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Travel Oregon outlines programs, grants and $14 billion in 2023 visitor spending to House committee

2238989 · February 3, 2025
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

Travel Oregon officials briefed the House Committee on Economic Development, Small Business and Trade on Feb. 3 about the agency's role, its grant and regional programs, and data showing $14 billion in direct visitor spending and recovery of jobs to pre-pandemic levels in 2023.

Todd Davidson, chief executive officer of Travel Oregon, and Kate Baumgartner, public affairs director, presented an overview of the state agency's mission, funding and programs to the House Committee on Economic Development, Small Business and Trade on Monday, Feb. 3.

Davidson and Baumgartner said Travel Oregon is the state's destination management organization and that a statewide transient lodging tax created as part of legislation in 2003 funds agency work. "Our mission is to inspire travel that uplifts Oregon communities," Baumgartner said.

Travel Oregon explained its funding mix and programs: 30% of the agency's funding is returned to communities through competitive grants (10% statutory) and a regional cooperative tourism program (20%), the agency said. Examples included grants…

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