View in browser

March 29, 2024

Hyatt Hotel Lobby

Travel Confidence

Travel Lane County has created a video series that aims to instill confidence in travel with both our travelers and residents. We want to help support our communities by showing the safety measures our businesses are taking to stay open now and into the future, and reassure our residents that we’re looking to welcome travelers back to our destination in a safe way and only when it is safe to do so. 

We’re focusing first on restaurants and lodging, with plans to continue to add content around additional businesses as we learn about safety measures in place and information travelers are looking for before they arrive.


 

Looking Back at Travel & Tourism Week

National Travel & Tourism Week is a time to celebrate an industry that generates over $2 trillion in annual spending and represents 1 in 10 jobs in the United States. May 3-9 would have been an opportunity to talk about visitor spending in Lane County exceeding $1 billion annually and the more than 11,000 employees that create great Oregon experiences every day.  This year is different. This year, our industry is reeling under the stress of layoffs and closures. Nationwide estimates include over 8 million unemployed hospitality workers and an estimated economic impact loss of $1.2 trillion.

Read more>


 

Chambers Collaborate on Reopening Handbook

The Springfield and Eugene Chambers of Commerce have partnered with local  business leaders through this reopening process. Back to Business: A Guide to Reopening is a resource to help you navigate our states’ guidelines for reopening your business, keeping the safety of your employees and customers top of mind. 

This framework is a living document and will be continually updated as more guidance is received from the State of Oregon around industry specific reopening guidelines, and rule changes that occur as we move through the Governor’s three phased reopening strategy. 

Read more>


 

Grant Deadline Friday

Travel Oregon has established a COVID-19 Emergency Response Grant Program. It has a short opening window to apply – May 11-15. The fund is $800,000 and specifically targets rural/small businesses, including lodging properties, tour operators, guides and outfitters, DMOs and tribes that have NOT received funds from EIDL or PPP. 

Read more>


 

Outdoor Recreation Sites Added to Open for Business List   

Oregon's outdoor recreation sites are slowly beginning to open. Travel Lane County has added an Outdoor Recreation tab to its Lane County Open for Business list and will populating this list as updates are provided by our county, state and federal partners. Whether you're looking for a place to grab a bite to eat or a place to get a little fresh air, please take a look before you head out.  Also remember to prepare and care by following the state's guidelines on safely recreating. 

Lane County Open for Business

 

Guidance from EWEB 

Water quality within commercial buildings that have been vacant or have seen little use during the pandemic restrictions may be impacted as a result of low flow or stagnant water in pipes. Stagnant water in pipes can create conditions that favor the growth and spread of Legionella and other harmful bacteria, result in lower chlorine levels in buildings, and/or result in increased lead and copper levels that can leach out of building pipes and fixtures. Building owners or tenants can take steps to reduce these risks.

Learn more>


 

#TakeActionTuesday

The toll the coronavirus has taken on the restaurant industry is heavier than on any other industry in the U.S. Every Tuesday, restaurateurs will join their collective voices to amplify our call for relief. Join this effort by using the ready-made posts in the #TakeActionTuesday toolkit here.

Get the word out to Congress that we need financial relief now and going forward in order to preserve our industry as well as all of the industries dependent on ours to thrive.

Start by texting RECOVERY to 52886.


 

State to Distribute $10 million 

The Oregon Legislature, in partnership with the Governor, allocated $5 million from the State General Fund, which will be combined with $5 million redirected from existing programs at the Oregon Business Development Department (Business Oregon), for the purpose of providing financial assistance to small businesses adversely affected by economic conditions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic that have not received federal emergency assistance under the federal CARES Act or other federal program for emergency pandemic funding.

Read more>


 

Partners Providing Solutions

Travel Lane County's 600+ partners are here to help businesses and organizations begin the reopening process. Log into the Partner Portal to access a current partner list and then reach out to those who you can connect with for assistance during the reopening process.

Here's a great example! This photo is a custom plexiglas shield developed by MAC GROUP. With an ability to quickly help partners review their needs and fabricate custom plexiglas shields, MAC GROUP is ready to help. Contact Dave Benton at Dave@discovermac.com or call 541.736.8886.

Kudos to the Hilton Garden Inn for participating in Hilton Hotel's complimentary rooms for first responders. Caitlyn Beach, Area Director of Sales & Marketing noted, "We’ve had a variety of first responders utilize the offer, most being nurses and doctors. We have one guest, who stays two nights/week, communicate that the program has made it possible for her to stay in a hotel rather than her vehicle. She lives outside the 30 mile radius restrictions needed to keep her role as an on-call paramedic."

Gathering Restrictions Spawn Virtual Events   

 

We've all seen a variety of virtual concerts and other activities that have helped keep us connected to the performing arts, visual arts and so much more. This weekend enjoy the 113th Rhododendron Festival Grand Floral Parade and stay up to date on other virtual events by checking our Virtual Events Blog.


 

Traveler Sentiment this Week 

  • Concerns about personally or friends & family contracting the virus are at the lowest levels they have been Feeling More Comfortable but Not Necessarily Confident: American travelers’ feelings about COVID-19’s impact on their personal finances (6.5) and national economy (7.9) is at an 8-week low. However, optimism that coronavirus will get better in the U.S. in the next month dipped to a 4-week low. 
  • Waiting to Assess the Early (Re)Adopters Experiences? Nearly 7-in-10 say they miss vacationing a lot--their heart aches for it. Plus over half say they miss the very act of planning travel. However, the vast majority still say they will approach travel with trepidation as they think about starting again.
  • Continued Unknowns about Trip Volume and Timing: Americans’ caution-led feelings and plans for travel for the remainder of the year highlight the difficulty travel providers face in their near-term strategies. This week, 36.0% of American travelers report having one or more trips planned between now and the end of August. 
  • Travel Ads Deliver Joy, Especially in the Right Setting: 17.8% have seen a travel destination ad within the past month and 56.3% say the most recent travel ad they saw made them feel happy.

Download the report here.


 

         
EUGENE, CASCADES & COAST - TRAVEL LANE COUNTY

541.484.5307 or 800.547.5445
754 Olive Street, Eugene, OR 97401
EugeneCascadesCoast.org
MY PREFERENCES

Send to a friend | Update email preferences

We love keeping in touch, but we understand if you want to unsubscribe.

Copyright © 2020 Eugene, Cascades & Coast - Travel Lane County. All Rights Reserved.