FY24 Annual Report 

Samara (pronounced Sum Air Uh) Phelps, Travel Lane County President & CEO, presented the FY24 Annual Report to the Lane County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, September 24.  The FY24 report is available online or you may watch the presentation at Lane County Commission meeting webpage. The Travel Lane County report begins at minute 49.  

Highlights from FY24 include:

• Direct visitor spending in Lane County topped $1 billion for calendar year 2023
• Softening in lodging demand was offset by strong rate growth
• Transient lodging tax receipts will set an all-time record when the final quarter payment arrives this fall
• Tourism marketing recorded 1.7 billion impressions through paid, owned and earned media efforts
• Convention activity continues to grow back from pandemic lows - 32 events confirmed
• Sports confirmed 21 events for an estimated economic impact of $36 million
• Destination development efforts led to greater accessibility for people with hearing loss 

Thank you to our more than 500 business members who deliver great experiences to visitors every day. We look forward to a great FY25 here in the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region.  

Members Giving Back

We love stories which showcase how Travel Lane County members give back to the community, and this month we highlight two programs that are benefiting area non-profits. First, Charitable Cheers is the the creation of Sweet Cheeks Winery. Jessica Thomas and her team offer an opportunity for guests to donate their tasting fee to a local charity.  Charities are selected through a vote of wine club members, staff and via social media voting. Last year, $8,000 was donated! Charitable Cheers was so successful that Sweet Cheeks is extending the program through November and December this year!  Cheers to you and your team, Jessica!

Our second highlight features Driftwood Shores Resort. We are excited to share that Driftwood Shores is participating in the Kind Traveler Program: "A veteran-and-women-owned public benefit corporation, Kind Traveler’s mission is to empower a new generation of travelers into a financial force that betters the health and well-being of individuals, animals, and the environment in communities around the world." As a participant, Driftwood Shores donates a set amount of money for each room night sold and 100% of the funds go to a local charity of their choice: Cape Perpetua Collaborative. Thanks to the Oregon Coast Visitors Association for bringing this opportunity to hotels along the entire Oregon Coast. 

Inclusion & Diversity

TravelAbility Summit Coming Soon

Travel Lane County is a proud sponsor of TravelAbility. TravelAbility believes that "travel is a human right and an essential source of joy and cultural enrichment. As the leading organization for accessible and inclusive travel, the TravelAbility Foundation is dedicated to ensuring that travel is possible for everyone, regardless of their abilities."

TravelAbility provides research, advocacy, coalition building, education and much more. All hospitality businesses can benefit from connecting with TravelAbility and this year it's easier than ever. The TravelAbility Emerging Markets Summit is in San Francisco from November 13-15. Take a look at the preliminary agenda that have lined up for participants. Connor Nolan, Travel Lane County's Destination Development Manager, will be attending and has attended in the past. Feel free to reach out to Connor with questions.

Member News

Oppose Measure 118

Measure 118 will result in businesses closing, budget issues for the state and higher costs for consumers. Additionally, there's nothing that prohibits the Legislature from changing how the $6.8 million in estimated taxes (in the first year) are used. Join Travel Lane County in opposing Measure 118 and share this information with your family, friends and neighbors. 

A Wine First

Congratulations to King Estate for their 2022 Inscription Pinot Noir being named #1 wine on Wine Enthusiast’s just-released Top 100 Best Buys list. This is the first time an Oregon Pinot Noir has made the list! 

Hotel Inventory Grows

We are excited to welcome TownePlace Suites as a new member. The addition of 100 rooms to the market is especially welcome after several years of room losses. TownePlace Suites is conveniently located near Valley River Inn, just south of Elmer's.

State of The District 

Join our partners at Lane Transit District for the inaugural State of the District event on October 15 from 5-7 p.m.. Gain insight into how we are doing and help create a resilient, seamless system that meets the needs of our diverse communities. Register today! 

Fire Impact Survey 

The Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) is fielding a fire impact survey. If your business has been affected by wildfire this year, please complete this survey. 

Save the Date: 2024 Holiday Party 

Travel Lane County's member holiday party will be paired with the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours on Thursday, December 5 at the Holiday Inn Express on Kruse Way. We are excited to co-sponsor this event with Mereté Hotel Management. Watch for your invitation in November.

