Sept. 1, 2021

Kindness to All: Celebrating Oregon's Frontline Workers

As businesses adapt to evolving mandates and safety precautions related to COVID-19, frontline workers continue to show up and work under difficult circumstances. We’re hearing stories about frontline workers facing resistance to new mask mandates and other health and safety rules. This week, Travel Oregon developed messaging and social tiles in response to those stories. The images are intended for partners and businesses to use on websites, social channels and newsletters. Images are linked above for download. You may also share them directly from our Instagram.

In addition to encouraging our partners to spread the message of kindness, we talked to six business members of our community to hear how they’ve been managing. Read their stories here.

If you have questions about how you can use our messaging and images, direct emails to industry@traveloregon.com.

Co-Create the Future of Oregon Tourism: Stakeholder Workshops

Travel Oregon and international tourism experts, Destination Think!, invite you to participate in one of seven regional, virtual workshops in October:

Willamette Valley | Oct. 4, 1-3:45 p.m. | Register
Mt. Hood & The Columbia River Gorge | Oct. 7, 2-4:45 p.m. | Register
Portland Region | Oct. 8, 9-11:45 a.m. | Register
Eastern Oregon | Oct. 12, 9-11:45 a.m. | Register
Central Oregon | Oct. 13, 9-11:45 a.m. | Register
Oregon Coast | Oct. 14, 9-11:45 a.m. | Register
Southern Oregon | Oct. 15, 9-11:45 a.m. | Register

The world is changing, agility to adapt to a quickly shifting tourism landscape is needed, and social justice and racial equity are at the forefront of our decisions. The chance to make transformational changes is necessary and now.

To seize this opportunity, Travel Oregon is undergoing a strategic planning process to build a new, longer-term transformational vision and strategy – one that helps future-proof the industry and positions us to better manage and support Oregon’s lands and waters, our visitors, and one another. Your input during these workshops will have direct impact on Oregon’s tourism vision for the future, and how we work together with your region to achieve this vision in areas of resource allocation, product development, promotion and more.

Reminder: Register for Why Guides

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. This community of experts can help visitors navigate issues like fishing closures, ensuring a memorable and sustainable experience for visitors. If you are a tour guide, operator or outfitter, don’t forget to register your business with Travel Oregon’s Why Guides program. Registration has been extended through December 2021.

FEMA Public Assistance Funding for Emergency Support

Last week, FEMA released an update regarding emergency, major disaster and fire management assistance grant opportunities. FEMA is committed to providing state, local, tribal and territorial partners with support to manage disaster response and recovery efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2021 wildfire season. The following funding options are available to address challenges and manage response: