Travel Oregon

Oregon has a rich history in film production, with over 700 films shot in locations across the state, including favorites such as?The Goonies,?One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,?Stand by Me,?Twilight?and so many more. The productions themselves bring in revenue and create local jobs during filming, but the value of a film set doesn’t end when production wraps. Film tourism generates over $300 million in Oregon every biennium. We spoke with Jane Ridley, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Community Programs at Oregon Film (AKA Oregon Film & Video Office), about the legacy a movie crew leaves behind when it packs up—and how communities can benefit from being on the Oregon Film Trail map. ?? Read the?Q+A here: https://lnkd.in/gxP9JJRj

Calling all early birds. Tomorrow (Feb 28) is the last day for early-bird-discount pricing on registration for the Oregon Governor's Conference on Tourism. On March 1, registration will increase to $475.?Register today to secure your spot: https://lnkd.in/gFXhzAQB ?? Join us to celebrate standout industry achievements at the Travel & Tourism Industry Achievement Awards Ceremony and Dinner. Be inspired by our exciting keynote speakers: ?? Actress, director, screenwriter, and environmental activist?Bonnie Wright ?? President & CEO?of Brand USA, Fred Dixon ?? Deaf mountaineers and educators Scott Lehmann & Shayna Unger ?? And make sure to grab a spot at one of the Tuesday afternoon workshops. These workshops are included in your conference registration, but space is limited, and pre-registration is required. ?? Rooms are still available at the Hyatt Regency Portland at the Oregon Convention Center, but they're selling fast, so don’t wait to book. Hope to see you in Portland!

Travel Oregon will be hosting a Oregon Dark Sky Tourism Learning Community meeting that will take place on Feb. 27 from 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. Learn about the latest developments and opportunities for dark sky tourism in Oregon. The goal of this learning community is to facilitate education and foster alignment across the tourism industry and key stakeholders in order to elevate Oregon as a premier destination for dark sky experiences. This virtual meeting is open to anyone interested in preserving Oregon’s dark skies, developing and promoting dark sky visitor experiences, and staying connected with dark sky initiatives and stakeholders across the state. Register here: https://lnkd.in/gd7y6ebR

At Destinations International Mar Comm 2025 in Austin, I had the privilege of moderating a powerful discussion on multicultural marketing and the power of communities alongside Sheretha Bell, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau and Amy Garay-Azucena, Travel Oregon. At a time when inclusivity in marketing is being questioned, it is inspiring to see brands and DMOs like Discover Atlanta and Travel Oregon staying committed to authentically engaging diverse audiences, who by 2050 will make up more than 50% of the US population. ?? Key Takeaways from Our Discussion: ? Understand Cultural Nuances – One-size-fits-all messaging doesn’t work. Different audiences have distinct travel behaviors, priorities, and expectations. ? Foster Authentic Representation – Diverse content isn’t about stock photos; it’s about telling real stories that resonate with lived experiences. ? Partner with Creators and Community Organizations – Representation starts with collaboration. Work with multicultural influencers and community leaders to ensure authenticity. ? Leverage Data and Technology – Insights drive impact. Use data to identify opportunities and personalize marketing strategies. ? Create Safe, Inclusive, and Accessible Experiences – Representation matters, but so does the experience at the destination. Ensuring all travelers feel welcome is key to long-term success. ? Go Beyond Translation - ??Adapt messaging to reflect cultural nuances, humor, traditions, and even generational differences. What resonates with first-generation Latino travelers may differ from younger, bicultural audiences. How is your company approaching inclusivity in this evolving landscape? Let’s keep the conversation going. Sparkloft Media #socialmediamarketing #socialmedia #digitalmarketing #diversity #travel #multiculturalmarketing

Being a judge at the ProStart Championships is one of my favorite engagements all year and perhaps the most rewarding part of serving on the board of the Oregon Hospitality Foundation Oregon Hospitality Foundation Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association Travel Oregon

?? The Travel Oregon team has been busy sharing Oregon with the world by engaging in business-to-business meetings, activations, tradeshows and consumer travel shows in several countries over the last two months. January and February mark a strong holiday-booking time for overseas visitors and a good time to begin planning with travel trade clients. ?? Earlier this quarter, Travel Oregon was in Europe for a variety of shows and meetings with trade and airline partners, and consumer shows, some of which included The Netherlands, France, UK, Ireland, Switzerland and Germany. ? The first week of January, staff attended Go West, one of the largest inbound and receptive tour operator shows. Over the course of two days we had 58 appointments. The Oregon Delegation included Travel Oregon staff and representation from?all?seven regions and included cities, hotels, transportation and attractions. Next up is the International Inbound Travel Association (IITA) Marketplace, another great opportunity to represent Oregon at the international level. ?? Todd Davidson, Julia Amato, CPC and Greg Eckhart traveled to India with Brand USA in January to hold sales meetings, gain insights into the market and build relationships with top-tier media. ??? In February, the group also visited Sydney, Australia for the TravMedia Global Summit where Todd presented to 400+ Australian and New Zealand journalists on Travel Oregon's Strategic 10-Year Vision and our destination stewardship approach. The team also held business meetings with travel trade partners and airlines, and participated in dozens of appointments with media.

