Register for Travel Oregon’s Dark Sky Tourism Learning Community meeting to learn about the latest developments and opportunities for dark sky tourism in Oregon. The goal of this Learning Community is to facilitate education and foster alignment across the tourism industry and key stakeholders in order to elevate Oregon as a premier destination for dark sky experiences.
This meeting is open to anyone interested in preserving Oregon’s dark skies, developing and promoting dark sky visitor experiences, and staying connected with dark sky initiatives and stakeholders across the state.
Register here.
The 2024 Trail Skills College will be hosted at the Cascade Locks Marine Park; 427 Portage Road, Cascade Locks, Oregon. Field sessions will take place in the greater Columbia River Gorge area.
Trail Skills College is offered free of charge in an effort to inspire stewardship of trails. In exchange for attending a training session, participants are encouraged to volunteer at least 8 hours of work on trail projects in the coming year.
Don’t forget, you can learn new trail maintenance skills by volunteering on a PCTA trail crew any time. Most crews don’t require any previous trail maintenance experience. Knowledgeable and experienced crew leaders are on site to teach you the necessary skills. Visit PCTA’s online schedule to find trail projects near you.
Join Portland Parks & Recreation at East Portland Community Center to get connected with over 20 local organizations and learn more about adaptive recreation opportunities in your area. This event is offered at no cost and registration is not required.
The State of Oregon’s Workforce and Talent Development Board (WTDB) and Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) are hosting the 2024 Oregon Talent Summit (Summit) on May 14-15, 2024.
Convened every two years, the Summit brings key partners together to better understand and address workforce, talent, and skill needs in Oregon.
Join leaders from business, workforce, community-based organizations, education, labor, and economic development for an extraordinary opportunity to learn about and discuss the implications of critical trends, challenges, and opportunities in workforce and talent development. Explore how these dynamics will shape and transform education and training initiatives that advance Oregon’s economic competitiveness and provide equitable opportunities for prosperity to Oregon’s diverse workforce.
Los Angeles is proud to be the host city of IPW 2024 on May 3-7, 2024. LA is home to culturally rich neighborhoods. 75 miles of idyllic shoreline, 200+ MICHELIN-recognized restaurants. 11 professional sports teams, and incredible theme parks and attractions. The City of Angels presents limitless possibilities for visitors from around the world and will be rolling out the red carpet for IPW 2024.
IPW showcases U.S. suppliers of USA travel products and destinations, and attracts international and domestic travel buyers and journalists representing more than 60 countries.
Grant makers offering more than $5 million in funding for FY2025 will participate in the Oregon Cultural Trust’s 2024 “Conversations with Funders” events from March 25 through April 4. The five-stop series of open houses and information sessions will inform grant seekers about funding programs, available cultural resources and opportunities to discuss their projects and programming.
Open houses from noon to 1 p.m. will allow grant seekers and organizational staff to visit with cultural resource providers. Participating providers will include the Nonprofit Association of Oregon, Rural Development Initiatives, Business Oregon Regional Development Officers and the Oregon Museums Association.
From 1:30 to 4 p.m., grant seekers will “speed date for funding” with the Cultural Trust and four of its Statewide Partners – the Oregon Arts Commission, Oregon Heritage, Oregon Humanities and the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office – in addition to counterparts from the State Library of Oregon, The Oregon Community Foundation, The Autzen Foundation, Spirit Mountain Community Fund, The Roundhouse Foundation, The Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation and the Wildhorse Foundation, among others. Participants are encouraged, but not required, to sign up for their location of choice.
Organizations encouraged to attend “Conversations with Funders” include community development organizations, libraries, arts organizations, museums, cultural centers, parks and trails groups, historical societies, arts alliances, literary groups and heritage organizations. All cultural nonprofit organizations are welcome.
The full schedule is:
- Portland: Noon to 4 p.m., Tuesday, March 26, Miller Hall, World Forestry Center, 4033 SW Canyon Road, Portland
- Eugene: Noon to 4 p.m., Wednesday, March 27, WOW Hall, 291 West 8Th, Eugene
- Bend: Noon to 4 p.m., Friday, March 29, Open Space Studios, 220 NE Lafayette Ave., Bend
- Pendleton: Noon to 4 p.m., Tuesday, April 2, Pendleton Center for the Arts, 214 N. Main St., Pendleton
- Medford: Noon to 4 p.m., Thursday, April 4, Large Conference Room, Medford Public Library, 205 S. Central Ave., Medford
For more information contact Schreiner at aili.schreiner@biz.oregon.gov or 503-428-0963.
