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Hoteliers press Hermiston for TPA accounting, ask for seat on EOTech board
Summary
Several Hermiston hoteliers told the council they see little weekend benefit from the city’s $2 per‑room transient promotion assessment (TPA) and requested a line‑item breakdown of how TPA funds are spent on marketing and EOTech. They asked for a formal role in planning to boost weekend occupancy.
Hotel owners and managers urged the Hermiston City Council on Oct. 13 to provide clearer accounting for the Transient Promotion Assessment (TPA) that funds EOTech and marketing and to involve hoteliers in strategies to boost weekend occupancy.
"We want line items so we can see exactly where the money is going," said Carrie Schafer, area general manager at Oxford Suites. Multiple hoteliers described a $2 per‑room nightly TPA — with $1 for marketing and $1 for EOTech funding — and said they have not seen corresponding weekend business increases despite more than a decade of the program.
Vikas Narain, manager of the Best Western Hermiston, said he requested public records showing how TPA money has been allocated because weekend occupancy remains low: "On weekdays we’re 70% and on weekends we’re 30%. At 30% we cannot pay bills." Ankit Munger of Motel 6 and Nilesh Patel of Oyo Hotel echoed the call for transparency and for a collaborative working group with city staff and EOTech representatives to target weekend events and marketing.
Mayor Doug Primer encouraged the hoteliers to work directly with the city manager’s office and to engage the EOTech board; staff confirmed that hotel representatives historically have had seats on the EOTech board and that the city will follow up. Council members suggested forming a working group to review the records request and coordinate marketing strategies.
What it means: Hoteliers want clearer reporting and a voice in EOTech’s marketing strategy to convert weekday construction or business traffic into weekend stays. The council did not take formal action at the meeting beyond supporting follow‑up coordination and confirming that staff will share contact information and the records request process.
Next steps: City staff agreed to attach Walk With Purpose and other presenters’ contact information to meeting materials and to work with hotel representatives and EOTech leadership on next steps; hoteliers asked that the council consider creating a forum or committee for ongoing collaboration.
