related to the event.

· Construction: Construction of new facilities or venues unrelated to the World Cup, except those activities that increase ADA-compliant access.

Routine Maintenance

· Ongoing Maintenance: Routine maintenance or repair of existing facilities not specifically related to attracting and hosting out-of-area visitors or 2026 World Cup events.

Contingency and Reserve Funds

· General Contingency Funds: Setting aside funds for unspecified future uses.

· Reserve Funds: Establishing or rebuilding general reserve funds.

Excessive Travel and Hospitality

· Luxury Accommodations: Excessive spending on high-end accommodations or travel for staff, travel influencers or officials.

· Non-Essential Travel: Travel that is not essential to the planning or execution of eligible activities.

· Food and Entertainment: Expenses related to familiarization trips/activities, including purchase of alcohol.

Other Ineligible Activities

· Research and Development: Funding research or feasibility studies not directly tied to out-of-state visitor attraction or the 2026 World Cup.

· Non-Compliance with Regulations: Activities that do not comply with local, state, or federal laws and regulations.

Reporting Visitor draw, estimated jobs created, revenue generated, community involvement, business engagement and support and organizational capacity may all be used in scoring proposals submitted as part of the application process. Commerce will reserve the right to adjust funding requests to ensure the maximum number of grants to qualifying organizations, which may require reductions in requested grant amounts.

Applications from “qualifying DMOs” must be received by Nov. 4, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. PT to be considered.

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