Travel Oregon is pleased to announce that the 2021 Oregon Governor’s Conference on Tourism will feature two general sessions to inspire, educate and rebuild the tourism economy.  As we look ahead to a new biennium, we will first hear from Destination Think’s Frank Cuypers to unpack the opportunities that lie ahead on the other side of the pandemic. Todd Davidson will provide an overview of Travel Oregon’s 2021-23 Rebuild Strategic Plan that is built from the expertise and collaboration of Destination Think. To close the conference, a panel of speakers will join Michele Leedom of Clinton Street Consulting as they reflect not only on the impact the pandemic has had on their businesses but also how they have continued to be committed to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in their work.

The 2021 Governor’s Conference is free to attend. Additional agenda details will be coming soon.  Please register here. 

And don't forget to submit your nominations for the Travel and Tourism Industry Achievement Awards. The deadline has been extended to April 16.

Join us for the 14th Annual Interagency Frontliners Conference on Wed., April 21. 

This conference will include training, recognition, and networking opportunities for Oregon’s visitor services frontline staff. Learn about the visitor services that USFS, BLM, ODFW, ODF, OPRD and Travel Oregon Welcome Centers provide and get important updates as we prepare for summer 2021. There will be interactive, facilitated networking to create connections among frontline colleagues as well as educational resources to support staff around motivation, stress-reduction, coping and resilience.

See the full conference agenda and register here. 

Last month, Travel Oregon, in partnership with Oregon’s regional destination management organizations (RDMOs), hosted six Tourism Engagement Sessions across the state with the goal of pinpointing the greatest concerns and needs of the industry over the next six months to support Oregon’s tourism economy in rebuilding. While priorities of investing in COVID-19 appropriate visitor experiences, main street businesses and outdoor recreation infrastructure remain critical, supporting frontline workforce training and development opportunities has increased. 

Find the full session report here -- these findings are being used to develop the RDMO’s 2021-23 strategic plans as well as Travel Oregon’s draft Rebuild Plan. Stakeholders may comment on draft RDMO plans until May 3. Travel Oregon’s draft Rebuild Plan will open for comment on April 27.

Travel Oregon’s Why Guides program is an agency-wide effort to recognize and promote tourism industry operators, guides and outfitters as one of the state’s top tourism assets. Oregon-based tour guides, operators and outfitters are invited to join the Why Guides registry to help Travel Oregon tell the story of why guides are a valuable way to experience Oregon. The registry is available through the end of April. Information received through this platform will be used for marketing promotions including website content, media pitches, local news segments and more focusing on Oregon’s guiding community. 

Learn more and register.

“Unsavory Times,” a 30-minute documentary film from Brian Kimmel of Optic Nerve Productions, will premiere with a virtual screening event on April 21. The film focuses on the iconic Portland restaurant Higgins, Oregon's original farm-to-table restaurant, and the actions it took to persevere and survive during stay-home orders and beyond. The film represents the story of every independent restaurant in Oregon trying to survive COVID-19, told through the journey of James Beard Award-winning chef Greg Higgins. 

“Unsavory Times” will premiere on April 21, at 6:30 p.m. PST, followed immediately by an after-film panel discussion on the impacts of COVID-19 on Oregon restaurants at 7 p.m. The premiere is free and open to the public; register here.