View in browser
Travel Lane County Visitor Industry Update

Events Center Master Planning Underway

The Lane Events Center Master Plan process is in motion, and it’s critical that industry voices help shape the future of this important community asset. Lane County will launch an online survey in February, offering residents and stakeholders a chance to provide input. Strong countywide engagement will help ensure a thoughtful and relevant vision. We’ll share the survey link in our Deadlines & Opportunities newsletter—please take a moment to participate and pass it along to your networks. 

Travel Lane County is advocating for investments that drive overnight winter visitor demand, strengthening the local economy while enhancing community spaces. Research shows our community needs more recreation spaces and the event center can be part of the solution. An indoor multiuse sports facility would bring more visitors during the slower winter months, create much-needed space for athletes of all ages, serve as a resilient gathering place for events and in times of need. 

The County’s consulting team will present recommendations to the Board of Commissioners in late spring or early summer 2025. 

Stay informed about this and other facility projects by visiting Sports for All Seasons.

Indoor Multiuse Sports Facility

Destination Master Planning Begins 

Travel Lane County is seeking a consulting partner to develop a comprehensive 10-Year Destination Master Plan request for proposal for the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region. This initiative will shape tourism development across our diverse 4,722-square-mile destination through extensive stakeholder engagement and a community-centered approach. The selected firm will help create a bold, actionable roadmap that connects our 12 distinct communities with visitor experiences that also enrich resident quality of life. A few of the key objectives include:

  • Clearly defined long-term vision for the visitor economy, with an agreed understanding of what success looks like
  • Identify opportunities to develop or enhance experiences and infrastructure 
  • Build stronger alignment between the visitor economy, economic development and community well-being through a collaborative process

The graphic below illustrates the timeline for the plan development.

Tourism Event Comes to Eugene

She Leads: Celebrating Women in Tourism and Hospitality is a Travel Oregon sponsored event that is not just for women. This will be an an opportunity to grow professionally and gain valuable career insights. Hosted in three Oregon communities, the Eugene event happens on Thursday, March 5 from 4-7 p.m. at the Crow and Cart restaurant located in Eugene's Whiteaker neighborhood. Attendees will hear from creative influencers who are passionately leading in their industries. With incredible Oregon craft beverages and bounty and opportunities to mingle, you are sure to cultivate new friendships with like-minded women who are leading change. 

If you are interested in attending, please RSVP by February 28. 

SHE FLIES Community Grant 

SHE FLIES is an initiative under the Sport Oregon Foundation umbrella to support, engage, and celebrate girls and women’s participation in sports across Oregon. Coaches have the power to keep girls in the game. Less than 30% of youth sports coaches are women. SHE FLIES supports community programs that are specifically working to educate and empower a community of coaches or officials that work with girls and women (i.e. professional development, trainings, workshops).

The SHE FLIES Community Grant, an initiative of the Sport Oregon Foundation, supports nonprofits registered as a 501(c)(3) with tax-exempt status from the IRS, that are located in Oregon or are serving communities in Oregon. 

Accessible Coastal Connection

Why drive when you can sit back, relax, and let Link Lane take you to Oregon’s Coastal Playground—Florence? The Florence-Eugene bus runs Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, with three daily departures from downtown Eugene.

Once in Florence, getting around is easy with the Rhody Express, which has seen a 114% increase in ridership from July to December. Looking to explore even more? The Florence-Yachats Connector  makes it simple to head north and visit Yachats.

While a day trip is possible, why rush? Extend your stay in Florence and experience everything this stunning stretch of the Oregon Coast has to offer. Start planning your itinerary today!

Member News

2025 Visitor Industry Celebration & Summit 

Mark Thursday, May 22 for this year's Visitor Industry Celebration & Summit. Join us for a breakfast keynote, educational breakout sessions and the Celebration luncheon. Visit our Celebration webpage to see our 2024 award recipients. Additional details coming soon! 

Turell Group Named to Top 100 List 

The Turell Group was recently named to Oregon Business Magazine Top 100 Places to Work in Oregon. Congratulations to Dana Turell and the whole team at Turell Group. Dana gives back to the community in many ways, including serving as the Chair of the Travel Lane County Board of Directors. 

