Accessible travel resources have expanded in many parts of the state thanks to direct initiatives, collaborations and grant funding. For the first time, the 2024 Oregon Governor’s Conference will feature an Accessibility Vendor Showcase in order for attendees to connect directly with the leading companies in accessible travel. Vendors will be available throughout the conference on March 12 and 13. Vendors include Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, Wheel the World, Access Trax, EnChroma and Hearing Support Solutions.

This is a unique opportunity to engage with multiple accessibility vendors. Register for the conference and don’t miss the opportunity to strengthen accessible travel resources for your business or community. Registration closes March 1.

Conference sponsor Port of Portland, with assistance from the Autism Society of Oregon, will prepare a Sensory Room for conference attendees. The space is designed for those who may feel overwhelmed, overstimulated or find the need to recenter from the sights and sounds of the conference environment. Walt Marchbanks, Customer Programs and Services Manager at the Port of Portland, will also share more about activating a Sensory Room in the breakout session titled Making Your Destination Welcoming for Neurodivergent Travelers on Tuesday, March 12.

Travel Oregon’s Regional Cooperative Tourism Program (RCTP) dedicates 20% of the state’s transient lodging tax (TLT) to regional tourism programming across the state. The state’s seven Regional Destination Management Organizations (RDMOs) develop regional plans that include proposals for the use of TLT dollars in partnership with Travel Oregon. 2023-2024 strategic plans are now available through an interactive dashboard that is updated quarterly.

View the dashboard here. More information about RCTP can be found here.

Learn more and apply. 

The Oregon ProStart® Championships, presented by the Oregon Hospitality Foundation, is the capstone event for the high school CTE culinary and management program. Students from across the state compete in this statewide competition vying for a chance to go to the national competition in Baltimore. If you are interested in volunteering for this event, complete the signup form ASAP. All volunteers will need to participate in a virtual training session and be available for most of the day on March 18 in Salem. In addition, businesses have the opportunity to participate in a Hospitality Showcase and introduce career opportunities to our future workforce. For more information on the Showcase, visit ORLA’s website. If you'd like to volunteer, contact ProStart Manager Courtney Smith.

Two funding opportunities are currently available related to business recovery:

If you’re looking for additional funding opportunities, please visit Travel Oregon’s industry External Funding Opportunities page. If you’re aware of funding opportunities, please share them with us. 

Understand How to Work with Federal Lands
The U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management Regional Offices are hosting a webinar, “Working with Federal Land Managers to Fund Trails on Federal Lands,” Feb. 27, 12-1 p.m. to share how the different colors of federal funds can be utilized for trails and related amenities. Learn more about how to work with local district staff to get trails projects on priority lists and how to pursue Cost Share Agreements for stewardship partners to participate in the work.