Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Tourism topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Travel Salem reports strong digital reach and $2 million in hotel revenue; airline route efforts continue
Summary
Travel Salem told Marion County commissioners it generated wide digital reach and $2 million in hotel revenue from July–March; staff noted a May 1 Avelo Las Vegas relaunch and local fundraising of $350,000 to support air service.
Kelli Weese and Angie Villery of Travel Salem presented the organization’s January–March quarterly report to the Marion County Board of Commissioners, describing marketing results, partnerships and recent air-service activity.
Weese said the county’s two-year agreement with Travel Salem includes annual funding of $117,500 from the Economic Development Lottery Fund and expires in June 2025. Villery highlighted campaign metrics including 250,000 video views across produced videos, nearly 20,000 views for an Enchanted Forest video, 120,000 visitor guides distributed across 800 locations, and a reported $2 million in hotel revenue credited to advertising efforts between July and March.
Travel Salem staff also reported that local businesses raised $350,000 toward minimum revenue guarantees used to attract air service, and that an Avelo Las Vegas route was scheduled to relaunch May 1. Staff said the decision by Avelo regarding deportation flights did not affect local efforts, and they are in discussions with other carriers about potential routes to Phoenix, San Francisco and Seattle.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about how minimum revenue guarantees work and the county’s role in supporting air service; staff explained that communities can raise funds to cover shortfalls when guaranteed minimum thresholds are not met. The presentation was received as information; there was no formal action taken.
