Visit Renton site and app launch aims to drive foot traffic and highlight creative economy

City staff presented a refreshed Visit Renton website and mobile app to the Committee of the Whole, saying the new brand and digital tools are intended to connect visitors and residents to local businesses, events and cultural offerings.

Jesse (Speaker 4) told the committee the refreshed Visit Renton 'brand and website launched in the final days of January' and described site features including a community calendar, blog, curated itineraries and a mobile app with gamification elements such as digital passports and challenges designed to encourage exploration and drive foot traffic to local businesses.

Why it matters: Staff said separating economic-development content onto the city's website (and positioning Visit Renton for tourism) makes information clearer for business prospects and visitors. The site is also positioned as a partner tool for hoteliers and concierges.

Key details: The city highlighted new content areas—community-submitted event calendar, guest-blogging by campaign partners, 'plan your own trip' itineraries and mobile features intended to increase dwell time and patronage at local businesses. Staff said the creative-economy plan will be refined and presented to council later this year, and that RFQs for Legacy Square public art drew 34 submissions, including two international responses.

Outreach and rollout: Staff said the site is in a final 'launch' phase and the team plans partner amplification, social campaigns and influencer outreach to grow site use; hotel concierges will be asked to use the app as a visitor resource. They also described shifting an intern or social-content role toward summer event coverage.

Next steps: Staff will pursue broader promotional campaigns and return with details on Legacy Square activation and the creative-economy plan. No policy actions were taken at the meeting.