The Tri-Cities Visitor & Convention Bureau is dedicated to its mission to be the community's catalyst for developing, marketing, and enhancing tourism, sports, and conventions...thereby creating positive economic growth for the region. We believe that through our mission, we will achieve our vision to be the premier tourist and convention destination in eastern Washington. Through our commitment to tourism, conventions, sports, and relocation as well, the Bureau is helping to improve the economic base in the Tri-Cities as well as other communities within the region.

This section provides information on visitor spending, tourism employment and earnings, tax receipts, guest rooms available, hotel/motel tax, and convention and sports tournaments impacts on the community.

Tourism Works for the Tri-Cities

The Tri-Cities plays host to thousands of leisure travelers, convention and sports delegates, and other visitors every year. Tourism's impact on the Tri-Cities is phenomenal. Visitor spending creates jobs and tax revenues and contributes to infrastructure improvements, as well as the overall quality of life.

Visitor & Tourism Impacts
Source: WA State Travel Impacts, September 2009 (latest available numbers from 2008)

Visitors to the Tri-Cities spent $366.6 million in 2008. Visitor spending has steadily increased over the years.

Travel related employment totaled 4,410 jobs in Benton and Franklin Counties. Total earnings generated by travel spending were $86.5 million.

Travelers spent $46.1 million on retail shopping and $111.9 million in eating and drinking establishments.

Travel in Benton and Franklin Counties generated local and state tax receipts totaling $27.7 million in 2008. Of this amount, $6.8 million were local tax receipts and $20.9 million were collected at the state level. Click here to view hotel/motel tax collections for the past decade.

Tri-Cities Hotel & Industry Facts

Most visitors to the Tri-Cities are following the rules of Staycations and traveling short distances-primarily from the Puget Sound area. However, with direct flights available from Seattle, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Denver, and now Mesa/Phoenix, the Bureau will pursue markets that have not been included in previous marketing efforts.

Hotels, Motels, and B & B - There are more than 40 lodging facilities and nearly 3,500 guest rooms to choose from in the Tri-Cities.

Wineries - Known as the Heart of Washington Wine Country with more than 160 wineries located within a one hour drive.

Golf Courses - More than ten courses located within 20 minutes of each other. Professionally designed courses, target courses, Par 3 courses, and course that is rated 4.5 stars by Golf Digest.

Hanford Reach National Monument - The Reach is the only free flowing, non tidal stretch of the Columbia River remaining in the United States. Just north of Richland, this 51-mile stretch of unbridled river flows through a spectacular landscape of white bluffs, dunes, and desert plateaus and offers wildlife watchers endless opportunities for viewing.

Conventions & Sports Tournaments - The Tri-Cities In 2008, the Tri-Cities hosted 173 conventions, sports, and group activities worth more than $27.9 million in direct spending; bringing 142,922 people to meetings, tournaments, and group events.

Additional Sources of Information

City of Kennewick
City of Pasco
City of Richland
City of West Richland
Benton County
Franklin County
TRIDEC
Washington State Tourism Office
Washington State Wine Commission