Chamber’s Mission & Funding

The Leavenworth Chamber was founded in 1967

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.

Lodging tax for the City of Leavenworth has dramatically increased since the 2020 pandemic. Due to Short Term Rental legislation in Chelan County, growth of the lodging tax collection has been stunted.