No frills. No fuss. No Spokane.
“Discover THE VALLEY.”
That is Spokane Valley’s new slogan, at minimum for tourism advertising needs, and its generation marks the beginning of a new era for the city’s economic enhancement endeavours.
The Metropolis Council permitted the slogan final thirty day period in a 5-2 vote. The council also signed off on a two-yr, $813,500 agreement with the marketing company 116 & West.
116 & West will put into practice a 5-yr tourism promotion system and, the metropolis hopes, significantly increase the range of guests who slumber more than in Spokane Valley. The $813,000 will arrive from lodge fees, the $4 charge individuals pay for each night they devote in a Spokane Valley motel or resort.
Tourism marketing, hardly ever a significant spot of focus for neighborhood governments, has been a massive subject in the Valley of late.
In 2022, Spokane Valley opted out of a regional tourism marketing coalition that included Spokane County and Spokane. The metropolis experienced been collaborating in the regional tourism marketing and advertising work due to the fact 2004, the year right after it integrated.
Metropolis leaders and resort professionals stated splitting from the regional team and forming a Valley-unique tourism marketing effort and hard work would provide a higher return on investment decision. Spokane Valley’s latest arrangement with 116 & West is the first important move the city has taken given that it formally shaped its possess tourism marketing space this calendar year.
At the most standard degree, 116 & West will test to persuade more outsiders to stay in Spokane Valley resorts. They program to start an promotion and marketing and advertising marketing campaign targeting individuals in central Washington, North Idaho, western Montana and southern Canada.
116 & West will make social media accounts and a web page. They also made the slogan “Discover THE VALLEY.”
In get to draw in additional site visitors, Spokane Valley needs to independent alone from Spokane, 116 & West staffers informed the City Council. Constructing a distinctive manufacturer is crucial, they said.
But some City Council customers weren’t enthused with what 116 & West established.
“We’re not the Valley, we’re Spokane Valley,” reported Town Councilwoman Brandi Peetz, who voted towards the slogan and advertising agreement.
Whilst Peetz said she did not like dropping “Spokane,” she also questioned whether Spokane Valley is even a good title for a metropolis.
“People don’t really like the identify Spokane Valley, for loads of diverse factors,” she reported. “I know a ton of individuals seriously regret not selecting a unique identify.”
At 20 years aged, Spokane Valley is one particular of the youngest towns in The united states. Citizens in the early 2000s deemed a host of distinct names, but Spokane Valley in the end experienced the most assistance.
Town Councilman Ben Wick, who also voted from the slogan and promotion settlement, was not a huge proponent of the name “Spokane Valley” 20 years in the past.
“Being a dreamer, I favored the outdated township names myself,” he said. “I assume the town of Chance would have been a really neat identify.”
Despite Peetz and Wick’s objections, the Metropolis Council moved ahead with 116 & West’s proposal.
Mayor Pam Haley explained she has no concern with branding the city as “The Valley.”
“That’s how we’re already known,” she explained.
