PCD 2022-03-07 Item 1A - Agreement - Experience Tukwila Marketing with True Blue Strategies

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City of Tukwila Allan Ekberg, Mayor INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM TO: Planning and Community Development Committee FROM: Brandon J. Miles, Business Relations Manager CC: Mayor Ekberg DATE: February 28, 2022 SUBJECT: Agreement with True Blue Strategies for Experience Tukwila ISSUE Authorize the Mayor to sign an agreement with True Blue Strategies for the management and operation of the Experience Tukwila Digital Initiative and to provide general marketing services for the City. BACKGROUND In 2020, the City launched the Experience Tukwila Digital Initiative to aggressively promote the Tukwila community within the Seattle region. Experience Tukwila includes dedicated social media accounts and a website with original content highlighting restaurants, retailers, events, and the overall Tukwila community. The Experience Tukwila digital initiative has allowed us to do sponsorships and partnerships that we were unable to do in the past, including being a partner for Seattle Restaurant Week and partnering with the Seattle Seawolves. For 2022 Experience Tukwila will focus on growing its reach and followers on social media with authentic posts, including video. As the region emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic Experience Tukwila will be essential in helping to bring visitors back to Tukwila and bring customers back to our hospitality businesses. DISCUSSION True Blue Strategies (formally Mammoth) has been the City's marketing agencies for Experience Tukwila since it launched in 2020. True Blue is small, woman owned marketing firm based out of Seattle and is responsible for the day-to-day management of Experience Tukwila. The City selected True Blue in 2020 after interviewing several firms. True Blue was selected due to its small size and overall background in working with both public policy and marketing. FINANCIAL IMPACT The City Council approved a $130,000 lodging tax funding request for Experience Tukwila at the January 28, 2022 Special Meeting. The agreement with True Blue is not to exceed $160,000. This additional expenditure authorization is being requested in case other funds, such as grants or additional lodging dollars, become available during the contract term. As a reminder, lodging tax funds are collected at area lodging businesses from overnight stays. Under Washington State law, lodging tax funds can only be used for tourism promotion activities, such as Experience Tukwila. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the Committee forward the Agreement to the March 21, 2022 consent agenda for final action by the City Council. ATTACHMENTS 1. Draft Agreement between the City of Tukwila and True Blue Strategies