News You Can Use INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Save the Date: 2017 Washington Tourism Summit News You Can Use 1 The 2017 Washington Tourism Summit and Day Travel, Tourism & Hospitality 2 will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 24 in Olympia at The Washington Center for Performing Arts. The News from VIC Services 4 Summit will have an engaging and informative program, plus critical tourism advocacy efforts with legislators. The day will conclude with an The Sports Pages 5 evening reception at The Governor Hotel. Around Snohomish County 8 More information will be announced in the coming weeks. New Travel & Tourism Resources 9 Those who registered for the 2016 Washington Tourism Summit that was canceled due to planners, Kristine’s sales focus includes working with forecasted inclement weather do not need to social, educational, military, religious, and fraternal re-register. That registration is good for the organizations to facilitate events and meetings in 2017 Summit. Can’t make the Summit? Contact Snohomish County. Diana Thibado, director of operations, at diana@ watourismalliance.com for a full refund. “I’m excited to join the Snohomish County Tourism Bureau,” Kristine said. “I grew up on Martha Lake in Go to watourismalliance.com for more Lynnwood so I have a personal attachment to the county.” information. With over 20 years in sales management and three years in event management, Vannoy has extensive experience in new business development, customer relations, account growth, Kristine Vannoy Joins and retention. Bureau as Group Sales Manager “While raising my children in Brier, I used a family recipe to start a wholesale candy company in 2005 called Fat We are pleased to welcome Cat Fudge,” Kristine said. “My first customer was a small Kristine Vannoy to the family-owned candy store in Edmonds. By the time I sold Snohomish County Tourism the company seven years later, I had learned a lot about Bureau as group sales small business and developed an even deeper love for manager. She joined the team on Oct. 3. supporting local businesses through networking.” Responsible for promoting Snohomish County’s Prior to joining the Snohomish County Tourism Bureau, convention facilities to meeting and event Kristine was senior account manager with Waterways (Continued) www.Snohomish.org December 2016 Page 2 Cruises and Events, where she managed private corporate charters for meetings and events to local, national, and international businesses. Previously, she was also a sales and event manager with Showcase Events, where she managed sales and execution of an annual three-day trade show with over 440 vendors and 25,000 in public attendance. “I am passionate about connecting people to local businesses,” said Kristine, “and I am thrilled to combine that passion with my trade show, tourism, and small business experience to benefit Snohomish County.” Contact Kristine at 425-348-5802, ext. 110 or [email protected]. “Snohomie Sasquatch” entertains meeting planners at the Northwest Events Show in October Bureau Welcomes Heather Beach as Visitor Travel, Tourism & Hospitality Services Coordinator Bureau’s Sales Team Makes Connections Heather Beach joined the Bureau’s Visitor In September, Group Sales Manager Brad Zorich Information Center program as the visitor services attended two important meeting planner conferences. coordinator on Nov. 7. At Meetings Live Conference in Colorado Springs, he had 24 one-on-one appointments with meeting Heather is responsible for coordinating volunteer planners. program duties, assisting the visitor services and training manager with developing tourism training A week later at the Northwest Events Show at the modules, and supporting the Snohomish County Washington State Convention Center, Brad showcased Tourism Bureau staff with numerous meeting venues and amenities at the administrative duties. Snohomish County exhibit booth. The Bureau’s promotional mascot, “Snohomie Sasquatch,” Heather has an art degree in entertained 122 meeting planners who visited the painting from Seattle’s Cornish booth. Special thanks to Everett Hampton Inn’s Matt College of the Arts. The Pacific Greenwood for dressing in costume and playing the role Northwest native loves hiking and of Snohomie Sasquatch! board games. In late October, Executive Director Amy Spain and “I’m really looking forward to working with all our Brad Zorich led a team of Snohomish County hotels volunteers,” said Heather, “and contributing to and attractions on a sales mission to see group tour the continued success of the visitor information operators located in the greater Vancouver, BC area. The program.” team met with 22 tour operators and shared information on new hotels, updates from area attractions, and new Contact Heather at 425-348-5802, ext. 100 or itinerary ideas for their 2017 tour programs. The effort [email protected]. drew an enthusiastic response from the tour operators. Thanks to Future of Flight, Lights of Christmas, Seattle Premium Outlets, and InnVentures for participating in the sales mission. Leads will be shared