Inspire Culinary Academy Welcomes Inaugural Class

Inspire Culinary Academy, a program dedicated to equipping low-income, disenfranchised youth (ages 16-24)  with essential culinary, nutrition, safety and sanitation, and employability skills. This initiative, created by Graham Ross, provides participants with a pathway to a sustainable career, offering them the opportunity to earn a living wage and achieve financial independence. The first cohort of students are moving through nine study areas and will then participate in 40 hours of internships at local restaurants. This workforce training is greatly needed and we can't wait to hear how these students, and future classes, help our industry partners. 

Tourism Cares' 2024 Meaningful Travel Summit is in Eugene September 30 - October 2. To further support local impact-driven organizations in the Willamette Valley, Tourism Cares has invested $15,000 in grant funding to INSPIRE Culinary Academy. Congratulations!

Cultural Trust Grants Support Local Organizations

A number of Travel Lane County members, along with other regional organizations, received a piece of $3.85 million awarded by the Oregon Cultural Trust. The list includes the W.O.W. Hall, Eugene Symphony, Eugene Ballet, Eugene Parks Foundation and more. Congratulations to all of these tremendous organizations and the 148 organizations throughout Oregon who will benefit from these grants. 

Last Chance to Register for the People's Coast Summit

Travel Lane County is proud to sponsor The Oregon Coast Visitors Association's People's Coast Summit on October 8-9 in Florence! This is an annual end-of-season tourism industry gathering featuring great company, helpful workshops, and inspiring talks. Learn more and register today.

Wines Fly Free on Avelo Airlines

Avelo Airlines took a page out of Alaska Airlines' playbook by adding a Wine Travels Free program. Customers flying from west coast cities can bring a case of wine for free. Check out the details.

Why Guides Program Registration Closing 

Tour operators, guides and outfitters interested in joining Travel Oregon’s Why Guides program are invited to register between now and October 7 during the open registration period. This no-cost program helps uplift and strengthen the incredible guided tour experiences available around the state through industry engagement and education as well as prioritized marketing, promotion and media efforts. 

County Grants Available

Lane County’s Community & Economic Development (CED) Grant Program will open in early October for qualified 501c3 nonprofits and cities that serve Lane County. Applications are due at noon on Nov. 6, 2024. The CED Grant Program guidelines and application will be available on the County’s BIDS Notices webpage: Bids, RFPS, RFQs, Notices - Lane County

The CED Grant Program aims to support the work of nonprofits and cities facilitate economic development efforts to attract and expand business investment, support small businesses, start-ups and emerging entrepreneurs as well as assist with workforce training.

An informational pre-submittal meeting will be held on Friday, October 15, 2024, at 2 pm via a virtual, on-line meeting. Please email the CED Manager, Jason Harris, at Jason.Harris@lanecountyor.gov to sign up.

Shape Travel Oregon's Vision 

Travel Oregon adopted a new 10-Year Strategic Vision in June 2022. To bring this vision to life, Travel Oregon and the state’s seven Regional Destination Management Organizations (RDMOs) are soliciting feedback to develop strategic plans that respond to the emerging needs of Oregon communities and the tourism industry.

Travel Oregon is launching the Industry Partner Survey to hear directly from those who work in or interact with Oregon’s tourism industry. 

Information collected through the survey will help Travel Oregon and regional partners determine strategic direction and make funding and programmatic decisions in marketing, grants, tourism-related infrastructure, visitor management, and more. Survey results will be shared on Travel Oregon’s industry site in Spring 2025.

To encourage participation, every individual who completes a survey will have the chance to enter a sweepstakes to win a $500 Visa Gift card. The survey is offered in both English and Spanish languages.

In addition to taking the survey yourself, we would greatly appreciate any amplification of this survey within your networks. Please consider sharing with your constituents through newsletters, LinkedIn or other mechanisms. 

TAKE THE SURVEY HERE

The survey closes on October 10, 2024.

No Slowing Down Travel

The resilience of the travel industry is seen historically in how fast travel demand rebounds following economic recessions, disasters and most recently a pandemic. In a new report the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) estimates that the travel industry contributed $11.1 trillion dollars to global GDP in 2023. This represents $1 out of every $10 spent globally. Kudos to our hospitality members for providing great experiences for visitors to the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region and helping us grow visitor spending in Lane County to more the $1 billion annually. Read the full story on TravelPulse.

About the Travel Lane County Charitable Fund

The Travel Lane County Charitable Fund is an inclusive public benefit nonprofit organization organized and operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. By donating to the Fund, you will help bring projects to life that will have a lasting positive impact on our community as a place to live and visit for years to come.