Read the Strategic Plan Progress Report here.
Oregon Tourism Commission Briefing
September 24 | 12 – 2 p.m.
Inn at Cross Keys Station
66 NW Cedar Street
Madras, OR 97741
View the agenda.
Briefing Presentations:
Oregon Tourism Commission Meeting
September 25 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Inn at Cross Keys Station
66 NW Cedar Street
Madras, OR 97741
View the agenda.
Meeting Presentations:
Oregon Tourism Commission Briefing
View the recording.
June 3 | 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Rogue X – Court 8
901 Rossanley Drive
Medford, OR 97501
Oregon Tourism Commission Meeting
View the recording.
June 4| 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Rogue X – Court 8
901 Rossanley Drive
Medford, OR 97501
This event, in partnership with Oregon State Marine Board, Willamette Valley, Visit McMinnville and Travel Oregon, is opportunity for the community to come together to discuss improving recreation access to the Yamhill rivers.
Please register in advance for the community meeting here.
Questions? Contact info@visitmcminnville.com.
This event, in partnership with Oregon State Marine Board, Willamette Valley, Visit McMinnville and Travel Oregon, is opportunity for the community to come together to discuss improving recreation access to the Yamhill rivers.
Please register in advance for the community meeting here.
Questions? Contact info@visitmcminnville.com.
Join recreation staff from the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management Regional Offices to learn about the different colors of federal funds that can be utilized for trails and related amenities. Learn more about how to work with local district staff to get trails projects on priority lists and how to pursue Cost Share Agreements for stewardship partners to participate in the work.
Presenters:
- Zach Jarrett, Trails and Dispersed Recreation Program Manager, USFS Pacific Northwest Region Office
- David Moore, Non-motorized Trails, VRM, Recreation Based NEPA Lead, Bureau of Land Management OR/WA Office
- Steph Noll, Oregon Trails Coalition Director
This webinar is being offered free of charge with support from Travel Oregon.
This event, in partnership with Oregon State Marine Board, Willamette Valley, Visit McMinnville and Travel Oregon, is opportunity for the community to come together to discuss improving recreation access to the Yamhill rivers.
To learn more or register for a community meeting, email info@visitmcminnville.com.
The goal when the TravelAbility Summit was first developed was to educate travel organizations about the emerging market of baby boomers–40 percent of whom, according to Health Today, self-identify as having a disability after they turn 65. In order to broaden the potential audience, the summit has expanded to embrace Sustainability and DE&I, two emerging markets that will drive tourism growth over the next decade. This not only means you get to learn about all three super-relevant market segments at one event, but since we will be co-located with ESTO in Savannah, GA on August 18-20th, you can combine 2 important industry conferences all in one trip.
Join for 2.5 days of panel discussions, workshops and presentations featuring industry thought leaders,and travel influencers.
View the agenda, speakers and more here.
Oregon Heritage, part of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, provides technical services and funding to organizations and people doing heritage and history work throughout the state. The Oregon Heritage Conference is one of the ways this service is provided. The conference is offered every other year and brings people from all heritage fields together to learn, explore, reflect, build relationships, and engage. It serves staff and volunteers of nonprofit organizations, state, local and Tribal governments and individuals do work related to Oregon’s heritage including research, designation, access to Oregon’s history, archaeology, downtown vitality, genealogy and preservation of historic buildings, cemeteries, and sites.
More information to come.
ESTO is the leading annual learning and knowledge-sharing forum for destination marketing professionals. This dynamic and acclaimed conference features three nonstop days of relevant, engaging content.
What you can expect to get from ESTO:
- Attendees network with the best and brightest in the travel industry. ESTO attracts the nation’s top industry CEOs and marketing leaders at the city, regional and state levels.
- Through a combination of large-scale keynote presentations and more intimate breakout sessions, ESTO features dynamic speakers, who present content that informs and inspires.
