HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/03/2025 13.C. Yakima Valley Tourism letter re Association of Washington Cities r:-
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BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No. 13.C.
For Meeting of: November 3, 2025
ITEM TITLE: Yakima Valley Tourism letter re Association of Washington Cities
SUBMITTED BY: John Cooper, President & CEO of Yakima Valley Tourism
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
ITEM BUDGETED:
STRATEGIC PRIORITY 24-25:
RECOMMENDATION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Letter YakimaValleyTourism_10.16.2025.pdf
132
ECEIVED
CITY OF YAKIMA
OCT 1 C) 2025
I 1 ' OFFICE OF CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA
'VA L LIE Y- '
October 16, 2025
Mayor Patricia Byers
City of Yakima
129 N 2nd Street
Yakima, WA 98901
Dear Mayor Byers and Yakima City Council Members,
As representatives of Yakima Valley Tourism and the local lodging community, we are
concerned by the recent decision to eliminate the City of Yakima's membership with the
Association of Washington Cities (AWC) from next year's budget.
If this decision moves forward, AWC will cancel all contracts with the Yakima
Convention & Event Center and the five local hotels it partners with annually. This
includes their long-standing Labor Relations Institute, which has been hosted in the
Yakima Valley for more than 40 years. This three-day event attracts more than 500
attendees each year and contributes an estimated $350,000 to our local economy.
Beyond the Labor Relations Institute, Yakima has also hosted AWC's Annual
Conference and several smaller meetings, all of which generate meaningful economic
activity for our community, while generating sales and lodging taxes for the city.
We understand that today's economic climate requires difficult budget decisions.
However, the loss of AWC events would represent a significant blow to Yakima's
hospitality and tourism sectors — industries that are vital to our local economy and
workforce. Yakima Valley Tourism and the Convention & Event Center have invested
decades in building strong relationships with AWC and its members. Relocating these
events to another city risks not only current economic losses, but also long-term
reputational impacts.
We respectfully urge you to reconsider this decision and evaluate the substantial return
on investment this membership provides to the City of Yakima.
Sincerely,
.67eor______
John Cooper
President & CEO
Yakima Valley Tourism
133
YAKIMA YAKIMA
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Connie Upton Brynn Johnson
General Manager Director of Sales
Yakima Convention & Event Center Yakima Valley Tourism
Holiday Inn Hi1ton
AN IHG'HOTEL Garden Trill'
Thonna Bodi Lisa Vallejo
General Manager General Manager
Holiday Inn Downtown Yakima Hilton Garden Inn
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HOTEL
Sara Allen Luis Guiterrez
General Manager General Manager
Ledgestone Hotel La Quinta
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OXFORD.
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YAKIMA
Sarah Davila
General Manager
Oxford Suites
134