Last month our friends Travel Oregon wrote a piece about "What We Lost Along the Way" - a short documentary made by Portland filmmaker Devin Boss. The project was made possible through a unique partnership between Oregon Film and Travel Oregon that started in 2018. Looking to find a way to give historically marginalized people a chance to explore the outdoors and share that story with a larger audience, the Outdoor Adventure Film Grant was born. "What We Lost Along the Way" was one of two films produced in 2024 with $22,500 Outdoor Adventure Film grants by Travel Oregon in partnership with the OregonMade Creative Foundation, with funds provided through Oregon Film’s Creative Opportunity Program. The other film, produced by a pair of siblings in Woodburn, is due to be released in 2025. Other films funded by this grant, include “Pedal Through,” which explores a Black woman’s healing through bike packing, “Our Trails Too,” exploring the movement to make the outdoors welcoming to all, "Any Oregon Sunday," which documents three Oregon womens’ extreme motorcycle adventures and "You Go Girl" a Sundance selected short film that follows a young woman's journey up Mt. Ashland to scatter her mother's ashes. The OAFG is one of several programs that Oregon Film has created and supported through its Creative Opportunity Program in conjunction with the non-profit the OregonMade Creative Foundation and collaborative partnerships with statewide creative organizations like The Confluence Project, BendFilm, Eastern Oregon Film Festival, Lane County Filmmakers, Outside the Frame, Catalyst Collective and Desert Island Studios. The COP also supports the Pathways training and placement program which works closely with Outside the Frame to train and place new voices who might not have had such an opportunity into paid positions on the sets and in the studios making creative projects in Oregon. To date, scores of people have been trained while more than 60 people have been placed into more than 90 paid positions with the vast majority of these new recruits going on to find their own work in the industry through the connections they make in the first placement. You can read more about Devin and his film here: https://lnkd.in/g4j_ixjp? You can read more about the Creative Opportunity Program here: https://lnkd.in/gc6znGqE You can read more about the Pathways program here: https://lnkd.in/gCdKCPkw

? We're incredibly honored to host the first "She Leads" event with Travel Oregon - a new series celebrating and empowering women in tourism and hospitality! Join us at our tasting room on March 3rd from 4 to 7 PM for an inspiring evening featuring our Managing Director, Janie Brooks Heuck, and special guest Kim Malek, Founder of Salt & Straw! These amazing leaders will share their experiences and insights during a panel discussion. Enjoy Oregon craft beverages and local bounty, and connect with other incredible women changemakers in our industry. Whether you're established in your career or just starting out, this is your space to grow, learn, and lead together! ?? RSVP for the She Leads event at Brooks for the event in Eugene at on March 5th: https://lnkd.in/gPsngwiA.

We Oregonians know we are blessed with an abundance of beautiful places and vistas in our home state, and Conde Nast Traveler shared some love for Crater Lake and Cannon Beach specifically in their recent "50 Most Beautiful Places In America" piece.

Celebrating a Year of Collaboration & Impact: Over the past year, Visit Central Oregon partnered with?Travel Oregon?to lead the?Central Oregon Destination Management Studio (CODMS)—a collaborative effort to shape the future of sustainable tourism in our region. Together, we hosted: ??6 workshops?across Central Oregon ??6 regional steering committee meetings ??15+ internal core team meetings ??100+ project ideas?generated by community stakeholders After months of discussion, refinement, and collaboration, we’ve identified?3 priority projects focused on arts, culture and heritage, high-use outdoor recreation, and dark sky awareness. As an outcome of the CODMS,?our renewed alignment will foster a thriving, sustainable, and inclusive tourism economy. This work wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of our local partners, industry leaders, and community members who brought their passion, insights, and creativity to the table. Thank you to everyone who participated, shared their expertise, and helped shape this process. Your commitment to Central Oregon’s future makes all the difference. Stay tuned as we continue this journey—there’s more to come! Explore Sisters Explore Prineville Visit Bend SOUTH WASCO ALLIANCE