with all Snohomish County attractions and hotels. (Continued) www.Snohomish.org December 2016 Page 3 On Nov. 8-9, Brad hosted a For travelers seeking familiarization tour for Chinese a place to call home media representatives and tour for just a few days or operators. The group spent two full for longer durations, days exploring Snohomish County the hotel provides a as part of a 48-day continuous simple, down-to-earth, journey across the U.S. The no-hassle experience. members blogged and posted via various social media to their “WoodSpring Suites large Chinese audience. These is tailored for those efforts are part of developing an people who are Uber-like platform, where Chinese generally traveling travelers will be matched up to for longer than seven local residents who speak Chinese days, such as the Chinese media and tour operators received a and will act as tour experts in their military, those working personal tour of the Flying Heritge Collection during hometowns. at Boeing, and people their recent familiarization tour visiting loved ones To learn how your business can join with extended hospital stays,” said Craven Farms Named to “Best in the Bureau’s sales missions and Jenny Meyer, director of franchise Pumpkin Farms” List tradeshows, contact Brad Zorich at operations for WoodSpring. “We 425-348-5802, ext. 106 or provide a welcoming, clean and Congratulations to Mark and [email protected]. safe environment that helps our Judy Craven, owners of the guests feel at home.” three-generation family farm in Snohomish! WoodSpring Suites to Open in Each suite includes a well- Everett in January designed kitchen with a full-sized TravelandLeisure.com named the refrigerator, microwave and two- farm as one of America’s best Construction is wrapping up on burner stove. All suites have queen pumpkin farms for its wide variety WoodSpring Suites, a 122-room beds, with options to sleep up of pumpkins grown each year, the extended stay property at 7707 to four guests in a suite. Guests 15-acre corn maze, the weekend Broadway in Everett. The hotel is also will enjoy free Wi-Fi, laundry evening Night Owl Corn Maze, tentatively scheduled to open Jan. facilities, fitness center and an scarecrow-making workshop, and 25; a grand opening event will expanded lobby. other varied activities. follow in the spring. This is the first property for Read the full article at WoodSpring TravelandLeisure.com. Hotels in the Seattle/Tacoma market. Twenty additional properties are slated for development in the Puget Sound area in the next couple of years. Learn more about WoodSpring The WoodSpring Suites in Everett is Hotels at slated to open Jan. 25 woodspring.com. www.Snohomish.org December 2016 Page 4 News from Visitor Information Centers FAM Tours, Events for VIC Volunteers When not answering questions from guests at the visitor information centers, volunteers attend familiarization tours and educational sessions designed to better acquaint them with Snohomish County attractions and amenities. The volunteer meetings and trainings are held nine months out of the year at local hotels or facilities. The familiarization tours are held quarterly. Mountlake Terrace FAM Tour Volunteers from the three Snohomish County Visitor Information Centers took a familiarity tour of Mountlake Terrace and listened to a presentation from Virginia Olsen, the city clerk and community relations director. They toured the Mountlake Terrace Recreation Pavilion, Snohomish Pie Company, Double D Meats, Diamond Knot Brewery, Crèma de la Crèma Bakery, and the Arts of the Terrace Juried Art Show. Tulalip Resort Casino FAM Tour Volunteers became better acquainted with the Tulalip Resort Casino’s many amenities and attractions. The casino also hosted them for lunch and provided free space for the monthly volunteer meeting. Mukilteo FAM Tour The Mukilteo Chamber of Commerce provided bus transportation for volunteers to tour a number of businesses and attractions. Stops included Traxx Indoor Raceway, Harbour Pointe Golf Club, Mukilteo Chocolate Company, Beach Glass by K. Miller Interiors, Historic Flight Museum, and a private tour of the Mukilteo Lighthouse. At the chamber’s office, volunteers enjoyed a delectable lunch provided by The Sydney Bakery & Wine Bar, The Scotsman Bistro, Red Cork Bistro, Brooklyn Bros Pizzeria, Garlic Jim’s Pizza, and Northwest Biscotti. Marysville FAM Tour The volunteers heard a presentation from Jesica Stickles, president and CEO of the Marysville Tulalip Chamber, and toured the chamber offices. They also toured the Opera House and Marysville Historical Museum, and perused the shops in the downtown area before enjoying lunch at Boondockers Cafe. www.Snohomish.org December 2016 Page 5 Volunteer Holiday Party manager, and volunteers dressed An ambient advertising campaign in costume to host a spirited open is underway at the Everett Mall The Future of Flight and Aviation house in coordination with the featuring colorful Adirondack chairs Center will host the annual Historic Downtown Snohomish trick and the latest Snohomish County volunteer holiday party on Friday, or treating event.