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Home My WebLink AboutPresentation to Committe of the Whole 11-24-2025AW - LTAC Overview • LTAC Committee: 5 appointed members • Chair — elected official • Representatives from hotel • Representatives from grant eligible groups • Funding Decision • LTAC reviews and makes recommendations to Council • Council makes final decision based on the LTAC recommended list • Use of funds • Tourism marketing • Marketing and operations of special events and festivals designed to attract tourist • Operations and capital expenditures of tourism -related facilities owned or operated by municipality or public facility district • Operations of tourism -related facilities owned or operated by nonprofit organizations (not capital expenditures) • Funds may be awarded to cities, counties, nonprofits, or tourism organizations for eligible tourism promotion activities of facilities 2025 Summary of Allocations • To date, 17 events have submitted final reports. Collectively, these events reported: • N 106,000 total attendees (sum of all reported attendance) • 1,514 hotel nights generated (based on submitted data) • Events ranged from small educational gatherings to major festivals drawing 3,000+ attendees. • 6 organizations still have pending reports, and follow-up is underway. • 3 organizations either did not utilize or were unable to utilize their allocated LTAC funds. 2025 Tourism Grants City of Renton Events & Community Programs —Highlights • Renton Farmers Market: Exceeded attendance projections by -4,000 attendees. • Renton River Days: Drew 30,173 participants, surpassing expected attendance. • Summer Music Showcase: Attracted 21,392 attendees • Community Marketing a: $100K investment to support the launch of the new Visit Renton brand and the unveiling of the new website in January 2026. 2025 Top performers Top Attendance Performer: • Emerald Dynasty ENT., LLC. — Renton MultiCultural Festival PolyFest 2025 o Actual Attendance: 3,800 o Although below predicted (5,000), it had the largest overall crowd. Top Lodging Impact Performer: • Puget Sound Educational Service District — Transforming Math Education Begins in Renton • Lodging Nights: 1,092 • Exceeded predicted attendance, indicating strong out-of-town or overnight participation. 2025 Summary of Allocations Name of your organization City of Renton - Recreation Division City of Renton - Recreation Division City of Renton - Renton Municipal Arts Commission Dawa Project Elevate PR Management Emerald Dynasty ENT., LLC. Evergreen City Ballet King County Justice Alliance /Sky Urban Empowerment Center King County Justice Alliance /Sky Urban Empowerment Center Mongolian cultural center Puget Sound Educational Service District Randall Morris Foundation for Youth & Families Renton Rotary Sadhana Seattle TISI Sangam Voice of Planet City of Renton - Economic Development Division Renton Chamber of Commerce Randall Morris Foundation for Youth & Families Renton Civic Theatre Renton Downtown Partnership Professional Women of Color Network Ground Zero Ministries AmPowering AmPowering AmPowering Project or Event Title Renton Farmers Market Renton River Days Renton Summer Music Showcase Northwest Naturals Expo Black Makers and Creatives Renton MultiCultural Festival PolyFest 2025 Evergreen City Ballet International Dance Festival Juneteenth Festival Black History Month Education, Efficiency and Effectiveness Transforming Math Education Begins in Renton Randall Morris Foundation Renton Rotary Rubber Ducky Race Art 2 Master East Meets West 2025 USA Sangam Convention Renton Color Festival Renton Community Marketing Campaign Renton Visitors Center Randall Morris Foundation Coaching Clinic Broadway in Renton Series Renton Uncovered PWOCN Career & Business Summit Ground Zero Ministries Festival of Lights & Joy with Dandiya Global Women Festival 2025 North America Fashion Week What is your predicted Attendance Lodging Nights Funding Recommendation overall attendance? Reported Reported $5,000 36,000 39,922 0 $10,000 25000 30,173 0 $25,000 30,000 21,392 0 $5,000 500 250 30 $10,000 400 200 10 $50,000 5000 3800 136 $10,000 750 400 0 $5,000 1500 500 0 $5,000 200 100 8 $5,000 250 80 30 $50,000 1000 1182 1092 $30,000 450 450 15 $5,000 3780 4243 0 $5,000 500 350 19 $25,000 1500 1300 138 $5,000 5000 1000 6 $100,000 $75,000 $5,000 150 Pending report $10,000 9000 Pending report $10,000 1000 Pending report $5,000 125 Pending report $20,000 20 Pending report $15,000 4000 Pending report $15,000 2500 Pending report $15,000 2000 Pending report 2026 LTAC Applications • Posted September 24, 2025. • Received 20 applications with a total ask of $1,446,444. • Opportunity with 2026 World Cup for Committee to recommend the use funds in a different way than the past few years. • Critical review on the "heads in beds" estimates and the visitors that will travel more than 50 miles for awards. • This focus will continue to regenerate the LTAC funds available for 2027. • Review of the applications and requested interviews for first time events submitted took place with LTAC in early November. n 11:26 visitrenton ... Visit Renton To-st Information Center ♦ Eitplore, Hve R —rk in Renton, WIA posts by visitors we subject to do dry' me 1 o55 5C— Way, Renton, Wafilnpton vrww.vickrentonwa.cotn end 3 788 11824 - posts followers :amp F7 Renton Community Marketing