Destination Smart is a framework for the Chamber’s operations in relation to managing, marketing, and planning Leavenworth’s commerce and tourism industry.

The Destination Smart approach strives to balance the needs of the industry and area residents, provide education to visitors, leverage our events to create revenue streams for local non-profits or initiatives, and develop responsible infrastructure projects and initiatives to maximize sustainability.

By following the Destination Smart approach to our vibrant tourism industry, we ensure that it continues to contribute to the health and well-being of our city, our region, our economy, and our environment.

The five properties of the Chamber’s Destination Smart are:

  • Funding it Forward,

  • Visitor Flow Management,

  • Communication & Monitoring,

  • Destination Development

  • Climate & Resiliency

Fund It Forward

  • Finding creative ways to ensure that when we are using lodging tax funding for events, each event contains a fundraising opportunity for a local cause or member non-profit.

    • Examples: Carvings for Causes, Manuela Xmas Concerts, Christmastown Ambassadors, Oktoberfest Ambassadors

Visitor Flow Management

  • Designing events to reduce negative community and regional impacts

    • Example: Removing tree lighting, reducing Oktoberfest occupancy and hours of operation, lights always on approach.

  • Reduce impacts and provide visitor services at highly visited recreation locations in our region.

    • Example: Recreation Ambassador Program

  • Assist in traffic, transit, parking and trail expansions and improvements

    • Example: March 23, 2023 Sensing Document

Communication & Monitoring

  • Use visitor data to make data informed and targeted marketing and event planning decisions.

  • Monitor our destination by collecting visitor data to gauge economic and environmental impacts. 

    • Examples – Springboard, Trafx, Datafy, Ambassador EOSR

  • Collaborate with other organizations to increase event and marketing efficiency by taking advantage of established platforms and campaigns.  

    • Examples – TedDriven doing the Mai Blumen Lauf (May Flower Run) partially benefiting CMF

  • Provide destination education to visitors through our Give a Schnitzel Campaign that encourages:

    • Taking an active role in caring for our shared lands. 

    • By observing proper fire and water safety.

    • By being mindful of proper trail and river etiquette and being prepared for conditions.

    • Traveling in non-peak times

    • Know before you go: road conditions, parking

Destination Developement

  • Champion responsible destination infrastructure projects or events to enhance or expand opportunities and offerings.

  • Invest time, support, and/or funding for programs that strengthen workforce development and workforce housing

    Workforce Housing

    • $50,000 Donation to UVM Solid Foundations

    Workforce Development

    • $10,000 Scholarship fund to be created

    • Sponsor additional trainings for CSD High School students

Climate & Resiliency

  • Having our events and destination work towards being zero waste.

    • Not allowing using single use plastic at Chamber events

    • Compostable cups that prevented 1 ton of methane gas from being produced

    • Added trash diversion stalls

  • Maintain and expand current cameras that hold up to 30 day’s worth of footage and assist the city and Sheriff’s Depart with investigations and with prosecutions.

  • Assist with creating an Emergency Response Training in  partnership with Chelan County Emergency Management