April 21, 2021

Restaurant Revitalization Fund Townhall Webinar

The Independent Restaurant Coalition and Travel Oregon are presenting a round table discussion on April 22 at 9 a.m. with guests from the Small Business Association (SBA) on the $28.6B Restaurant Revitalization Fund – including what you need to know about the recently released guidance and how you can prepare to apply. Chef Gregory Gourdet will be hosting the call. Plate & Pitchfork’s Erika Polmar will be moderating the Q&A. Please share with your partners in the restaurant industry. Register here.

Second Round of Commercial Rent Relief Grants Available April 22 through Business Oregon

Tomorrow, on April 22, Business Oregon will open the second round of a grant program for building owners to cover outstanding lease payments from small business tenants that are behind on rent due to COVID-19. The grants can go up to $100,000 per each business tenant, but not more than $3 million for each landlord. Approximately $42 million is available. The program will open for online applications Wednesday April 22 at 9 a.m. and will be open for two weeks, closing May 6. This grant program is not first-come, first-served. Applications will be chosen by a random lottery system in any geographic regions that have more applicants than available funds. Visit Business Oregon’s website for more program information and eligibility details.

Delta Air Lines Announces New Flight from Seoul to Portland

Through its joint venture with Korean Air, Delta’s new service from Seoul-Incheon International Airport (ICN) to Portland International Airport (PDX) will enable one-stop connections to Oregon from more than 80 destinations throughout Asia. The route will offer the fastest and most convenient connection to Portland for travelers from the largest leisure and corporate markets in the region.

South Korea is a steady leader in Oregon’s global inbound tourism markets, with travelers from the country spending $37.7 million dollars in 2019, demonstrating 23% growth from 2014-2019.

“With the support of our partners and Delta’s extensive global network, we are ready to reconnect customers to their favorite destinations with new services and offerings, and as always, with their safety as our top priority," said Joe Esposito, Senior Vice President of Network Planning, Delta Air Lines.

Read the official press release.

Optimize Your Google My Business Profile with Locl

With Locl, businesses can easily manage GMB profile updates, create offers and events, engage with customer reviews, monitor business performance and act on insights – all in one place and for every location. This opportunity gives Oregon a competitive advantage as we all work to rebuild our once-thriving tourism economy.

If you are an Oregon tourism-related business, sign up at Locl.io/TravelOregon. To learn more, visit the Locl Toolkit or, if you missed it, view the webinar.

Reminder: B Roll RFQ Opportunity

Travel Oregon is seeking contracted videographer(s) to capture broadcast-quality b-roll video in the seven tourism regions across Oregon that will be delivered May-July. The purpose for sharing this RFQ is to solicit contractors interested in working with Travel Oregon on one or more of the areas of support needed.

Learn more.

Save the Date: National Travel and Tourism Week, May 2-8

National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW) is an annual tradition for the U.S. travel community. It’s a time when travel and tourism professionals across the country unite to celebrate the value travel holds for our economy, businesses and personal well-being.

This year, NTTW will recognize the Power of Travel and the industry’s role in bringing back our vibrant communities, restoring the U.S. economy, rebuilding our workforce and reconnecting America.

Use these resources with the media, elected officials and the public to share how the Power of Travel will help drive America's recovery. Access U.S. Travel’s NTTW Toolkit here.