Campaign The 2026 Renton Marketing Campaign highlights lodging, attractions, & events, leveraging the FIFA World Cup to boost tourism and local spending. Emerald Dynasty Entertainment --- Y• flWi��7 s F . �- ... . � . i`•, � � , 1 1i J � i`L i Niu Wave Festival Niu Wave Festival 2026: Expands _ _ !4rinto a multicultural c_ �. with performances, �. cultural showcases,and youth activities. August• 2026 4 J 0l [= 9010 117 *I* Tabletop & Video Game Convention 2026: Annual community event celebrating gaming and sports culture with tournaments, exhibits, panels, and a vendor showcase May 31, 2026. Renton Chamber of Commerce Renton Visitors Center The Visitors Center in downtown Renton provides tourism info and business promotion, with funding keeping it open and staffed. Renton Chamber of Commerce BFF & Bubbly BFFs & Bubbly 2026: Two -night Galentine's-themed hospitality and tourism event at Hampton Inn & Suites Renton/Seattle featuring local small businesses, wineries, wellness providers, and interactive activations. Jan 31 - Feb 1, 2026 $30,000 Predicted attendance: 500 Therapy IN FOUNDATION Therapy FOUNDATION vj y=OUNDATION Therapy Fund Therapy Fund DATION FOUNDATION TherapyFund LFC FOUNDATION -� OUNDA yFund ATION The FO WA Therapy Fund Foundation Reclaiming Wellness Conference Two-day cultural Wellness & Mental Health Conference. July 9-1112026 Activation ® _ _• • • ' Downtown •activation during the V^ FIFA World Cup match screen*ngs, live inment family _. programming, sports courts •vendorspaces. Legacy Square Activation — The Workshop & EnJoy Potential Event Ideas Description Estimated 2026 Date Ribbon Cutting / Opening Day Full day of fun in the Square for a ribbon cutting and celebration of the new space. June 6th FIFA — Viewing Events Viewing events featuring highlighted games with added activities for attendees June 11th - July 19th Renton Farmers Market Stage activation at the Farmers Market to highlight local talent. Tuesdays, June - September Renton River Nights Evening events include a drone show on Friday and a concert on Saturday. July 24th and July 25th Friday Night Movies Weekly movies on the big screen, featuring a variety of genres. Fridays starting July 31st Saturday Concert Series Weekly concerts and live entertainment on the stage, featuring a variety of genres Saturdays starting August 1st Happy Birthday Renton Celebrating Renton's 125th birthday with a day of activities and birthday cake August 8th Art and Harvest Festival Local beer/cider tastings, food vendors, art gallery, live entertainment, and activities September 5th and 6th Closing Summer Event Ideas still in the works to make this a regional draw and highlight Renton September 19th City Issued Activation RFI • Finalizing Request for Interest that will be publicly posted soon. • Aimed at our community groups and partners to help in the activation of Legacy Square. • These partnerships could complement our scheduled Friday and Saturday events or could end up being the headliner. • Also exploring Sunday activations that are more family focused and low key to bring visitors to downtown. • Approach allows for the city to evaluate a long term look at activation of the space from October 2026 and beyond. Recommendation Summary $900,000 in funding City of Renton — Econ Renton Community $100,000 Development Marketing Campaign Emerald Dynasty Niu Wave Festival $55,000 Entertainment Evergreen Tabletop Expo Renton City Retro $20,000 Renton Chamber of Renton Visitors Center $75,000 Commerce Renton Chamber of BFFs and Bubbly $30,000 Commerce WA Therapy Fund Reclaiming Wellness $20,000 Foundation Conference City of Renton / Community Programming $600,000 Legacy Square (June —October 2026) AD 2026 Summary of Applications Name of your organization AmPowering AmPowering Bhartiyam Elevate Pr Management Elevate PR Management House of Kala Melharmony Foundation Mongolian Cultural Center Mongolian Cultural Center Randall Morris Foundation Sadhana Seattle Tabla Institute Urban Family Center Association Evergreen Tabletop Expo WA Therapy fund foundation Renton Chamber of Commerce Emerald Dynasty ENT. Renton Chamber of Commerce Renton Community Marketing Campaign City of Renton - Community and Econ Dev Project or Event Title North America Fashion Week Global Women Festival Bhartiyam Diwali Carnival Black Makers & Creatives Juneteenth Weekend Nritya Tarang 2025- Indian Classical Dance Competition and Showcase Seattle Melharmony Festival Empowering Communities: National Nonprofit Leadership & Ethics Summit Cultural Kickoff 2026: Spring Soccer & Heritage Festival Randall Morris Foundation Celebrity Golf Invitational Art2Master Showcase Free Indian classical music for the Renton community Summer in Skyway — Flag Football & Family Festival 2026 Renton city Retro - Evergreen Tabletop Reclaiming Wellness Conference BFFs & Bubblys PolyFest (Niu Wave Festival) Renton Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center Renton Community Marketing Campaign Legacy Square Activation Predicted attendance 2,000 2,000 700 500 2,275 400 1,500 135 90 450 300 2,000 2,000 2,000 500 500 7,000 NA NA Predicted paid overnight lodging 70 70 680 50 342 150 250 125 80 400 250 800 800 1,500 325 375 1,500 NA NA NIM Funding Recommendation $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $20,000 $20,000 $30,000 $55,000 $75,000 $100,000 $600,000 D DGI N AV A� 1