Visit Bend budget approved; organization outlines marketing, stewardship and wildfire resiliency plans

Council approved Visit Bend’s fiscal-year 2025–26 business plan and budget at the June 4 meeting.

Visit Bend — the city’s lodging-tax‑funded destination marketing organization — requested a $4,976,200 budget for FY 2025–26. The organization said it will keep the FY26 operating budget largely flat while prioritizing three areas: (1) targeted marketing to stabilize summer occupancy without increasing overall visitor volume beyond capacity concerns; (2) destination stewardship through the Bend Cultural Tourism Fund and the Bend Sustainability Fund; and (3) wildfire and smoke resiliency and business continuity work with local partners.

Visit Bend CEO Jeff Knapp and senior vice president Nate Wyeth told council that lodging tax receipts have flattened in recent years and that summer occupancy has softened since the agency curtailed summer marketing after 2016 and because of periodic wildfire smoke. Visit Bend plans targeted marketing to increase summer lodging tax receipts modestly without increasing pressure on carrying capacity.

Stewardship work continues: Visit Bend said it has awarded millions in grants to local projects via its two funds and will continue to underwrite community events and environmental projects. Visit Bend also outlined partner programs (internships with OSU and partnerships with recreation and accessibility organizations) and said it will focus on workforce development and business resiliency tied to smoke and wildfire risk.

BDAB (the Bend Economic Development Advisory Board) reviewed the plan and unanimously recommended council approval. Council approved the budget by motion and voice vote.

Councilors asked Visit Bend to increase regular engagement with city staff and council outside the annual budget presentation; leadership agreed to present more frequently and to coordinate on regional and economic-development strategies.