- ESTO provides a one-of-a-kind forum for large and small destinations to learn about current trends, hear the latest research and discover implications for the future of their brand.
- The Destiny and Mercury Awards celebrate the year’s best campaigns, promotions and creative. Collectively, these award programs are made up of 25+ categories and receive more than 300 entries.
- At ESTO, you’ll gain access to exclusive research, network with colleagues, learn about the latest marketing trends and debate pressing issues affecting destinations—all in a non-sales environment.
Join your industry peers at the ORLA Hospitality Conference this fall! Hundreds of industry professionals will come together for thought leadership, networking, workshops and celebration! You and your team will share best practices, learn something new, and have a lot of fun.
The conference begins Saturday, Sept. 30 at 5:45 p.m. with a welcome reception and concludes Monday, Oct. 2 with an evening Dine Around Ashland and 7:30 p.m. dessert reception.
Review the detailed agenda here.
Join the annual end-of-season tourism industry gathering. Enjoy delicious food, great company, helpful workshops, and inspiring talks from distinguished guest speakers, presented by OCVA.
Registration is now open! Get your tickets and use code EARLYBIRD before June 20 for a 10 percent discount.
The next Q+A is scheduled for:
- Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, 12-1 p.m.
Questions asked at the session/s will be added to the grant programs FAQ page.
ABOUT THE GRANT PROGRAM:
Travel Oregon’s Competitive Grants are intended to contribute to the development and improvement of communities throughout the state by means of the enhancement, expansion, and promotion of the visitor industry.
Travel Oregon’s 10-Year Strategic Vision holds four objectives:
- Oregon’s tourism economy is flourishing.
- Oregon is striving to be a place of equity.
- Oregon delivers remarkable experiences.
- Oregon respects its natural environments.
Each of the interconnected objectives are supported by priority strategies to help bring Travel Oregon’s mission to life. The 2023-2025 Competitive Grants Program is designed to address the following strategic priorities that are part of Travel Oregon’s 2023-2025 Biennial Plan:
- Reduce high visitation pressures and increase community livability by investing in the development of niche tourism product that is based on growing visitor demand and Oregon’s competitive advantage (e.g., outdoor recreation, culinary, agritourism, arts and culture).
- Expand opportunities for residents and tourism stakeholders to actively engage and collaborate in destination management processes.
- Align and support communications across the tourism industry to improve visitor behaviors and experiences with timely information, responsible recreation practices and respect for all communities.
- Support the development of new and existing tourism-related facilities and products (e.g., visitor experiences, attractions, and public spaces) to better serve historically and currently underserved and under-resourced communities.
Moving in alignment with the objectives and strategic priorities, the 2023-2025 Competitive Grants Program will center funding around accessibility and inclusivity. Communities that are underserved and under-resourced, including people with disabilities, BIPOC, Oregon’s nine federally recognized tribes and LBGTQIA+ communities are encompassed in this focus. Grant funds are intended to support projects that align with Travel Oregon’s vision: Oregon is a welcoming destination where tourism drives economic prosperity, benefits the natural environment and celebrates rich, diverse cultures.
The Letter of Intent (LOI) phase of the application opened at 8 a.m. PST on July 13 and will be accepted until Aug. 18 at 5 p.m. PST.
Inquiries about the grants program can be made at any time, please email grants@traveloregon.com.
We encourage participants to review the Grant Guidelines along with the Application Questions and come prepared with inquiries.
Questions asked at the session/s will be added to the grant programs FAQ page.
ABOUT THE GRANT PROGRAM:
Travel Oregon’s Competitive Grants are intended to contribute to the development and improvement of communities throughout the state by means of the enhancement, expansion, and promotion of the visitor industry.
Travel Oregon’s 10-Year Strategic Vision holds four objectives:
- Oregon’s tourism economy is flourishing.
- Oregon is striving to be a place of equity.
- Oregon delivers remarkable experiences.
- Oregon respects its natural environments.
