Sam Askew, president of the KPVBC Board and Patricia Graf-Hoke, executive general manager, announced the formation of special KPVCB Committee called the Kitsap Peninsula Brand & Tourism Development.
“This has been one of our long term goals and at the KEDA/Port of Bremerton vitality summit yesterday, it’s clear tourism and
tournaments, conventions and developing our own brand are much on people’s minds,” Askew said. “Patty’s proven abillity to bring people together to help in this critical branding process is one of her strengths, and one reason we hired her,” said Askew.
The committee will be made up of park & recreation representatives from each of the municipalities in Kitsap County, port districts, convention/hospitality and lodging industry, and others key stakeholders such as Olympic Property Group and the Kitsap Public Untilies District. “The goal of the committee is to develop a strong, regional brand identity, similar to those used by areas in Eastern Washington to promote their “Wine County,” which provides a broad “umbrella” theme while respecting the unique, individual character and flavor of each of it’s vineyards.” said Sam Askew, KPVCB Board President.
“The brand developed for the Kitsap Peninsula has to do the same” said Patty Graf-Hoke, who worked closely Cary Bozeman, former mayor of Bremerton, to brand Bremerton’s during its successful and highly promoted revitalization. “Cary is a leader in making things happen and he told me even before I went to the KPVCB, that it was critical to create a brand for the Kitsap Peninsula and start marketing on a regional level. The challenge will be to find the funding for media advertising. However, we can still create a strong brand theme that can be used by the KPVCB and its partners immediately.
“The number one priority of the committee is to create a strong but transparent brand identity — like an umbrella — that covers the entire Kitsap Peninsula but allows the individual uniqueness of each community to shine through. “We want tourists and guests to understand they can community-hop from Bainbridge Island to Poulsbo to Bremerton to Port Orchard and all places in between and find something different in each place,” said Graf-Hoke. “The umbrella branding theme is only intended to unite us together as a region, and will likely include our partners up north, south and on the coast. “The minute you enter the Kitsap Peninsula, by ferry, watercraft, foot, auto, plane or seaplane, you’re in a special place and we want to tell and aggressively market that story,” Graf-Hoke, added.
The KPVCB said the new committee hopes to hold its first meeting in late October. Patricia Graf-Hoke may be reached at grafhoke [at] visitkitsap [dot] com.
