Lodging Tax Grant Program

Lodging Tax Grant Program

Lodging Tax Fund

The City of Renton’s Lodging Tax Fund is the primary source of city funding for activities, operations, and expenditures designed to increase tourism. In addition, the city intends to maintain a reserve in the fund, and will assess on an annual basis how much of the fund to appropriate in a given year.

Renton City Council has created a Lodging Tax Advisory Committee to conduct an annual process to solicit and recommend Lodging Tax funded services for City Council consideration.

The city will only consider proposals for use of the Lodging Tax Fund from public and non-profit agencies. 

Application

  • The deadline to apply for the second round of 2022 funding is 4:30 p.m. on May 13, 2022.

Grant Information

The Grants

  • Renton City Council awards the Tourism Promotion Grants.

  • Grants are funded by Washington state’s Hotel-Motel Tax, collected on all in-city lodging stays of less than 30 days in length.

  • The city council has appointed a Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) and tasked it with distributing these funds.

  • Grant proposals are reviewed by the committee, composed of council members, lodging owners, and community members appointed by the mayor.

  • The city council takes LTAC’s recommendations under advisement when determining final grant awards.

Established Priority

  • Have a demonstrated potential or high potential from the Committee’s perspective to result in overnight stays by tourists in lodging establishments within the City of Renton.

  • Promote Renton and/or events, activities, and places in the City of Renton to potential tourists from outside our city.

  • Have demonstrated or high potential from the committee’s perspective to result in documented economic benefit to Renton.

  • Have a demonstrated history of success in Renton, or are proposed by a group with a demonstrated history or high potential of success with similar activities.

  • Minimize duplication of services where appropriate and encourage cooperative marketing and/or includes an element of cooperation or partnership.

  • Provide, maintain, operate or enhance city-owned tourism facilities or infrastructure.

  • Involve multi-day events, including athletic events, along with those that promote diversity and inclusivity.

Committee Considerations

In developing its recommendations, the committee considers:

  • The estimated amount of Lodging Tax Funds available for the coming year as provided by the city’s finance office.

  • Thoroughness and completeness of the proposal.

  • Percent of the proposal request to the event/facility promotions budget and overall revenues.

  • Percent of increase over prior year Renton Lodging Tax funded proposals, if any.

  • Projected economic impact within the City of Renton, in particular projected overnight stays in Renton lodging establishments.

  • The applicant’s financial stability.

  • The applicant’s history of tourism promotion success.

  • Committee member general knowledge of the community and tourism-related activities.

Funding Examples

  • Seattle Film Summit

  • KingCon NW

  • Renton Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center operations

  • North American Fashion week

  • 2021 Valley Cities GeoTour

  • Renton River Days

  • Renton Farmers Market

  • Washington Ironman

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