Todd Davidson was appointed Executive Director of the Oregon Tourism Commission effective June 3, 1996. He was named Chief Executive Officer on September 9, 2004.
During this time, tourism in Oregon has become a $8.7 billion industry in Oregon, employing over 90,000 Oregonians. Achievements of the Oregon Tourism Commission during Davidson’s tenure include: the establishment of a dedicated, stable funding source for the Commission, the strategic launch of niche-oriented websites, publications and advertising, leadership in establishing sustainable tourism initiatives and strengthening the base of international markets, air service and partnerships.
Davidson is a member of numerous boards and commissions including the U.S Travel Association, the National Council of State Tourism Directors (NCSTD) and the Western States Tourism Policy Council (WSTPC). In December 2010, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke appointed Davidson to the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board which is charged with advising the Secretary on government policies and programs that affect the U.S. travel and tourism industry, offers counsel on emerging issues and provide a forum for proposing solutions to industry-related problems. He is currently a member of U.S. Travel’s Executive Committee, Chair of the DiscoverAmerica.com Committee and Co-chair of the newly formed Leisure Advisory Council. Davidson is Past Chair of the National Council of State Tourism Directors.
In August 2006 he was named the State Tourism Director of the Year by the Travel Industry Association (TIA), a non-profit organization representing the U.S. travel industry. Todd received the 1992 Governor’s Tourism award from Governor Barbara Roberts for his leadership in Oregon’s tourism industry.
As a member of WSTPC, he assisted with the development and implemenation of the historic Memorandum of Understanding between five federal departments, eight federal agencies, and thirteen western states coordinating the management of tourism on public recreation lands in the West.
From 1994 until his appointment, he served as the International Program Manager for the Oregon Tourism Commission. Prior to his statewide international marketing responsibilites, Davidson was the Executive Director of the Albany Visitors Association from 1988-1994. He is a graduate of Iowa State University.
Read a message from Todd to the industry here.