Each of the interconnected objectives are supported by priority strategies to help bring Travel Oregon’s mission to life. The 2023-2025 Competitive Grants Program is designed to address the following strategic priorities that are part of Travel Oregon’s 2023-2025 Biennial Plan:
- Reduce high visitation pressures and increase community livability by investing in the development of niche tourism product that is based on growing visitor demand and Oregon’s competitive advantage (e.g., outdoor recreation, culinary, agritourism, arts and culture).
- Expand opportunities for residents and tourism stakeholders to actively engage and collaborate in destination management processes.
- Align and support communications across the tourism industry to improve visitor behaviors and experiences with timely information, responsible recreation practices and respect for all communities.
- Support the development of new and existing tourism-related facilities and products (e.g., visitor experiences, attractions, and public spaces) to better serve historically and currently underserved and under-resourced communities.
Moving in alignment with the objectives and strategic priorities, the 2023-2025 Competitive Grants Program will center funding around accessibility and inclusivity. Communities that are underserved and under-resourced, including people with disabilities, BIPOC, Oregon’s nine federally recognized tribes and LBGTQIA+ communities are encompassed in this focus. Grant funds are intended to support projects that align with Travel Oregon’s vision: Oregon is a welcoming destination where tourism drives economic prosperity, benefits the natural environment and celebrates rich, diverse cultures.
The Letter of Intent (LOI) phase of the application opened at 8 a.m. PST on July 13 and will be accepted until Aug. 18 at 5 p.m. PST.
Inquiries about the grants program can be made at any time, please email grants@traveloregon.com.
Through inspired leadership, main street programs throughout Oregon are helping to sustain and enhance the vitality of traditional commercial districts. The 2023 Oregon Main Street Conference is a great way to look at the “big picture” about the importance of main street districts to the health and well-being of local communities – physically, economically and socially.
The conference theme this year is Idea to Implementation, which reflects the innovation happening in our Oregon Main Street organizations to think creatively about the issues and opportunities impacting their communities and then developing concrete programs and activities to bring about meaningful change.
Sessions will cover a variety of topics for both beginners and those with experience. The format includes keynotes, interactive workshops and networking time.
Who Should Attend:
Staff and volunteers of organizations focusing on downtown historic preservation and economic development, downtown business and property owners, government leaders, chamber of commerce professionals and volunteers, and others with an interest in the future of downtown will benefit from attending this conference.
Get to know the keynote speakers and see a detailed agenda here.
Join the ODA Annual Conference, made possible by the host destination, Newberg, held at The Allison.
Conference Registration is open to all Dues-current ODA Members and Associate Members.
Contact OregonDestinationManager@gmail.com to register.
Oregon Tourism Commission Briefing
Briefing Materials:
September 12 | 2 p.m.
Wildhorse Resort & Casino
46510 Wildhorse Blvd.
Pendleton, OR 97801
See agenda.
Immediately following the briefing, the Commission will move into a closed Executive Session.
Oregon Tourism Commission Executive Session
In accordance with ORS 192.660(2)(i) –The Commission will meet to review and evaluate the employment-related performance of the chief executive officer of any public body, a public officer, employee or staff member who does not request an open hearing.
Oregon Tourism Commission Meeting
Meeting Materials:
September 13 | 9 a.m.
Wildhorse Resort & Casino
46510 Wildhorse Blvd.
Pendleton, OR 97801
See agenda.
Commissioners place great value on information received from the public. We ask that you submit testimony at least two business days in advance of the meeting so the Commission has the opportunity to review and consider your comments.
Statements can be submitted via the form, email or mail. All written statements or requests to provide virtual statements must be received by Monday, Sept. 11 by noon.
Registration is now open for the Visit Central Oregon Tourism Summit. This full-day, in-person event will be held at the Riverhouse on the Deschutes on Tuesday, October 17.
Discover innovative approaches to attract visitors, enhance customer experiences, and boost your business’s visibility. Exchange ideas with fellow attendees, learn from success stories, and gain inspiration to take your tourism ventures to new heights. Throughout the day, participants will have the chance to attend engaging presentations, participate in interactive workshops where our speakers will share valuable insights and practical tips to help you thrive in the ever-evolving tourism industry.
Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to connect with industry leaders, expand your network, and stay ahead of the game.
