Woodinville highlights business survey results and boosts tourism planning; council expands lodging tax advisory committee

City staff and the Woodinville Chamber of Commerce presented an economic development update and results of the 2025 Woodinville business survey to the City Council on Jan. 20.

Mackenzie Boyle, a management analyst, said the city contracted Polco to survey roughly 1,350 registered businesses; 141 businesses responded (about a 10% response rate). "We got a total of 141 surveys were completed, resulting in a response rate of 10%," Boyle said. Respondents reported generally favorable business health but flagged major issues including affordable housing, rising commercial rents, and transportation/parking. Staff recommended using survey findings to inform budgeting, program design and strategic planning.

The presentation also covered tourism and events: staff reported $195,000 in lodging tax (LTAC) tourism promotion grant funding for 2026 and a $41,700 Port of Seattle economic development partnership grant for the 2025–26 cycle. Kimberly Ellerton, executive director of the Woodinville Chamber of Commerce, described the Visit Woodinville marketing program and the "Woodinville Welcomes the World" World Cup outreach campaign.

On appointments, the council moved to expand LTAC membership and appointed Hampton Inn & Suites, Willow's Lodge, the Somme Hotel, the Chamber of Commerce, Woodinville Wine Country and the Woodinville Arts Alliance to the 2026 LTAC slate; the motion passed unanimously on a voice vote.

What happens next: staff will incorporate the business survey findings into budget discussions and economic development planning, and the appointed LTAC members will begin the 2026 LTAC process.