British Airways Announces Nonstop Flight from London to Portland

Beginning June 1, 2020 British Airways will launch the first year-round, nonstop flight from London to Portland.

Flights to Portland will depart on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the summer, moving to a four days a week schedule in the winter. Flights will be on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

“We are delighted to welcome the first British Airways nonstop flight to Portland, Oregon. The United Kingdom is one of our top four markets, with visitation growing 25% in the last five years.” said Todd Davidson, CEO of Travel Oregon. “In 2018 we saw record-breaking international visits and spending to Oregon, and have confidence that this new nonstop will continue to support that upward growth,” Davidson stated.

Read the official press release.

Photo by Port of Portland

Transient Lodging Tax Study

In 2018, local transient lodging taxes (TLT) generated more than $200 million dollars across the state, up from about $90 million in 2007. To understand the economic impacts of this revenue source, Travel Oregon contracted ECONorthwest to develop the Local Transient Lodging Tax: Expenditures and Administration report. At the time of the study, 120 jurisdictions had a local TLT, and 101 of these jurisdictions (84%) participated in the project by completing surveys via interviews. This information was compiled in a report demonstrating how cities and counties spend local TLTs on different programs throughout the state.

Find the full report here. Contact Sara Morrissey if you have any questions.

Photo of Hotel Oregon by Karl Yung

Lodging Properties: Participate in the National Plan for Vacation Day Promotion

National Plan for Vacation Day is Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. This annual campaign, spearheaded by the U.S. Travel Association, educates Americans on the positive physical and mental health benefits of planning and using all their vacation days. To help drive winter bookings and support this initiative, Travel Oregon and the Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association invite lodging properties across Oregon to join this national campaign by offering a 20% discount to anyone who books their vacation on Jan. 28-31 for a future stay.

To participate in this promotion and offer a 20% discount, complete the online form by Jan. 14.

Travel Oregon will engage with potential travelers through robust earned and paid media strategies, highlighting all participating properties on traveloregon.com and encouraging direct bookings.

Questions? Contact industry@traveloregon.com.

Photo by Carolyn Wells-Kramer

Cowboy Christmas Tradeshow in Vegas

This month, Travel Oregon celebrated the state’s rich tradition of rodeo at the Cowboy Christmas tradeshow, in partnership with Lake County Round-up, Sisters Rodeo, St. Paul Rodeo and Crooked River Round-up, part of the 2019 National Finals Rodeo experience, in Las Vegas. Travel Oregon and partners engaged with more than 4,000 consumers.

If you would like learn more about the event and get involved in 2020, contact Lisa Itel.

Guest Service Gold Training Now Offered in Spanish

Travel Oregon partnered with the Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association Education Foundation (ORLEAF) to develop a Spanish language version of the Oregon Guest Service Gold training program that is now available online. Nearly 2,000 Oregonians are Certified Guest Service Professionals as a result of participating in the Oregon Guest Service Gold program. Travel Oregon will continue to work with partners across the state to provide this opportunity to Oregon's tourism industry.

Learn more.