Communities in Lane, Linn, Lincoln, Jackson, Clackamas, Klamath, Marion, and Douglas counties were devastated by the Labor Day wildfires of 2020. They all face years of recovery work. As we begin the fourth year of recovery from these wildfires, leaders, managers, and policymakers from across the state are gathering for this wildfire recovery summit to assess progress and learn from each other. Each affected community has approached recovery differently with varying levels of success, creating fertile ground for learning and significant opportunities to share lessons learned and improve efficiency swiftly by adjusting current practices.
Attending the Summit requires a no-cost registration. Attendance will be capped at 175 people, so please register early to secure your seat.
Summit Highlights:
- Presentation and discussion regarding Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding.
- In depth discussion about how agencies and non-profits can work better together.
- Case studies to learn about what’s working in multiple jurisdictions.
- Informal time to meet others working on recovery across the state.
- Focus on opportunities for state and local policy changes to support recovery.
The summit is hosted by Lane County and University of Oregon School of Planning, Public Policy and Management.
Direct questions to recoverysummitreg@uoregon.edu.
This annual conference brings together community, industry partners and thought-leaders from across the Mid-Willamette Valley for a half-day immersion into all things tourism!
This year’s event will feature a State of the Industry lunch, networking breaks and expert-led educational sessions. Be on the look-out for the upcoming announcement of our exciting keynote presentation hosted by a leader in the far-reaching and quickly evolving field of artificial intelligence.
Travel Salem is excited to announce the addition of the Restaurant & Culinary Community Panel Discussion featuring local industry leaders: Christopher Holland of TAPROOT, Cecilia Ritter James of Wild Pear Restaurant & Catering and Dino Venti of Venti’s Restaurants.
Additional information is available here.
Registration has been extended to Nov. 7.
Building on the momentum of dark sky visitor experience development efforts across the state, Travel Oregon is kicking off a Dark Sky Tourism Learning Community to facilitate education and foster alignment across the tourism industry and key stakeholders. The Learning Community is open to anyone interested in preserving Oregon’s dark skies, developing and promoting dark sky visitor experiences, and staying connected with dark sky initiatives and stakeholders across the state. Travel Oregon is committed to convening the Dark Sky Learning Community 3-4 times per year.
Looking for more information on dark sky tourism? Visit industry.traveloregon.com/darkskies to access industry resources or request a personal consultation with a dark sky expert.
Watch the webinar recording.
A Google Business Profile (GBP) is the single most important tool for your business online. A complete Google Business profile is 70% more likely to bring a customer to your business and, with minimal time investment, you can maximize your visibility.
Kim Palmer of Miles Partnership demonstrates the Five Fundamentals for using GBP to manage your online presence across Google’s ecosystem.
For more information about Google Business Profiles, Locl and/or OTIS, visit the Business Listings Toolkit.
The Oregon Wine Symposium 2024 Trade Show will take place February 13-14. This in-person gathering offers attendees an opportunity to connect with exhibitors in an exciting, unique environment. You won’t want to miss this event! Whether you offer farming equipment, small or large tanks, creative labels, financing or management services, there is no better way to connect with Oregon wineries and vineyards than to be a part of this event.
The trade show floor will also offer Mini Sessions, coffee stations, local community engagement groups, as well as be the stage for our evening happy hour soiree.
Claim your spot on our trade show floor today! Booths cost $1,600 and are 10ftx10ft. Each booth comes with a table, two chairs, linens and plenty of networking opportunities. OWA service members can take advantage of $200 off their purchase. Not sure if you are a service member? Reach out to us before your purchase.
Click here to register for your booth.
Contact Jessica Blauert for more information.
View our Trade Show Sponsorship Overview here.
Participate in an exciting in-person event, the Mt. Hood and Columbia River Gorge Tourism Partner Engagement Meeting! This is the first in-person regional gathering since COVID and it will be packed full of new insights and research about the region, regional updates, and opportunities and resources available to you and your organization.
Whether you work for a hotel, tour operator, land manager, or any other tourism-related business/organization/non-profit in the Mt. Hood and the Columbia River Gorge region, this meeting is for you.
Monitoring and managing your Google Business Profile (GBP) is one of the best ways to improve your visibility and conversion. Responding to reviews and other activities like uploading photos and posting updates can drive more exposure and customers to your business.
