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Coos Bay tourism report: bureau cites strong lodging-tax receipts and large visitor spending
Summary
The Coos Bay-North Bend-Charleston Visitors and Convention Bureau reported higher-than-expected lodging-tax receipts, a FY25 budget of roughly $1.395 million, and an estimated $147.9 million in visitor spending across the three communities; bureau presenter described marketing strategies and visitor-center activity.
Janice (speaker 14) presented the Visitor and Convention Bureau's semiannual report, saying lodging-tax receipts exceeded budget in the prior year and that the bureau receives 39% of local lodging tax dollars within its service area. Janice said the bureau's FY25 budget adopted in June/July was about $1,395,000, funded primarily through lodging tax plus grant funds and visitor-center income.
Janice told council the bureau estimates visitors spend approximately $147,900,000 across Coos Bay, North Bend and Charleston, and that the county total is about $329,500,000; she described the bureau's return-on-investment methodology (attributing roughly 15% of visitor spending to marketing activity) and reported a calculated return of roughly $27.50 for every $1 the bureau spends on marketing. Janice also summarized visitor-center statistics (11,450 half‑year visitors, ~2,000 volunteer hours, and more than 8,400 mailed visitor guides) and noted marketing campaigns such as "Cool at the Coast" and holiday-light shuttles funded by local businesses.
Councilors thanked Janice and asked about historic budgets and regional coordination; Janice described partnership work with Travel Southern Oregon Coast and the Oregon Coast Visitors Association and said regional collaboration is key to lengthening visitor stays.
