Destination Master Plan Begins Research Phase 

Travel Lane County is developing a 10-year Destination Master Plan and wants to hear from residents about their experiences with tourism and what priorities matter most to their communities. The resident sentiment survey takes just 10 minutes and every response helps us build a stronger plan. Please share the survey link with co-workers, family and friends who are residents in Lane County. 

JLL, the consulting firm assisting with the development of the destination master plan, has been conducting one-on-one interviews with community leaders throughout Lane County and a host of focus groups will add to the database of information that will help shape the plan. These outreach activities will continue into early 2026.  

Commissioners Discuss Indoor Multiuse Sports Facility 

On October 21, Travel Lane County President and CEO Samara Phelps met with the Lane County Board of Commissioners to discuss plans for developing an indoor multiuse sports facility. The meeting video is available and the work session starts at 50:00 minutes. The presentation reviewed prior work on facilities development and explored the potential economic benefits of attracting more winter visitors to the region. All five commissioners expressed their support for the project.

Phelps emphasized that Travel Lane County is “site agnostic” and focused on identifying the minimum facility requirements needed to generate winter overnight stays. The Sports Facilities Company has conducted initial analyses and will continue refining its work, exploring both new construction and the adaptive reuse of existing regional buildings.

The Board will hold a follow-up work session on December 9 to review financing options and examine detailed pro forma information. For more information on indoor multiuse sports facilities visit SportsforAllSeasons.org. 

Travel Lane County is Hiring

Travel Lane County is hiring for four positions, including the Vice President of Community Engagement. Please help us find our next passionate and service-oriented team members by sharing the opportunity with your networks. 

Job postings and descriptions for each unique position from Sales & Service Coordinator to Vice President are linked on our careers page. The first review of resumes is on November 12. 

https://www.eugenecascadescoast.org/about-us/job-openings/

Guest Author Program

Calling local writers! Apply to be a Travel Lane County Guest Author. We're seeking authentic, first-person stories about the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region — told in your voice, not ours. Our guest authors are compensated for original blog content and images that bring our destination to life through diverse perspectives. Applications reviewed on a rolling basis. Learn more and apply.

Beer Awards Recognize Alesong 

For the 10th consecutive year Eugene's Alesong Brewing & Blending takes home a medal from the Great American Beer Festival® Competition, the nation's largest professional beer competition. This year, they won gold for Mezcla, a tart farmhouse ale aged in añejo tequila barrels and conditioned on fire-roasted pineapple and morita chili peppers in collaboration with friends at Xicha Brewing in Salem, Oregon. 

FLYEUG Hits a Home Run 

Congratulation Cathryn Stephens and the team at the Eugene Airport for securing non-stop service to Chicago. Service begins April 30, 2026 with daily flights and very attractive departure/arrival times:

ORD 8:45 am – EUG 11:30 am
EUG 12:30 pm – ORD 7:00 pm

Visitor Center Sees Volume Increase

We’re one month into operating at our new Visitor Center location, and the response has been fantastic! Local residents are stopping by, and visitors from across the country and around the world are discovering all there is to see and do in the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region. Stop in and say hello to the Travel Lane County team at the Eugene, Cascades & Coast Visitor Center in the 5th Street Market Alley. Open seven days a week, we’re here with park permits, maps, visitor guides, and more to help you explore our beautiful region.

Three Rivers Wins Theo

Congratulations to the team at Three Rivers Casino for winning a national Theo Award at the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas. The resort earned the award for Best Promotion/Giveaway for their Mad Hatter's Tea Party campaign.  

University of Oregon Recognized 

In recognition of its strong commitment to economic engagement, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities has designated the University of Oregon as an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University. The national designation recognizes public research universities that collaborate with public and private sector partners in their states and regions to support economic development through activities that include innovation and entrepreneurship, technology transfer, talent and workforce development, and community development.

Ed King Honored

Congratulations to King Estate's Ed King for being named a, "American Wine Legend" by Wine Enthusiast Magazine. King noted, "I’m honored to be recognized as an American Wine Legend by Wine Enthusiast Magazine. When we bottled our first vintage in 1992, Oregon wine was still finding its place on the world stage. But we believed in its potential. It took vision, hard work, and a shared commitment from the many hands who helped build King Estate. More than thirty years later, seeing how far Oregon wine has come and knowing we played a part is deeply rewarding." 

Heritage Plan Seeks Input 

The statewide Oregon Heritage Plan is a call to action for heritage efforts to unite around common goals. The resulting goals of the final plan can help do the following:

• Help align the Heritage Commission’s initiatives and technical assistance with helping heritage organizations working towards the identified goals.
• Provide a framework for statewide partners and service organizations to align their programs to help heritage organizations work towards these goals.
• Provide a framework and support for local heritage organizations in prioritizing and planning projects and processes and getting support from partners, stakeholders, grant makers, and decision makers.

In-person discussions: Heritage Commission staff will be reaching out to regional/local coalitions to arrange in-person discussion groups from August -November. If you have a local/regional heritage related group that meets regularly and you would like the opportunity for an in-person discussion group, please contact Heritage Commission Coordinator Katie Henry at katie.henry@oprd.oregon.gov or 503-877-8834.

Virtual discussion groups:

• October 30, 12 - 1pm, general online input session open to anyone with heritage preservation interests. Register here.
• November 6, 10am - 12pm, general online input session open to anyone with heritage preservation interests. Register here.

Disability Inclusion Training Now Available 

VisitAble offers disability inclusion training for organizations that want to be the best at serving their customers and guests. This video training is offered online and in bite-sized vignettes that make it easy to work through at work or home. Travel Lane County is excited to be partnering with VisitAble to offer this training to our Members beginning this fall! Be on the lookout for information on how your business and staff can take advantage of this training to help make Lane County an even more welcoming region! 

You and your employees may get started with VisitAble training by contacting Megan Temple, Travel Lane County Senior Director of Member and Community Engagement.