Leavenworth Chamber Profile
The Leavenworth Chamber was founded in 1967
The Leavenworth Chamber acts as both a traditional chamber who focuses on being a catalyst for economic growth, a convener of community influencers, and a champion for innovative ideas as well as a Destination Management Organization (DMO) for the Leavenworth. In our DMO role, we manage the Willkommen Center, orchestrate media relations, execute marketing campaigns, produce collateral, and provide visitor outreach. Since tourism is our chief economic driver, we also host events, promotions, and annual festivals.
Due to the scope of the work we do and the impacts, repercussions, and economic importance of those efforts, we have instituted a management plan that focuses on the sustainability of our unique destination. The components of this plan encompass workforce development, workforce housing, waste diversion, visitor impact management, and creating revenue streams for other community organizations. Thanks for taking the time to learn more about the Chamber, we look forward to working with you and your business.
Mission & Structure
Funding
The Leavenworth Chamber’s mission is to promote commerce, tourism, the Bavarian Theme, economic development, diversification, and cooperation among the business community, governments and residents of the Chamber membership area.
The Chamber of Commerce is a 501 (c)6 non-profit Business Association and is governed by a fourteen member Board of Directors who meet twice a month on the first and third Thursdays.
Board members help execute initiatives and goals through four committees:
Membership
Finance
Economic Development/Sustainability
Programs/Events.
The Chamber is funded through membership dues, sponsorship, and fundraising events. As the Destination Management Organization (DMO) for Leavenworth, the Chamber also receives funding via a percentage of the hotel lodging tax collection from the City and the County. This allows the Chamber to operate and staff a year-round visitor center, plan and execute events, operate Ambassador programs, schedule entertainment at the gazebo during the summer months, and provide assistance with tourism infrastructure.
This funding is made possible by RCW 67.28.1816 which also requires that lodging tax revenues be used exclusively for the following:
1. Tourism marketing.
2. The marketing and operations of special events and festivals designed to attract tourists.
3. Supporting the operations and capital expenditures of tourism-related facilities owned or operated by a municipality.
4. Supporting the operations of tourism-related facilities owned or operated by nonprofit organizations.
The Willkommen Center
We display our members’ rack cards, event flyers and posters.
Our event calendar on the Visitor website, www.leavenworth.org, keeps your upcoming events top of the mind for guests, you and your staff to be “in the know” of what’s happening.
Our lodging availability database, Simpleview, is essential for placing guests overnight.
Maps establish ease of access to take in area trails, activities, itineraries, shopping, restaurants, etc., and we stay up-to-date on local conditions, local news and any other information important to our guests and members.
We host a lost and found. We distribute relocation packets as well as student report packets. We help our non-profit members with ticket sales support.
Our Visitor Center is available seven days a week for Leavenworth and your potential guest referrals.
Assist over 72,000 walk-in visitors
Respond to 8,422 phone calls
Distribute 200,000 maps & info brochures & 30,000 Leavenworth Destination Guides
Responds to over 65,000 e-mails annually
Provide public restrooms
Trip planning services
Driving directions
USFS permit assistance
Lost & Found
Post and share pass reports, weather conditions and construction information.
Free Training
The Leavenworth Chamber hosts large and small scale training sessions on topics relevant to our members.
Our events & marketing assets create member opportunities
Digital Assets
Leavenworth.org (Our Visitor Website)
Leavenworth.org receives over 3 million page views each year
Member Directory listing with link to your website
Banner ads offer premier visibility
Leavenworthchamber.org (Our Chamber Member Website)
Information for our Chamber Members
Members may post job opportunities
Share special happenings and local deals with other members
Visitor Guide
46-page Destination Guide includes events, maps, business directory, and advertising opportunities. Approximately 8,000 are mailed our annually. (35,000 distribution)
Leavenworth Walking Map in now both printed and digital and available at Leavenworth.org. This map is distributed across the Pacifc Northwest. (120,000 dist.)
Events
Our renowned events draw hundreds of thousands of visitors to Leavenworth each year and offer a myriad of opportunities to promote your business.
Village of Lights
Christmastown - Dec 1 - 23
Winter Karneval - January
Love From Leavenworth - February.
Restaurant Appreciation Month in April
Celebrating our restaurants with “Feebies for Foodies”.
Maifest
A traditional spring Bavarian celebration, including Maibaum dancing.
Summer Entertainment
Live music in the Front St Gazebo every weekend Memorial Day to Labor Day, and we help to facilitate performances in the Gazebo every other day of the year as well.
Oktoberfest
Three stages over three weekends is the Village’s generated an estimated $2.3 million in gross hotel sales in 2023.
We assist with networking, promotions and equipment for our member’s events.
Media & Promotions
With 10,000+ e-newsletter subscribers, 120,000+ Facebook , 2,600+Twitter, 16,000+ Instagram, 2,300+ You Tube followers, and distribution of 275,000 Visitor Guides, we know a thing or two about promoting Leavenworth.
Chamber Staff Executes:
Oversee the Holy Schnitzel and Give a Schnitzel Campaigns
Operate and promote Leavenworth.org
Manage all social media
Provide accurate visitor information
Produce public service & promo videos
Write blogs & articles
Arrange photography & video shoots
Facilitate commercial film crews
Editorial outreach & pitch stories
Host and entertain travel writers
Write and distribute consumer E-Newsletter
Respond to media requests
Manage destination B-roll & photography
Write and distribute press releases
Provide media referrals via travel shows
Conduct seasonal & mid-week shopping promotions
The Chamber strives to be a catalyst for positive growth
Communication & Networking
Our greatest asset is our diverse and collaborative membership of over 550 organizations.
Quarterly meetings and mixers provide opportunities to collaborate, network, and promote your business and learn more about the Chamber.
Our weekly Bavarian Bulletin Newsletter keeps our membership connected on important matters, notices, alerts, and announcements.
We publish an annual Visitor & Economic Profile Report, sharing key details and data about our economy.
Economic Development & Advocacy
We represent the interests of our membership as active advocates for tourism and small business, and the economic prosperity they produce.
Liaise with our City Council on a regular basis, weighing in on issues of importance to our membership.
Maintain involvement in the Downtown Steering Committee and the City’s Revitalization Plans.
Hold and annual strategic planning retreat where the board determines the distribution of startup funding for new events and activities, plans for our future growth and opportunities.
Represent the interests of our members in Olympia, testifying on behalf of tourism and small business, serve on state-wide efforts and task forces.
Partners
Our success in the tourism industry and experience cultivating small business growth makes us a well- respected authority on these issues, and we bring that experience and influence to many local, state and national organizations, such as:
Washington State Destination Marketing Organizations.
NCW Chamber Alliance
State of Washington Tourism
Washington Film Works
Chelan County Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
Association of Washington Business
Washington Chamber of Commerce Executives
Seattle Convention and Visitor Bureau
Port of Seattle
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce
