PRESS RELEASE - Visitor Information Services Take a Collaborative Approach in 2024

LTAC partnering with local non-profits to provide visitors information across the city

PORT TOWNSEND – The City of Port Townsend Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) and the City’s Marketing Workgroup are taking a collaborative approach to providing visitors and residents information about Port Townsend’s many and varied experiences.

Fort Worden Hospitality, the Port Townsend Main Street Program, and Key City Public Theatre, all local non-profit organizations, have come together with LTAC’s support to provide different types of information services to visitors and residents across the city. After the closure of the Port Townsend Visitor Center, previously operated by the Chamber of Jefferson County, LTAC discussed a new, collaborative model that could quickly be mobilized to support visitors to Port Townsend as the busy season ramps up. Starting this month, these three key partners will begin providing essential services to travelers in traditional and non-traditional ways.

Fort Worden Hospitality (FWH) at the Nora Porter Commons at Fort Worden State Park will be the hub for visitor information. The FWH reservations staff at the Commons front desk will be available in person and over the phone seven days a week to help direct visitors to accommodations, event information, and other resources to plan their visit. Maps and brochures will be available at the Commons, along with public restrooms.

FWH Director of Operations, Natalie Maitland, who also sits on LTAC, said: “Fort Worden Hospitality embodies a spirit of community hospitality. We are partnering on visitor services with the Port Townsend Main Street Program, Key City Public Theatre, and the City of Port Townsend to ensure visitors have the information they need and help support the Port Townsend visitor economy. We will also build shared resources for the community and data collection systems that will serve LTAC and tourism collaborators in the future.”

Businesses who serve visitors to Port Townsend and anyone interested in learning more about the services provided by FWH are welcome to attend an open house at the Commons, Wednesday, June 12, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

The Port Townsend Main Street Program (PTMSP) serves the Downtown and Uptown Historic Districts with its hanging basket program, winter lighting, landscaping, Creative District work, and numerous events and festivals. PTMSP will also help serve visitors this summer using an innovative mobile greeter program – an electric bike cart and friendly staff member, who will answer questions and welcome visitors to the city at key downtown gathering places on weekends through September.

In tandem with in-person and online information services at EnjoyPT.com, Key City Public Theatre will manage the event readerboard on Highway 20 as travelers head into and out of town. The readerboard is a popular service provided to local non-profit organizations to share dates of the many events and festivals happening in the city. Organizations will be able to reserve space on the readerboard beginning mid-June.

LTAC’s vision of sustainable tourism is to reinvest community resources to enhance the lives of both residents and visitors. While these resources are created with visitors in mind, residents who are spending time downtown or at the Fort can use the maps and information provided by these free services to connect family and friends with information or use them to explore the community in a new way.

For more information on LTAC click here. Questions about City Lodging Tax can be sent to LTAC@cityofpt.us.