City has second highest year on record for lodging tax

The city of Blaine has awarded five grants to support growing tourism within the city this year as it saw its second highest year on record for lodging tax revenue last year. 

Blaine received $270,200 in lodging tax revenue in 2022, said Alex Wenger, the city’s tourism and economic development coordinator. The city’s highest year for lodging tax revenue was 2008, which Wenger said was slightly higher. 

“This is great news and shows the lodging industry at least has recovered from the pandemic,” Wenger said in an email. He added the revenue was higher because Semiahmoo Resort, the primary contributor to the lodging tax, was doing well. 

The city budgeted $230,000 in lodging tax revenue for 2023. Blaine Tourism Advisory Committee (BTAC) recommended Blaine City Council approve the grants when finalizing the 2023 city budget late last year and additional funds were added during the February 13 council meeting. Recipients were notified of their initial grants on February 1.

Nine grant requests were submitted to the city, totaling $57,480 in requests, but only five requests were awarded $35,000 total. 

Blaine Chamber of Commerce received $2,500 for Drayton Harbor Days; Blaine Arts Council received $5,000; Wings Over Water Northwest Birding Festival received $5,000; and the Blaine Chamber of Commerce received $18,000 for the Old Fashioned Fourth of July. 

The requests that weren’t funded were the chamber of commerce’s $3,000 request for Fourth of July restrooms, Blaine Community Theater’s $7,000 request for an international art and dance festival, Blaine Arts Council’s $8,000 request for a downtown art gallery and Washi Arts’ $4,000 request for a Washi Arts workshop series. Wenger said the Fourth of July restrooms will likely be funded through a separate city source. 

The city’s operating tourism budget is just over $175,000 for 2023. In the operating budget, the historic Plover passenger ferry received $38,000, the Blaine Chamber of Commerce received $20,000 for its executive director salary and the Blaine Welcome Center received $30,000 for staffing and managing volunteers. The city pays extra to lease and maintain the welcome center.