Mayor Harrell signs new Seattle Tourism Improvement Area legislation

10/4/202328:59

Mayor Bruce Harrell signed the new Seattle Tourism Improvement Area (STIA) legislation into law. The legislation establishes a new 15-year Business Improvement Area (BIA) that will increase travel and tourism promotion for the city and region and creates an updated equitable assessment formula.

STIA currently consists of 71 hotels in downtown Seattle neighborhoods including Lower Queen Anne, South Lake Union, Belltown, Pioneer Square, SODO, and portions of Capitol Hill, each with 60 rooms or more. These member hotels charge overnight guests a 2.3% per occupied hotel room rate per night assessment, generating millions in revenue that support STIA programs and services.

This legislation is part of the Downtown Activation Plan to make Downtown a top destination for Seattleites and visitors year-round. The new BIA will take effect on January 1, 2024, bolstering promotional efforts for 2024 and beyond.

Speakers include:

Mayor Bruce Harrell, City of Seattle

Councilmember Sara Nelson, Seattle City Council

Tammy Canavan, President and CEO, Visit Seattle

Juriana Spierenburg, STIA Chair, Ratepayer Advisory Board and Area Hotel Manager, citizenM

Lendy Hensley, Co-Founder of Bite Society

1062327