To help make managing your GBP easier, Travel Oregon partnered with Portland-based company Locl to provide you (free!) access to a suite of GBP optimization tools. Locl helps businesses manage profile updates, create events and offers, engage with customer reviews, monitor business performance and act on insights – all in one place and for every location.
Join Tommy Chipman of Locl and learn how to use Locl’s optimization suite to maximize your GBP and drive business.
Session Outcomes:
• Understand what a Google Business Profile (GBP) is and why it is important.
• Understand what Locl is and why it is important.
• Learn how to use your GBP profile to access to Locl for free.
• Learn how to take advantage of Locl’s optimization suite to improve GBP listings, monitor business performance and act on insights.
• Learn what features Locl offers that GBP doesn’t have.
Photo by Brian Kimmel.
View the Webinar
The March 11 meeting was in person and live-streamed on Travel Oregon’s Industry YouTube channel.
Additional Meeting Materials + Presentations
If you have any questions or comments about the meeting, email industry@traveloregon.com.
This webinar was recorded. Watch the recording here and view the presentation here.
Now that you know the basics of your Google Business Profile, learn how to maximize your efforts. In this webinar you will learn: how to utilize Posts for updates, best practices on responding to customer reviews and questions, best practices on images and videos, and understanding Insights data.
Join Travel Oregon and Kim Palmer of Miles Partnership and learn how to maximize the exposure of your Google Business Profile.
This webinar is recommended for those who have attended a Google Business Profiles Fundamentals webinar to learn the 5 fundamentals of managing their Google Business Profile(s). Watch videos of past webinars at https://www.industry.traveloregon.com/listings
Register for Travel Oregon’s Dark Sky Tourism Learning Community meeting to learn about the latest developments and opportunities for dark sky tourism in Oregon. The goal of this Learning Community is to facilitate education and foster alignment across the tourism industry and key stakeholders in order to elevate Oregon as a premier destination for dark sky experiences.
This meeting is open to anyone interested in preserving Oregon’s dark skies, developing and promoting dark sky visitor experiences, and staying connected with dark sky initiatives and stakeholders across the state.
Those interested in also attending the Oregon Governor’s Conference on Tourism must register here. Registration for the conference is not required to participate in the Learning Community meeting.
Contact Hilary Sager with any questions related to meeting logistics. An agenda will be shared with registrants in advance of the meeting.
Looking for more information on dark sky tourism? Visit industry.traveloregon.com/darkskies to access industry resources or request a personal consultation with a dark sky expert.
Enjoy drinks, appetizers and an opportunity to share marketing strategies to drive statewide advertising alignment and increase tourism’s economic impact. This event is for tourism partners with an advertising budget of $10,000 or more annually.
To encourage open conversation between tourism partners, we ask that agencies or companies not attend without their DMO partner. Agencies attending are only able to attend representing their client.
This event, organized by Travel Oregon’s Global Sales team, is a networking opportunity for the industry and special guests from NTA (National Tour Alliance) and IGLTA. Refreshments and snacks will be available.
Since its establishment in 2009, the Travel Oregon Welcome Center at the Portland International Airport (PDX) has been a pivotal destination for over half a million visitors, delivering a warm welcome and reliable information about Oregon’s diverse attractions and activities. Our dedicated and knowledgeable staff takes pride in delivering award-winning customer service, ensuring visitors receive personalized recommendations tailored to their interests. All welcome centers, including PDX, carry a wide array of high-quality printed guides, brochures, and maps offering comprehensive information on Oregon’s scenic landscapes, cultural highlights, outdoor adventures, and lesser-known treasures in every region.
Recent enhancements to the welcome center’s accessibility features comprise sensory kits tailored for travelers with sensory challenges, a hearing loop to assist those with hearing impairments, and an expanded range of in-language guides in Japanese, German, French, and Korean. Furthermore, Travel Oregon has extended visitor information services to a satellite location in PDX’s new Rental Car Center building, complete with custom-made interpretive brochure racks.
The center’s success is only possible with the support of the Port of Portland, our brochure program advertisers and vendors like Certified Folder Display, Inc.
Questions? Contact us at portlandwc@traveloregon.com or 503.284.4620
