[OMS_MANAGERS] Travel Oregon seeking input on new funding opportunity

[STUART Sheri * OPRD]

Input Requested as Oregon's Tourism Industry Looks to the Future




On March 3, 2016, Oregon lawmakers passed HB 4146, which increases the state transient lodging tax from 1 to 1.8 percent for four years effective July 1, 2016 and then effective July 1, 2020 reduces the state transient lodging tax from 1.8 to 1.5 percent. The legislation directs 20 percent of the state transient lodging tax to a Regional Cooperative Tourism Program and 10 percent of the state transient lodging tax to a competitive grants program.

So what does this mean for the future of Oregon's tourism industry and our work together to expand the contribution of travel and tourism to Oregon's economy?

Though the changes to the statewide lodging tax won't go into effect until July 1, 2016, Travel Oregon wants to hear from you now regarding your perspectives and priorities for enhancements to the statewide tourism program. Our hope is that your feedback this spring will also help inform our work next fall as we begin to build our Strategic Plan for the 2017-2019 biennium. With that in mind, we are working with the Coraggio Group to conduct an independent, confidential survey to cultivate as much input from our partners as possible.
Take the survey<https://t.e2ma.net/click/hhkro/5f3f3c/10ciag>. Deadline for completion is April 4, 2016.
The information you provide will be aggregated with input from other stakeholders in Oregon as anonymous feedback the Travel Oregon team will use to inform our planning process.

Additionally, Travel Oregon staff will schedule meetings throughout the state to engage you in the process and to hear from you directly. More information on the dates, times and locations for these meetings will be forthcoming in our Industry newsletters and from our Regional Destination Marketing Organization<https://t.e2ma.net/click/hhkro/5f3f3c/htdiag> partners as those plans are finalized.

We are excited about this vote of confidence Oregon legislators have given the tourism industry. We look forward to collaborating with all of our partners on the most effective ways we can work together to further enhance our economy through travel and tourism.
For more information on HB 4146, go to Industry.TravelOregon.com/LodgingTax<https://t.e2ma.net/click/hhkro/5f3f3c/xleiag>



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