Experience Olympia & Beyond to Host Thurston County Destination Master Plan Public Forum

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OLYMPIA, WA (December 11, 2023) – Experience Olympia & Beyond, in partnership with consultant company CSL International, invites the public to offer input on the 10-year Destination Master Plan currently being developed for Thurston County at a Public Forum on January 10 from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m., Hampton Inn & Suites Olympia/Lacey, 4301 Martin Way East, Olympia, WA, 98516. Participants can register to attend at no charge here.

The Destination Master Plan, once developed, will establish a comprehensive framework outlining the vision, goals, and strategies for the sustainable development of Thurston County’s tourism sector balancing visitor needs with Thurston County resident priorities.

“It’s imperative to this process that we not only capture the feedback of visitors but that of individuals that live, work, and recreate in Thurston County as well,” explains Experience Olympia & Beyond CEO, Annette Pitts. “At the meeting we’ll share details about the planning process to date and create space for individuals to share their perspectives and priorities. Anybody who lives or works in Thurston County is invited to attend.”

The workshop is a part of a multi-faceted approach for community engagement that has included a three-day tour of the county’s tourism assets, interviews with over 100 key stakeholders via one-on-one meetings and industry focus groups, and a comprehensive sentiment survey completed by over 900 visitors and locals. Over 1,000 pages of strategic planning documents were also reviewed using an AI-assisted process to evaluate and distill the commonly held priorities, opportunities, and challenges in the region. After the Public Forum next steps include community and organization benchmarking and final recommendations.

The Destination Master Plan is scheduled to move from planning to implementation in summer of 2024.

About Experience Olympia & Beyond
Experience Olympia & Beyond is the official destination marketing organization of Thurston County and Thurston County’s Sports Commission. A naturally inspired, approachable destination situated at the foot of Puget Sound one hour south of Seattle and two hours north of Portland by car, Washington’s capital community inspires handcrafted getaways. The region is perfect for hosting meetings, events, sports and weddings. With more than 2,700 lodging rooms throughout Thurston County, there are several options, ranging from unique bed-and-breakfasts to hotels. For more information, visit experienceolympia.com or connect on Facebook, Twitter (@Experience_Oly) and Instagram (@ExperienceOly).