Travel Lane County Earns Advocate Certification

Travel Lane County has earned its Advocate Certification through VisitAble, demonstrating a commitment to accessibility and inclusion. All Travel Lane County staff completed VisitAble's disability inclusion training, which was also offered to board members. As VisitAble founder Joe Jamison explains, "Our Advocate Certification connects the real-world experiences of people with disabilities to the everyday needs of any organization. It gives teams practical tools to better serve visitors, employees, and stakeholders while building a culture of true inclusion—one that goes beyond just checking a box."

Travel Lane County is committed to making the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region the most accessible destination in Oregon. Empowering your employees with the skills to welcome and serve all guests is a crucial step toward this goal. To learn more about VisitAble and how you can enhance accessibility, call 703.731.7963 or email  joe.jamison@visitable.org.

Member News

Chef Isaiah Martinez Named to James Beard List

Isaiah Martinez, Yardy Rum Bar, joined more than a dozen Oregon chefs and restaurants on the list of semifinalists for Best Chef in the Northwest & Pacific category of the 2025 James Beard Awards. The finalists will be announced April 2 and winners announced June 16. 

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. Registration opens in March! 

Legislative Session Update

Over 3,000 bills were submitted for the 2025 legislative session and things are starting to heat up. Thanks to our great partners at the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association and Oregon Destination Association, we are are to focus our energy on those affecting our industry. A number of transient lodging tax bills are in play, along with key bills affecting our outdoor recreation sector. If you would like to learn more, please reach out to Andy@EugeneCascadesCoast.org for talking points and how you can make your voice heard. 

Welcome to TrackTown Gears Up

Following a 2024 track & field and running season that generated more than $50 million in economic impact, the TrackTown roundtable group gathered to begin planning for the stellar 2025 season. Beginning in March, the season kicks off with the University of Oregon Preview meet and then it's non-stop through to the USA Track & Field (USATF) Outdoor Championships in late July early August. In another first, TrackTown USA is honored to be the first site to host USATF Para National Championships in conjunction with the USATF Outdoor Championships. 

Each of us plays a role in maintaining the legacy of Eugene as TrackTown USA, so start planning now how you will be a part of this exciting season. Attend an event at Hayward Field, participate in a running event like the Eugene Marathon or Butte to Butte, volunteer at an event, or dress your employees and storefronts with Welcome to TrackTown messaging. We all make this TrackTown USA! 

University Hosts Sustainability Summit  

The Summit for Sustainable Organizations (SSO) is an annual two-day sustainability conference hosted at the University of Oregon by MBA students, bringing together professionals, students, and sustainability enthusiasts to learn, collaborate, and network. The 2025 Summit celebrates the powerful connection between a clear organizational purpose and meaningful progress, recognizing that purpose drives action while progress validates purpose. Join us as we explore how purpose-driven organizations can turn vision into impact, aligning values with measurable outcomes. The event will feature inspiring keynote speakers and engaging panel discussions on sustainability goals, values, and actions. Whether you're looking to expand your knowledge, collaborate on meaningful initiatives, or grow your professional network, SSO is the perfect place to connect with others who share a passion for creating positive change.

Register now for the April 25 – 26 summit. 

Accessibility Focus 

Our friends at TravelAbility bring us the Innovation of the Month: the Hero Door Opener. This groundbreaking device enhances accessibility by allowing doors to be opened through a mobile app, a fob, or voice commands like “Hey Siri.” Designed to integrate seamlessly with existing mechanisms, it fills a critical gap, especially for people with disabilities. Affordable, easy to install, and practical for both businesses and homes, the Hero Door Opener is a game-changer in inclusive design. Visit We Hear You to learn more about the Hero Door Opener.

ABAE Seeks Award Nominations

The Arts & Business Alliance of Eugene (ABAE) is looking for the people, businesses, and organizations that make our arts scene thrive. It’s time to shine a spotlight on those arts heroes who deserve recognition! Nominations for the ABAE's annual awards are officially open!

Award Categories:

Arts & Business Partnership Award – Celebrating innovative collaborations that benefit both the arts and local businesses.

Dave Hauser Business of the Year Award – Honoring businesses that have consistently supported and presented the arts.

Eugene Arts & Letters Award – Recognizing an individual whose work has enriched Eugene's cultural life through visual, performing, or literary arts.

Fentress Award – Celebrating a local arts organization for its exceptional contributions to the arts in Eugene.

Visionary Award (New!) – Honoring an artist or arts organization that is fearlessly reshaping the arts through bold vision and commitment to social change.

Awards will be presented at the BRAVA event on May 20, 2025 (please save the date). The simplified nomination process includes just one question for those making nominations, making it easier than ever to participate. ABAE will follow up with everyone nominated for an award to gather more details about themselves and their projects.

Don't miss this opportunity to recognize and celebrate those who contribute so much to our vibrant arts community.

See eligibility, lists of past winners, and the link to submit nominations here.

Conversation with Funders 

The Oregon Cultural Trust’s 2025 Conversation with Funders events are taking place throughout Oregon in March. Travel Oregon will be participating in a virtual funders panel scheduled from 3-5:30 p.m. on Thurs., March 6. Attend the session to learn more about Travel Oregon’s Competitive Grants program or join other funders from across the state to learn about their programs and discuss your project ideas. 

Participating funders include: Oregon Cultural Trust, Oregon Arts Commission, Oregon Heritage, Oregon Humanities, State of Oregon Library, the Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation, the Nonprofit Association of Oregon, the Spirit Mountain Community Fund, the Regional Arts and Culture Council, the Multnomah County Cultural Coalition and the Oregon Community Foundation.

Travel Oregon will only be participating in the virtual event, but other funders will be meeting in person. Participation is free, but registration is strongly encouraged. The in person event in Eugene will be hosted by the WOW Hall from 1 - 4 p.m.

• March 6, 3- 5:30 p.m. Conversation with Funders: Virtual Event
• March 10, 1-4 p.m. Conversation with Funders: Eugene

Support Inspire Culinary Academy 

The Inspire Culinary Academy, located in Florence, recently hosted their first graduating class bringing to fruition the hard work of Graham Ross. With funding from a variety of sponsors, the class of six students were exposed to classroom training, hands-on instruction and field trips to local businesses. Read the full report of the inaugural class and network Graham has developed.  

The Inspire Academy could use your help as they renovate a new classroom space in Old Town Florence. Join Travel Lane County in supporting this exciting and needed effort to train our next generation of culinary workers. Annual sponsorships range from $250 to the 3 STAR MICHELIN sponsorship at $3,800. Make checks payable to: INSPIRE Culinary Academy and mail them to:
Graham Ross 
INSPIRE Culinary Academy
P.O. Box 72
Florence, Oregon, 97439

Reach out to Graham with questions at 585-662-7373 | graham@inspireculinary.org | www.inspireculinary.org