Oregon Coast Visitors Association

What does an equitable tourism model look like? There are many ways to approach this work but one thing is certain: it is complex, collaborative, and it requires persistence. On the coast, we are lucky to be part of a network of partners committed to doing this work. The Creating Equitable Destinations report from The Travel Foundation explores our efforts on the coast a part of a bigger look at equitable travel worldwide. It's an honor to be featured among so many organizations worldwide who are tackling different aspects of equitable travel. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/g5ZeSG6P

Please join us in welcoming Ashley Espinoza to the OCVA Board of Directors! 👏 Ashley is a dedicated community leader with over a decade of experience in workforce and economic development. Her commitment lies in bridging the gap between underrepresented communities and broader community, fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors, and actively engaging with her community. We look forward to Ashley’s contributions as we continue to support the future of Oregon Coast tourism!

We are thrilled to announce this new partnership with Kind Traveler! Visitors to the Oregon Coast can now choose to give back with every stay by spending the night at one of our partnering hotels along the coast. In just a few months after soft launching the program, the impacts are already coming in: ☀️ 728 volunteer hours supported to educate about the culture, history, ecology, and stewardship with Cape Perpetua Collaborative ☀️ 286 Common Murres, a native Oregon bird species, received nutritional care for three weeks with WILDLIFE CENTER OF THE NORTH COAST ☀️ 192 individuals received education on the cultural & environmental significance of sea otters through Elakha Alliance ☀️ 87 days of food provided for one marine patient with Oregon Coast Aquarium ☀️ 53 acres of protected land were cared for over one month with North Coast Land Conservancy A huge thanks to Kind Traveler and all the coastal nonprofits, hotels, and visitors who are supporting this collaborative sustainable tourism effort! #oregoncoast #sustainabletourism

Another big win showcased at this year's People's Coast Summit: The success of the High School Seafood Butchery Program, which has been taking place at several Oregon Coast High Schools in efforts to address the gap in Oregon's blue economy workforce. NOW’s Maritime Program Coordinator, Leonard Tumbarello presented a check to Marcus Hinz and Maggie Michaels for their work on this program in the amount of $72.5K to help OCVA fund all parts and parcels of this seafood processing training, which will expose young Oregonians to the vast resources of the Pacific Ocean and encourage careers in the field. Congrats on this exciting step forward for the future of our blue economy! Learn more about the program here! https://lnkd.in/g9m3YNBC

How can we strengthen and elevate the hospitality industry across our coastal communities? Bringing together local businesses, industry leaders, and community members at events like the People's coast Summit is a great start. Lane Workforce Partnership, alongside partners from Southwestern Oregon Workforce Investment Board, Northwest Oregon Works, Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association, and Collaborative Economic Development Oregon lead a keynote panel at the summit, where they explored how a $446,786 Department of Labor Grant will collaboratively strengthen the hospitality sector, generating nearly 40,000 jobs by 2031. This is the first grant of its kind awarded to the Oregon Coast hospitality sector and we're excited to see the momentum continue for the sustainable future of hospitality on the Oregon Coast!

What an incredible two days! The 2024 People’s Coast Summit is a wrap, and we couldn't be more excited about the energy and insights shared in Florence last week. With over 100 Oregon tourism partners, we explored everything from AI’s role in tourism marketing to crisis communication strategies, local art, and making tourism more accessible. One of our favorite highlights? Connecting with new and old friends at a classic Oregon Coast beach bonfire! 🔥 Attendees, what was your biggest takeaway? Comment below with what inspired you, and don’t forget to tag someone who sparked a fresh perspective on tourism! Let’s keep the conversation going. #PeoplesCoastSummit2024 #OregonTourism #ThePeoplesCoast

Help us Update the Oregon Coast Public Art Trail! The Oregon Coast Public Art Trail celebrates the murals, sculptures, mosaics found up and down the coast, on display for all to see. We celebrate these creations made for the greater good, placed on public display, free and accessible to all year-round, day and night. After all, the Oregon Coast is The People’s Coast, with our legacy and our claim to fame our free, open and accessible public beaches. The Oregon Coast Public Art Trail inventory and map help us all celebrate art that holds this same spirit—beauty by the people, for the people. We need your help to keep the trail up to date! If you know of new public art in your community, or just aren't sure if a favorite piece is included in the trail, use our form to let us know! We rely on our partners to help us keep track of the public art that adorns all 363 miles of the Oregon Coast. Add your submissions here! https://lnkd.in/gXJTz_Ew

🌿 Indigenous Peoples' Day 🌿 Today, and every day, we honor and celebrate the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous peoples. This land, these waters, and the creatures who call them home have been cared for by Native peoples for millennia. Their knowledge and stewardship are essential to the future of our shared environment. In this photo, Peter Hatch stands proudly in front of a powerful reminder: "You Are On Native Land." Peter, a member of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and a valued member of our Elakha Alliance board, reminds us of the deep connection between Indigenous peoples and the ecosystems we strive to protect and restore. As we work to bring sea otters back to Oregon's coast, we recognize that true conservation includes honoring Indigenous sovereignty, wisdom, and collaboration. We are grateful to work alongside Indigenous communities in these efforts. Let us continue to learn from and uplift Indigenous voices as we protect the biodiversity of this remarkable place. #IndigenousPeoplesDay #ElakhaAlliance #SeaOtterRestoration #NativeLand #HonorNativeStewardship

We were thrilled to participate in the Florence Public Art Walking Tour & Gallery Visit following the Oregon Coast Visitors Association's People's Coast Summit! A huge thank you to our tour guide, Chantelle Meyer, for leading us through the city's newest public art installations and explaining how the City of Florence, Oregon is leveraging art to support economic development. This experience tied in beautifully with the "Leveraging Arts and Culture for Community and Economic Growth" session presented by Harlen Springer which demonstrated that the arts have a $7.3 million economic impact in the Florence region. The earlier session featured insights from Liora Sponko of the Oregon Arts Commission, and explored how arts and culture drive coastal economies. Read Florence’s AEP6 full report on FLORENCE REGIONAL ARTS ALLIANCE’s website. https://lnkd.in/dPuB-ddH #FlorenceOR #PublicArt #EconomicGrowth #AEP6 #ArtsAndCulture #CommunityTransformation #OVCASummit #SupportLocalArts #peoplescoast

It's always a delight to be a part of The People's Coast Summit! Like every other year I've attended, the networking, learning, and fun I had was off the charts. If you're ever seeking an experience that fosters multi-sector collaboration on the Oregon Coast, go to a People's Coast Summit! This year, I got ferklempt a few times on all the shout-outs and appreciation given to my small but mighty Economic Development Alliance of Lincoln County team. I'm grateful to be reminded how connected we are to so many brag-worthy, regional, multi-sector efforts. A giant thank you to the exemplary and inspiring Oregon Coast Visitors Association team and all the sponsors, speakers, and attendees who contributed to the Summit's success! If you attended, sponsored, spoke, or otherwise contributed to the 2024 People's Coast Summit, please comment below to be recognized!