Dear Industry Partners,
The impact COVID-19 is having on fellow Oregonians, their families and their businesses is like nothing I’ve seen in my 30+ years in Oregon’s tourism industry. The devastating consequences on lives, health, jobs and incomes, at times, feel beyond repair.
We may know this is temporary, but it sure doesn’t feel like it because we don’t know when or how it will end.
Yet in the midst of this uncertainty, pain and grief, folks in Oregon’s tourism industry are working to help their communities. Restaurants and food carts that have been forced to close their doors to the public are giving out free meals to kids and people who have lost their jobs. Private businesses are donating necessities to essential workers and those in need.
At Travel Oregon, our focus is on you and our visitors; we want to make certain we’re providing you with the best information, resources and programming:
- We’ve created a toolkitas an easy place to find resources, FAQs and updates. In the toolkit, you can find business resources around the federal CARES Act, as well as resources for small businesses, restaurant employees and other programs.
- Our online channels have not gone dark and we remain active on social media with messages of inspiration, patience, welcome, safety and ways to support businesses now.
- With an eye on future recovery, Travel Oregon is currently assessing where our marketing will be most impactful in the marketplace, aiming to drive travel across the state as soon as it’s appropriate to do so. All paid marketing efforts have been postponed as we develop a new advertising strategy that acknowledges radical shifts in the marketplace.
- Travel Oregon and our industry partners have aligned messaging with the governor’s office on a public awareness effort to “Stay Home, Save Lives.”
Today may feel out of our control, but there’s a feeling of determination in our industry unlike any I’ve ever felt before. When people are ready to travel again, we’ll be here to inspire them to experience Oregon’s natural splendor and unmatched spirit of hospitality. In the meantime, we’ll be working with local, regional, state and federal partners to help identify and develop the resources you need to weather this storm.
Warmly,
Todd Davidson
Travel Oregon CEO