Chamber and Visit Wenatchee tell council tourism drew $308 million in visitor spending last year
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Summary
A chamber representative told the council Visit Wenatchee’s promotions helped attract 3.1 million overnight visitors in 2024 who spent an estimated $308 million in the valley; the presenter also outlined membership, events and sports-tourism efforts.
WENATCHEE — A representative of the Wenatchee Chamber and Visit Wenatchee told the council Monday that overnight visitors generated an estimated $308 million in spending in 2024 and that the organizations continue to focus on sports tourism, Hispanic/Latino business outreach and regional promotion.
“First of all, thank you for choosing the Chamber to promote tourism here in this Valley,” said Steve, a chamber representative. He told the council Visit Wenatchee estimates 3.1 million overnight visitors in 2024 and said his organization used a per-visitor spending estimate of about $98 per day to compute $308 million in visitor spending.
Steve said the chamber and Visit Wenatchee represent more than 600 businesses and organizations, run 50 signature events, and maintain a website that draws more than 50,000 views a year. He said Visit Wenatchee’s sports-promotion budget and sports coordinator have helped attract tournaments; he also said the chamber has emphasized outreach to Hispanic and Latino business owners, including workshops in Spanish and an advisory Hispanic Business Council.
Key figures and programs cited
- 3.1 million overnight visitors (2024) and $308,000,000 in estimated visitor spending using a $98 daily per-visitor estimate cited by presenter.
- Hotel occupancy rate reported at about 60.8% for 2024 and up to nearly 65% year-to-date in 2025.
- Chamber membership: about 600 businesses and organizations (roughly 59 nonprofits among them); social followers and newsletter subscribers cited as reach metrics.
- Sports-tourism promotion: dedicated coordinator and promotion budget reported; referenced Triple Crown baseball and other tournaments that bring visitors.
Steve also said the chamber is under contract with the city for LTAC (lodging tax) activities and noted the organization is working within a tight budget and has not increased wages for employees in recent years. Council members thanked the presenter and highlighted that the chamber’s promotional work and collaboration with convention and event venues have helped grow the city’s profile as a destination.
What the council heard next
Council members and staff praised the outreach and noted collaboration with the convention center, Toyota Center and PIVUS. The chamber representative told the council the group spent targeted advertising dollars in the Tri-Cities market and that sports- and event-focused campaigns have produced measurable impressions and visitor traffic. No council action was taken; the presentation was informational.
