Travel Oregon Campaign Takes Adventurers on a Cinematic Journey Through the State’s Outdoors

The aptly named “Only Slightly Exaggerated” campaign is a fanciful, high-energy cinematic animation of Oregon’s majestic and diverse natural features and range of outdoor adventures — from mountain biking the North Umpqua Trail to swimming at Trillium Lake to hot air ballooning over Willamette Valley wine country.

“The goal of this campaign is to welcome and inspire people to come find happiness by vacationing in Oregon,” said Travel Oregon CEO Todd Davidson. “As more travelers seek health and wellness, alongside memorable and sharable moments, the time is right to showcase the outdoor adventures available in every corner of the state and build upon the $11.3 billion a year in visitor spending that directly employs more than 109,000 Oregonians.”

Be sure to leverage this already successful campaign that's received more than 1.5 million views. Use the Spring Campaign Toolkit, developed with regional assets, to help you share the magic of Oregon and to inspire visitors to plan their next adventure.

Read the campaign press release.

Last Call: Wildfire Travel Impacts Survey

In an effort to assist in recovery and resiliency efforts for our partners following wildfires, Travel Oregon wants to know more about the impacts the 2017 wildfires had on Oregon businesses throughout the state. Once we establish a baseline for the impact these fires caused, we will be better armed to report on losses that fire leaves in its wake. And, we want to provide a potential resource to help you, should you need to request wildfire-related grants or FEMA funds. And that’s why we need to hear from you.

The results of the study will be compiled by Dean Runyan Associates and Destination Analysts. Results will be shared with the industry at the conclusion of the study, which is expected to be April 30, 2018.

The survey is available until Friday, March 16. If you have questions, contact Ladan@TravelOregon.com. And, there's more information on our industry site.

Governor's Conference Night Out on the Mountain

This year, conference attendees will spend the highly anticipated 'Night Out' at one of the best ski resorts in North America, our very own Mt. Bachelor. A dormant volcano, first formed between 11,000 and 15,000 years ago, the mountain is surrounded by spectacular National Forest. With any luck there will still be snow on the ground, creating a magical evening under Central Oregon skies.

For one unforgettable night, the conference will take over the mountain, giving attendees the opportunity to ride the chairlift up to Pine Marten Lodge, sample local beers, play games on the mountainside and enjoy a hot beverage with industry friends around the fire.

For more information and to register, visit the conference website. Early bird registration rates available through March 23.

Sponsor and exhibitor partnership opportunities are still available.

Attend an Oregon Tourism Listening Session in Your Region

Travel Oregon, in partnership with Oregon’s seven Regional Destination Management Organizations (RDMOs), invite you to join one of 10 Oregon Tourism Listening Sessions across the state this spring.

Session attendees will have the chance to meet their RDMO representatives and Travel Oregon employees, learn about and provide input on your region's 2017-19 plans, as well as the statewide 2019-21 Strategic Plan. All sessions are interactive. Attendees will be invited to partake in small group table exercises, provide input and share opinions.

Pre-registration is requested here. Please share the link with your partners and colleagues through your communication channels.

To view your region’s current plan and plan progress dashboard, visit the Regional Cooperative Tourism Program (RCTP) page, here.

Read more about the sessions and see the schedule here.

Questions? Email: Kate Sappell at ksappell@TravelOregon.com.

Business Training Opportunity Available

Edúcate Ya, received Competitive Small Grant funding from Travel Oregon to offer discounted English and Spanish classes for businesses in Oregon's tourism industry.

Do you want to increase and enhance communication among staff and between staff and customers? Are you looking to increase workplace morale and strengthen employee retention? A Latino-based non-profit, Edúcate Ya's mission is to facilitate multicultural exchange and address integration challenges faced by Latinos through health, leadership and education programs. A positive work environment can in turn lead to an equally positive lasting impression on visitors.

Learn how to take advantage of Edúcate Ya’s tourism industry classes.

Media Coverage

Since our spring campaign launch on Monday, March 12, we've seen many local and national publications talking about the 'Only Slightly Exaggerated' campaign. Here are some of the biggest and best stories to date.