December 4, 2025 Industry Achievement Awards 2024

Last call for award nominations

Are you a DMO that could be recognized for a successful and creative marketing campaign? Do you have a colleague whose work is championing the value of tourism and creating optimal economic impact in your destination? Then don’t miss your chance to submit a nomination for recognition at the Industry Achievement Awards at the 2026 Oregon Governor’s Conference on Tourism.

We have some amazing submissions but would love to see more. Award categories include Stewardship, Equity, Prosperity, Marketing and Rising Star.

Nominations close this Friday, December 5. Submit your nominations today!

Submit your nomination

Have a question about digital accessibility? Ask an Expert

Are you seeking assistance to support your destination in creating welcoming and accessible digital experiences for travelers with disabilities? Travel Oregon has partnered with Jen Macias, an Experience Design & Accessibility Specialist, to consult with you directly (for free) – to discuss your specific destination’s digital touchpoints and come away with a list of strategies, resources, relevant examples and potential partnerships to explore.

This program offers Oregon's tourism-related businesses, DMOs and non-profit organizations free resources related to assessments, best practices for approaching digital accessibility work, and how to understand and go beyond WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) compliance.

Request a consultation

Meet your new accessibility assistant: The AI Companion in TravelAbility's Playbook

Earlier this year, TravelAbility introduced a new feature to its Accessibility Playbook—the AI Companion. As you know, the playbook itself is a comprehensive resource designed for tourism partners—businesses, DMOs, and RDMOs—who want practical guidance on making their destinations more accessible. If you missed it, the Accessibility Playbook is available online.

What makes the AI companion so useful? no need to read the entire guide to find what you need. This smart tool lets you ask questions and instantly pull up relevant sections, saving time and effort. For example, you can quickly find best practices for accessible hotel booking, discover tips for inclusive marketing campaigns, or get checklists for improving on-site experiences. It’s like having the Playbook at your fingertips, ready to deliver actionable insights whenever you need them. Try it today and make accessibility planning easier than ever.

To request access, please email industry@traveloregon.com with your first and last name.

Request access

December 3 Oregon Tourism Commission Meeting

If you missed the last Oregon Tourism Commission meeting, you can access the recordings and presentations online here.

Oregon Tourism Commission Meeting

Food Systems & Tourism Learning Community Meeting, Dec. 10

The next Food Systems x Tourism Learning Community meeting will be virtual on December 10 from 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. This meeting will have a topical focus on local food directories, food/farm trails, passport programs and other efforts to showcase local food offerings in a format relevant to visitors. Organizations engaged in these 'products' or getting ready to embark on a directory or culinary trail project are highly encouraged to join. Attendees will have the opportunity to share their experience and learn from peers across the state and across sectors. Learn more about the community here.

If you have questions, please reach out to hilary@traveloregon.com.

Travel Portland launches Rose City Certified

Rose City Certified is a one-hour destination training program for frontline hospitality workers. Help contribute to a more unified and welcoming experience for Portland’s visitors by learning key information, such as what to see and do, navigating the city, how to handle difficult conversations with guests and how to welcome guests of all cultures and abilities.

Rose City Certified is online, mobile-friendly and available on demand. The curriculum is geared for hotel front desk and concierge staff, rideshare drivers, retail and restaurant workers, tour guides, museum and attraction staff and others who interact with visitors on a regular basis. It contains a mix of videos, written instructions and interactive activities across five modules:

Initiating welcoming conversations
Things to see and do in Portland
Navigating Portland
How to have conversations about Portland-specific issues
Cultural competencies, accessibility and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)

Bonus: Participants who complete the course will receive a certificate of completion and a commemorative lapel pin.

Get Rose City Certified

Research & Reports

Interested in receiving critical data on lodging trends, occupancy and revenue? Subscribe to our monthly lodging reports to get the county and statewide level insights you need for strategic decision-making. Sign-up here to join our distribution list.

Upcoming Industry Events

Food Systems & Tourism Learning Community Meeting, Dec. 10
Oregon Governor's Conference on Tourism, March 9-11

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