CHENEY – The City Council has authorized Mayor Chris Gover to sign an interlocal agreement allocating local bed tax revenues to the Spokane Hotel and Motel Commission.
The authorization came during the council’s Tuesday, July 26 meeting.
Under the agreement, Cheney will be included in the Spokane County Tourism Promotion Area, with taxes collected on overnight stays at hotels, motels, campgrounds and other overnight amenities being disbursed to the commission.
The commission is charged with spending the money to promote the area, with funds being specifically used to attract tourists from more than 50 mles away.
“This is an effort to get cities in the Spokane region to join in for the benefit of bringing people to town, promoting tourism in the region,” Councilman Mark Posthuma said at the meeting.
In return for bed tax dollars collected in the city, Cheney will get a voice on the tourism commission board, alongside area hoteliers and other cities’ officials.
Spokane Regional Sports Commission President Eric Sawyer attended the meeting on behalf of the tourism commission to provide information on the agreement.
“You’re already getting the benefits directly from it, and we want to build on that,” Sawyer said, remarking that the TPA supported past events in Cheney.
He cited the 2020 USA Curling National Championships and the WIAA Track and Field Tournament as past grant recipients.
Cheney will be the fourth city to be included in the tourism district.
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