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<b><i><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:#005D32">Input Requested as Oregon's Tourism Industry Looks to the Future<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#333333">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#333333">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? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#333333"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#333333">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#333333"><a href="https://t.e2ma.net/click/hhkro/5f3f3c/10ciag"><b><span style="color:#005F34">Take the survey</span></b></a>. Deadline
for completion is April 4, 2016.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#333333"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#333333">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#333333">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
<a href="https://t.e2ma.net/click/hhkro/5f3f3c/htdiag"><span style="color:#005F34">Regional Destination Marketing Organization</span></a> partners as those plans are finalized.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#333333"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#333333">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#333333">For more information on HB 4146, go to
<a href="https://t.e2ma.net/click/hhkro/5f3f3c/xleiag"><span style="color:#005F34">Industry.TravelOregon.com/LodgingTax</span></a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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