Michael Novakovich is by nature and by profession an optimist.As president of Visit Tri-Cities, his job is to champion the people, places and things that draw tourists to the Mid-Columbia, to fill its shops, bars, restaurants and hotel rooms.Visitors spent more than $560 million in Benton and Franklin counties in...
The little runabout was so perfect, Roy Keck couldn’t help himself.When the like-new 1962 Dorsett El Dorado the color of harvest gold came up at auction, the boating enthusiast had to have her.The 15-foot fiberglass beauty had fewer than 90 hours on its Mercury 50 engine. The original owner garaged...
Tri-City hoteliers found creative and unexpected ways to stay relevant after a wave of cancellations washed over the industry on what one owner called Black Friday in March.“People are definitely thinking outside the box,” said Michael Novakovich, president and chief executive officer of Visit Tri-Cities, the region’s tourism marketing agency....
“Open for Business” is the battle cry of the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce and Visit Tri-Cities. The two business entities have launched separate sites with the same branding, “Open for Business,” to give area businesses a place to tell customers how they are adapting to severe measures designed to slow the...
A1 Hospitality isn’t quite finished celebrating the opening of its newest Tri-City hotel, the Courtyard by Marriott in Pasco.The 99-room hotel opened Feb. 18 at the entrance to the Tri-Cities Airport. The $10 million hotel employs more than 30 and combines the amenities of an upscale property—fitness center, pool, bar...
By Beau RuffIn most families, the parents dream of leaving a legacy to their children.Of course, the parents want to create a legacy in terms of intrinsic family values, ethics and professionalism. The parents also may often want to create a legacy in terms of material (real) property.Sometimes it takes...
By D. Patrick JonesRanking sixth doesn’t land an industry much coverage in Benton-Franklin Trends. For display purposes, only the top five sectors find their way into our graphs, such as the one covering the five largest sectors by employment. The hospitality industry of the greater Tri-Cities finds itself in this...
Instructor will research tasting offerings, pricing practices in winery tasting roomsA Washington State University Tri-Cities professor plans to travel to Austria as part of a Fulbright Program Scholar grant to research tasting offerings and pricing practices in winery tasting rooms.Beginning in March 2021, Byron Marlowe will teach and conduct research...
Construction on Tri-City Court Club’s new courts began in SeptemberThe 200 active pickleball players in the Tri-Cities soon will have indoor courts to play on.Construction on the Tri-City Court Club’s new pickleball courts began in September. A grand opening to celebrate the six new courts is planned for Nov. 18-20.Pickleball—a...
The Tri-Cities will add more than 300 hotel rooms to the market when multiple hotels open in the next year.And more rooms will be available in 2021 and beyond, with other hotel projects currently in the planning stages.The opening of three hotels with a combined value of $21.5 million will increase the...
