The Port of Seattle is pleased to announce its 2024-25 Tourism Marketing Support Program (TMSP) recipients. Thirty-eight organizations across the state received a total of $600,000 in matched marketing funds to help communities market their destinations while promoting Washington state as a destination for out-of-state visitors. Funding for the two-to-one match fund program was doubled this year, so eligible organizations can receive up to $20,000 each. Also, the period of time groups have to spend the funds has been extended to up to 18 months. The award recipients will match the Port’s funds with a total of $300,000.
“Congratulations to the 38 winners of the Port’s 2024-25 Tourism Marketing Support Program,” said Port of Seattle Commissioner Fred Felleman. “The Port continues to emphasize the importance of grant recipients to include stewardship messaging in their marketing of our state’s diversity of natural and cultural assets. If communities are going to be able to sustain their economic benefits and visitors’ experience, it’s critical travelers are informed of the need to pack their sense of responsibility before arriving in our great state.”
This year’s grants will fund a wide spectrum of projects. Some will use digital advertising, targeted marketing campaigns, or collaboration with influencers to build travel demand in diverse, out-of-state markets; others seek to attract visitors during shoulder seasons.
The TMSP supports eligible Washington state organizations, including chambers of commerce, convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs), destination marketing organizations (DMOs), counties, cities, port districts, tribal organizations, nonprofit attractions (museums and cultural interpretive centers), and nonprofit organizations that focus on events/activities which attract out-of-state visitors.
Since the program’s inception in 2016, the Port has awarded more than $1,875,776 in grant funds to 216 projects statewide, with participating organizations contributing $1,339,569 in match funds.
Photo above: The Port’s tourism grants help draw out-of-state visitors to events such as the Seattle Dragon Boat Festival. Photo by Kyle Elfman.
Contact:
Perry Cooper | SEA Airport
(206) 787-4923 | cooper.p@portseattle.org
