The Kitsap Visitors and Conventions Bureau (VCB) recently recognized the City of Gig Harbor and the Gig Harbor Chamber of Commerce for their partnership in promoting local tourism. Although the two have informally worked together for many years, their partnership grew after the city hired a marketing director.

It certainly helped that the director, Laureen Lund, worked out of the chamber’s office before moving to city hall. As her job was always paid by motel/hotel tax, much of her focus hasn’t changed after she became an official city employee. But her methods have: Over the last two years, Lund undertook an aggressive campaign to promote Gig Harbor, stepping up advertising and marketing efforts.

One of her strategies was to consolidate tourism information — hence the idea to partner up with the chamber to jointly develop its Web site portion that is geared to visitors. The site was one of the projects recognized through the recent award. The other strategy was geographic positioning.

“We’ve made a big change in how we view Gig Harbor because of its geographic location,” Lund said. “We decided we identify not only with Tacoma but also Kitsap. We are in Pierce County but on the Kitsap Peninsula. It’s an interesting position politically... but being in this geographic area can have an advantage if we use it right.”

To create that advantage, Lund has not only been networking with Tacoma and the north end of the region, but expanding into Kitsap toward the Olympic Peninsula. She grew up in Silverdale — so jumping ship to Kitsap sounded attractive but she “wanted to keep in touch with Tacoma” as well.

Lund says the efforts, though geared at attracting tourists, are all about economic development: “Everything we do deals with trying to bring money into Gig Harbor and help businesses, and ultimately help the community create jobs.”

Lund says tourism promotion really extends beyond the immediate area, and working together within the region helps everyone. Even though cities may be competing for lodging tax money and bed occupancy, by promoting the region together and by “packaging it” they can truly create a destination filled with visitor attractions.

That’s why another project with the Gig Harbor chamber — placing heritage markers at historic locations — crossed beyond city borders and onto the adjacent Key Peninsula and Fox Island. People who visit don’t care where government lines are, Lund notes; they just want to drive around to see the scenery and enjoy themselves.

“Usually you need three hours worth of activities to end up lodging, which brings in lodging money,” she said. “We can compete for room nights but by cooperating we get the visitors to stay longer.”

With the Tacoma Narrows Bridge under way, an area that already has a bad name for its “bridge” traffic is threatened even more. No one likes to drive in slow construction zones when they have to, let alone make a conscientious effort to go for a simple visit. Not one to give up, however, Lund found a way to make the ugly construction mess attractive: Why not create a viewing area for people to come and see the bridge construction up close? After all, how many new suspension bridges get built every day?

Lund is working with the Department of Transportation and others to turn a park on the beach near the bridge into the viewing platform. If all goes well, she’ll then launch a campaign encouraging people from up north to come stay awhile. Of course, those from east of State Route 16 are equally welcome.