Kirkland Hotel Voucher Program Deemed A Success

KIRKLAND, WA — Kirkland officials are celebrating the success of the city's "You Stay, We Pay," program, which provided visitors and tourists with vouchers to spend at more than 100 participating businesses, including local restaurants, bars, and shops. The "Kirkland Ca$h" certificates were envisioned as a way to attract guests to book overnight stays in the city and patronize local businesses, which the city said worked as intended.

During the program's run, the city said it distributed nearly 700 vouchers, amounting to roughly $17,000 in benefits to participating businesses. The program ended June 30, but unspent certificates are good through the end of August. City leaders also plan to tap "Kirkland Ca$h" for more opportunities in the future.

“We launched Kirkland Ca$h with the goal of helping local businesses impacted by the pandemic,” said Deputy Mayor Jay Arnold. “Now with its success, the program can serve as a long-term tool for not only supporting small businesses, but other city programs where we might incorporate the Kirkland-only currency.”

The program was paid for using funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.