The Gordon Hotel Recognized

Congratulations to the Obie Companies for placing The Gordon Hotel in the Top 25 hottest New Hotels in the U.S. on Trip Advisor.

LTD Wins National Award

Lane Transit District (LTD) is celebrating a first-place finish in the 2025 AdWheel Awards competition. These awards recognize the marketing and communications efforts of the members of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA)LTD worked with the Turell Group on the event, creating informational content to further engage attendees.

Sweet Cheeks Celebrates 20 Years

Sweet Cheeks Winery has announced the results of its 2024 Charitable Cheers event, a celebration of community, compassion, and giving back. Nearly 1,900 visitors came to the winery in November and December, raising nearly $9,000 for local causes. With this year’s contributions, the winery’s total charitable giving now surpasses $100,000—a testament to the generosity of both the business and its guests.

As Sweet Cheeks celebrates 20 years, they’re also launching an exciting new partnership with ReCork, the world’s largest wine cork recycling program. Customers can now drop off used corks at the winery, ensuring they are properly recycled—a meaningful step that builds on Sweet Cheeks’ commitment to sustainability, including organic farming.

Regenerative and sustainable environmental stewardship through our hospitality partners is something we can all be proud of—be sure to share this latest example!

Oakridge/Westfir Hosts Industry Night

On February 9, the Oakridge-Westfir Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with RAIN Catalysts and Banner Bank, is celebrating frontline hospitality workers with a well-deserved night of food and fun at Willamette Lanes in Oakridge.

Front line workers are the heart of our hospitality industry, delivering the exceptional guest service that makes the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region a top destination. Recognizing them not only shows appreciation but also builds awareness of local attractions and drives business activity during the slower winter months.

Kudos to Oakridge-Westfir for supporting those who make our region so welcoming!

Hearing Loss Coaching 

The Shedd Institute for the Arts' Loop Oregon Committee provides a free peer-to-peer coaching session called Sound Advice. These monthly workshops are designed to acquaint community members who experience hearing loss about the benefits of hearing loops to significantly improve comprehension and clarity. If you or someone you know can benefit from this workshop, please come to The Shedd at 10 a.m. on the second Saturday of the month - next session is February 8!

PDX Air Service Returns

Congratulations to the Eugene Airport for securing Alaska Airlines connection to Portland International Airport (PDX). This connection was lost years ago and the EUG team has been working diligently to get it restored. Service will begin on May 15 and daily departures will include leaving Eugene at 5:30 a.m. and 12:23 p.m. Returning flights will leave PDX at 11 a.m. and 9:55 p.m. 

Restoration Projects Receive Federal Funds

A variety of local restoration projects will receive a share of $3.4 million of Title II Secure Rural Schools (SRS) funding. These projects are designed to improve roads and water quality, enhance ecosystems, restore habitat, and support trail and infrastructure maintenance while employing youth and local contractors as much as possible to accomplish the work. Regional organizations that will utilize these funds include: Cascade Volunteers, Lane County Youth Services, Northwest Youth Corps, Middle Fork Willamette Watershed Council and Oakridge Trail Alliance.

Oregon Heritage Grant Programs  

The Oregon Heritage Commission has opened applications for the following grant programs:  

Diamonds in the Rough GrantInformation
For historic building façade restoration.
Workshop - February 19, 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Register

Oregon Historic Cemeteries Grant - Information
For projects in cemeteries listed with the Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries.
Workshop – February 11, 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Register

Oregon Museum GrantInformation
Museums can apply for collections, interpretation and education, and tourism related projects.
Workshop - February 11, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Register

Preserving Oregon GrantInformation
To complete preservation work on historic properties and for archaeology projects.
Historic Property Workshop - February 18, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Register
Archaeology Project Workshop - February 18, 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Register

The Oregon Heritage website provides all of the basic information. Free, online workshops are being offered for each program. And Kuri Gill, the grant manager, is available to talk through project ideas and provide support. For grant related questions, translation and accessibility needs, contact her at Kuri.gill@oprd.oregon.gov or 503-986-0685.

Travel Lane County
541.484.5307
754 Olive Street, Eugene, OR 97401
EugeneCascadesCoast.org

Send to a friend 

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

Copyright © 2024 Eugene, Cascades & Coast - Travel Lane County. All Rights Reserved.