East Wenatchee council approves $90,000 tourism contract; two members dissent over city visibility

EAST WENATCHEE — The East Wenatchee City Council approved a 2026 tourism promotion contract with the Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce Tuesday night, voting to allocate up to $90,000 in lodging tax funding despite concerns from some councilmembers that East Wenatchee does not receive enough distinct promotion for the money.

The funding recommendation came from the East Wenatchee Events Board, which unanimously recommended the $90,000 contract amount for 2026.

City staff said the chamber’s request was based on East Wenatchee’s share of the combined Wenatchee–East Wenatchee hotel inventory, estimating East Wenatchee holds about 12% of the area’s rooms. Councilmembers discussed whether that proportional approach reflects how the city is actually marketed to visitors, and whether the city’s identity is clear within the chamber’s “Visit Wenatchee” branding.

Councilmember Christine Johnson questioned what East Wenatchee gets in return for the increased investment, saying she does not see enough promotion of East Wenatchee as a distinct city. She pointed to the prominence of “Visit Wenatchee” branding and said the regional marketing focus can make East Wenatchee feel like an afterthought.

Mayor Jerrilea Crawford defended the chamber’s approach, arguing that tourism marketing is often designed to attract visitors to the region first, and that many potential visitors do not distinguish between Wenatchee and East Wenatchee when planning trips. Crawford also said East Wenatchee benefits from visitors drawn to events and amenities across the valley and suggested that the city’s long-term opportunity may lie in expanding the number of events and attractions on the East Wenatchee side — something that Johnson also suggested.

Council discussion touched repeatedly on that underlying challenge: East Wenatchee wants to be seen and promoted more clearly, but some members also acknowledged the city has fewer major visitor draws than Wenatchee and may need to build more programming and events to create a stronger tourism identity.

Mayor Crawford also noted that East Wenatchee’s hotel occupancy rate is proportionately higher than Wenatchee’s, suggesting the city benefits from regional tourism promotion even when marketing does not emphasize the city’s name.

The council ultimately approved the contract, but Johnson and Councilmember Taylor Stimmel voted no. The motion passed with the remaining members voting in favor.

The contract is funded through lodging tax revenue, which by law must be used for tourism promotion and tourism-related purposes.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media