City of Redmond sponsors Evergreen Classic Benefit Horse Show at Remlinger Farms Equestrian Park August 7-11

City Council authorized the acquisition of a $2,500 sponsorship of the Evergreen Classic Benefit Horse Show scheduled to be held at Remlinger Farms Equestrian Park August 7-11, 2013, using
Tourism Program marketing funds and contracting with the Washington State Hunter
Jumper Association for marketing and promoting the use of Redmond hotels for
overnight stays during the event.

Show Manager Diane Johnson contacted the City of Redmond Tourism Program
Administrator regarding a potential sponsorship for the Evergreen Classic Benefit Horse
Show that was once held at Marymoor Park until the opportunity costs of hosting
prevented King County from continuing. For six years the event has been held at
Remlinger Farms Equestrian Park in nearby Carnation. The show has continued to
provide hundreds of room nights and has increased revenue for our local restaurants and
retail stores. The event benefits Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center, a nationally
recognized Redmond nonprofit organization that offers therapeutic horseback riding for
the disabled. 

This tournament should draw regional, and possibly national,
visitors to our community, and increase the number of overnight stays in our hotels as
Redmond has the nearest hotels, and is likely to increase revenue for our local
restaurants and retail stores. Estimates from the local hoteliers indicate that there
should be over 200 room nights used in Redmond hotels.

The source of funding for this sponsorship is from the one percent Lodging
Tax, of which 50 percent is allocated to Tourism Program marketing and used mainly
to attract visitors to Redmond who will stay overnight in our hotels.