Visitor bureau reports steady tourism, Denver air service growth and 10,000 visitor‑center visits through July

The Coos Bay City Council received the semiannual report from the Coos Bay–North Bend–Charleston Visitor and Convention Bureau, which presented fiscal data, marketing outcomes and visitor‑center performance through July. Bureau director Janice (last name used in public comments as Longlinney) said lodging tax receipts are expected to total about $1,035,000 for the fiscal year, with roughly $500,000 originating from Coos Bay hotels and the remainder from North Bend, Charleston and the county.

Janice told the council the bureau has a carryover rainy‑day fund of about $84,000 and plans to add $54,000 this year until the balance reaches $200,000. The bureau reported visitor spending in the Coos Bay area at about $147.3 million in 2024, down roughly 0.4% from $147.9 million the prior year; countywide visitor spending was reported at $335.9 million. The bureau estimated roughly 850,000 overnight visitors to Coos Bay and that visitor spending supported about 2,100 jobs in the three‑city area and about 3,800 countywide.

Janice highlighted marketing results tied to the restoration of a daily Denver flight: a campaign in the Denver market generated 10,600 visits to the bureau’s website from Denver between April and July, including nearly 300 clicks through to United Airlines, and the airport reported enplanements on the Denver route increased about 173% year‑over‑year through July (from about 2,900 passengers on twice‑weekly service to over 8,000 on daily service). The bureau said its return on advertising investment remains strong, with an estimated $20–$26 of visitor spending generated for every dollar the bureau spent on advertising in 2024.

Janice also reported that the Coos Bay visitor information center recorded roughly 10,000 visitors through July, sold about $15,000 in merchandise in the first seven months of the year, sent 8,300 visitor guides, and fielded requests from 47 states and 14 countries. Volunteer hours at the center were down to about 1,675 compared with 2,500 the prior year; the bureau hired a part‑time staff member to cover desk hours when volunteers are unavailable.

Council members thanked the bureau for marketing and wayfinding efforts and noted the visitor center’s role as a community asset. Janice said the bureau had received a $42,000 grant from Travel Oregon (referred to as Bridal Oregon in the presentation) to fund accessibility work on a new website, and she noted collaboration across jurisdictions on longer‑stay marketing campaigns.