We are here for you!
Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism provides this Tourism Talk e-news to provide ongoing information to our local businesses. We have also added tourism industry resources to Bellingham.org for access anytime.
We are here to help all our members navigate these uncertain times.
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Whatcom County does not meet the eligibility requirements to move to Phase 3 of Washington State’s Safe Start reopening plan and will not be applying to move into Phase 3 this week. Friday, June 26, marks three weeks since Whatcom County moved into Phase 2 of the reopening plan; however, with a 14-day average case count that is over the target, the county does not meet the State’s criteria to safely move into the next phase.
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Wear a Mask - And Send Us A Photo!
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P
lease send us an image of you and/or your staff wearing masks in your place of business with a thumbs up that we can share
on our website (Bellingham.org) and on social media (Bellingham Experience). We also encourage you to post the images on your own social media, please tag us @belllinghamexperience so we can share, You can send images to
media@bellingham.org
. Also
tell us your creative solutions to keep guests safe.
Thank you!
Click
here
to download our "Please Wear a Mask in Public Spaces" sign for your place of business.
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by Sandy Ward /
The Northern Light
Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism works every day to attract visitors to our entire county. Our efforts go far beyond just filling hotel rooms, restaurants and attractions. Every county must compete with every other county in Washington state for their share of the world’s attention, customers, ideas and investment. For our local businesses to compete, potential visitors need to be aware of our destination, have a positive impression and feel that keeping them safe and healthy in Whatcom County is our main objective so they will be comfortable visiting and experiencing our communities and meeting our local people. Read full article
here.
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Hotel Industry COVID-19 Impact Report Presentation
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The Bellingham Whatcom County Lodging Association and Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism invite you to attend a special hotel industry COVID-19 impact report presented by STR on Monday, June 29, 2020, at 4:00 p.m.
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The City of Bellingham has produced a
Summer Playbook to help locals and guests better understand which outdoor recreation options are available throughout Whatcom County, depending on which Phase of the re-opening plan we are in. The booklet includes information for public lands operated by City of Bellingham, Whatcom County, Port of Bellingham, Washington State Parks, Department of National Resources, Department of Fish and Wildlife, Mount Baker - Snoqualmie National Forest, and North Cascades National Park.
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The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) is setting up new protocols during the pandemic.
When traveling on the mainline ferries Kennicott, Matanuska and Tustamena, all passengers (older than two years old) must provide a negative COVID-19 test within three days of sailing. On those vessels, masks must be worn except when smoking or eating. Accommodations will be made for passengers unable to wear a face covering due to a medical condition. Read full article
here
.
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The Regional Economic Partnership (REP) at the
Port of Bellingham
has released a report with the results of three fishing industry surveys on the economic impacts on local businesses. The survey was developed in coordination with the Working Waterfront Coalition of
Whatcom County
. The intention of the survey was to capture the economic effects of COVID-19 on the commercial fishing industry.
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Bellingham Mayor Seth Fleetwood appointed Nicole Oliver as the City’s Parks and Recreation Department director. Oliver has served as interim director since January 3, 2020. Mayor Fleetwood said he selected Nicole after a national search for a new director. He said her breadth of experience with the City and in our community, and her project management and problem-solving skills, were among the qualities she demonstrated — as interim director and in the selection process — that made her his top choice.
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Bellingham Parks & Recreation is offering a variety of brand new, interactive and virtual summer programs. Youth ages 6 to 12 will experience seven (7) amazing weeks of wild themes and storylines full of fun projects and one-on-one interaction with virtual camp counselors. Campers are the main characters on unique and outrageous adventures…one week could have them visiting Peru and sampling Inca Kola on Mars then the next week could have them making things to donate to Whatcom Feline Alliance and the Alternative Humane Society! Registration includes arts and craft supplies delivered right to your doorstep.
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Bellingham Arts Academy for Youth staff have come up with a raft of creative courses to stretch imaginative horizons, expand expressive potential, and learn some cool new skills. It won’t be business as usual — social distancing requirements mean they've shifted their focus to smaller class sizes and content that can be adapted for online instruction as necessary. Students will learn about costuming, theatre tech, makeup and special effects, dance, acting, stage combat, vocal performance, Shakespeare, audition techniques, play devising, and more.
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Bellair Airporter Shuttle
services returned on Sunday, June 21, 2020, with business resuming and shuttles rolling down the highways once again.
Shuttle service returns
to the roads with five round-trips a day along the I-5 corridor between
Bellingham
and Sea-Tac Airport and two round-trips a day along the I-90 corridor between Yakima and Sea-Tac Airport. Service between Anacortes and Burlington along HWY 20 will return as travel trends increase. Paine Field shuttle operations remain suspended until the airport re-opens after a summer for renovations.
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by Brandon
Bellingham and the surrounding area are home to
world-class hiking
,
running
, and
mountain biking trails
. Of course, many of these trails (like Oyster Dome) are popular and can get quite crowded on sunny weekends. If you’re looking to escape into nature for some solitude, we’ve got you covered. Here are our tips on how and where to find crowd-free trails in Whatcom County.
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Time:
Posted 4:30 pm Mondays, watch anytime from home
Free
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May & June 2020
Our region is full of beauty! Send us your scenic photos from all around the county and enter them in our latest contest for a chance at a prize! Yes, members can enter. Members can also donate prizes. Enter
here
.
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Questions? We are happy to answer them for you.
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Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism
904 Potter Street, Bellingham, WA 98229
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