Rachel Hansen has been leading Mason County Tourism since 2018, bringing her background in marketing and graphic design to the role. She emphasizes that tourism success is a collective effort, where businesses work together rather than compete. Funded by lodging tax revenue, her work supports not just lodging but all businesses that make Mason County an attractive destination.
To modernize tourism promotion, Rachel spearheaded the shift from printed materials like the Wild Side Guide to digital platforms, including the Wild Side Wa app. This app provides real-time information on events, dining, and activities, making it easier for both visitors and local businesses to access and share tourism resources. She encourages businesses to actively participate by familiarizing themselves with local offerings, using the app, and sharing information with customers. Collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and leveraging digital tools are key to growing Mason County’s tourism industry. Rachel@nwevent.org
Jennifer Coleman is a publisher based in Bellingham who produces the Scenic Washington Road Trip Guidebook & Map, which highlights Washington’s 29 scenic byways. Her focus is on creating print and digital materials to promote tourism and distributing thousands of maps and guidebooks through visitor centers, ferries, and online orders. She also integrates social media and email marketing to reach a broad audience.
Her work includes developing interactive maps and custom itineraries, such as a Pacific Coast waterfall route, to help travelers discover new experiences. Jennifer collaborates with Washington State Tourism, local businesses, and tourism organizations like Mason County to boost visitor engagement.
She shares insights on tourism funding, including grants for businesses and nonprofits, and encourages participation in state-provided tourism workshops. Her approach emphasizes strategic marketing, digital storytelling, and partnerships to enhance tourism visibility. jennifer@scenicwa.com
Jeff Slakey from Explore Hood Canal, discussed the digital tourism initiatives for Mason County. He highlights efforts to digitize tourism information, replacing printed materials with an online resource at ExploreHoodCanal.com. This website consolidates details on lodging, restaurants, and events, ensuring up-to-date information.
Jeff also introduced the Wild Side Wa app, available on Google and Apple stores, which offers GPS-based listings of nearby attractions, restaurants, and events. He emphasizes how businesses and tour operators can use the app to guide visitors. The app includes itinerary-building features, allowing users to plan and share trips. He mentions collaboration with the app creators, True Omni, for developing interactive kiosks and highlights ongoing efforts to update listings and content. Jeff also discusses integrating video content to promote local businesses and events, including YouTube features, lobby screen displays, and customized itineraries. jeff@nwevent.org
Deidre Peterson from the Shelton Chamber of Commerce discusses the importance of businesses claiming and managing their Google Business Profile to ensure accurate and updated information for customers.
A Google Business Profile is essential for ensuring accurate business information online. It helps businesses appear in search results with correct details like name, hours, location, and contact information. Claiming and verifying a profile at google.com/business allows business owners to control their listing instead of relying on outdated third-party sources. Service-based businesses can define service areas instead of listing a physical address, and profiles should be regularly updated, especially for holidays or special events.
Google offers tools for engagement, including posts, offers, and event listings that appear in search results. Businesses can add photos, videos, and special attributes like "women-owned" or "veteran-owned" to enhance their profile. Customer reviews also play a major role in visibility—responding to both positive and negative reviews boosts credibility. Encouraging happy customers to leave reviews helps improve search rankings, and businesses should handle negative feedback professionally, with an option to move discussions offline.
Google provides analytics tools to help businesses track customer interactions, including how people find their listing, request directions, or visit their website. The Shelton Chamber of Commerce offers support in setting up and verifying profiles, as well as correcting listing errors. Businesses can access training, workshops, and guides on masonchamber.com/google to maximize their online presence and ensure their information is accurate and up to date. deidre@masonchamber.com