Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Tourism topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Wilsonville tourism plan highlights accessibility verification and $20,000 grant for 15 sites
Summary
City staff presented the Explore Wilsonville tourism plan and reported a $20,000 grant from the Willamette Valley Visitors Association to verify 15 local sites on the Wheel the World accessibility platform; resolution 3253 adopting the FY26‑27 one‑year action plan was on the consent agenda and adopted.
Wilsonville staff presented the Explore Wilsonville tourism development strategy and a FY 2026–27 one‑year action plan during the May 18 meeting, describing marketing metrics and grant‑funded work to expand accessibility verification and bicycle amenities.
Zoe Mombirth, assistant to the city manager, said the city’s tourism program (branded Explore Wilsonville) recorded nearly 30,000 website users this fiscal year, maintains roughly 5,000 social media followers, and sends a bi‑monthly newsletter to about 500 subscribers. She told council there are seven lodging properties and several short‑term rentals in the city and explained that the transient lodging tax (TLT) is collected in two counties and remitted to the city.
Mombirth reported a $20,000 competitive grant from the Willamette Valley Visitors Association to fund Wheel the World destination verification for 15 sites in Wilsonville; staff expects those locations to be live on Wheel the World by the end of the fiscal year and said Explore Wilsonville will maintain a one‑year Wheel the World subscription for the 15 sites. The funded work also supported a destination‑accessibility audit and outreach to local businesses and hotels.
The program also identified bike‑amenity priorities (bike repair stations and mapping of routes) and a hospitality ambassador toolkit to support hotels, attractions and restaurants. Mombirth said some items depend on future grant funding and work is planned to continue into 2027.
The council adopted the consent agenda, which included Resolution 3253, the FY26‑27 one‑year action plan for the tourism development strategy; the consent agenda passed by voice vote 5‑0.
What’s next: staff will launch or maintain the Wheel the World entries for verified sites, continue outreach to lodging and hospitality partners, and pursue additional grants where appropriate.
