Eliana Willis

The Oregon Tourism Commission, dba Travel Oregon, launched today a new advertising campaign platform called ‘Travel Oregon with Travel Oregon’ that promotes the idea that the best way to experience Oregon is with an Oregonian—a guide, a podcast host with in-the-know recommendations or perhaps even a state park ranger with knowledge of Oregon’s dark skies.The campaign will allow Travel Oregon to drive more personal connections between visitors and the state’s people, cultures and must-see, but less-traveled, destinations while making Oregon feel welcoming to all.
“The Travel Oregon with Travel Oregon campaign celebrates the fact that Oregon is best experienced with a guide,” said Todd Davidson, CEO of Travel Oregon. “There’s so much to do and see here, so many incredible destinations and activities, that it can be hard to scratch the surface. Guides take visitors deeper, offering closer connections to welcoming, inclusive and immersive travel experiences.”

Developed by creative agency Wieden+Kennedy Portland, the campaign centers on Travel Oregon’s newest team members—guides who are definitely not inanimate objects, but real Oregonians. Each guide brings their own expertise and all are united by their eagerness to connect a diversity of travelers with Oregon’s wide variety of activities and local guides. The strategy behind the campaign was based on consumer research by Wieden+Kennedy that found that while there is an overall positive association with the state, there isn’t a deep knowledge of what there is to do in Oregon or how to do it. ‘Travel Oregon with Travel Oregon’ addresses the need to broaden the aperture of Oregon to make the state attractive and relevant to new audiences and subcultures who may not have felt confident that Oregon was accessible to them in the past.
ADVERTISEMENTThe campaign ecosystem will allow the agency to shift between seasonal messages such as promoting responsible recreation or wildfire awareness in the summer and promoting niche tourism experiences in rural destinations during less-traveled seasons. This evolution in strategy marks a shift in how Travel Oregon markets the state to visitors, moving away from launching one-off campaigns and into an “always on” mode of marketing and communications that directly supports the agency’s 10-Year Strategic Vision.

The initial launch of the campaign will focus on broad-reaching channels to build excitement and drive the notion that it’s always good to go with a guide. This includes placements of a :30 second campaign anthem in the World Cup and NFL games, stunning outdoor advertisements across top West Coast markets and engaging video and custom content across a variety of trusted channels and media partners such as Hulu, Peacock and YouTube as well as popular social platforms.

“I am incredibly proud of this team and excited to be part of this campaign,” said SustainaBill, Travel Oregon’s resident expert in sustainable travel. “It’s given me an opportunity to celebrate the things that are most important to me–the state of Oregon and sustainable practices. Creation of this campaign was incredibly straightforward and there wasn’t anything unexpected about it at all. We just traveled around the state and got to do what we do best: welcome people to Oregon.”

Meet Travel Oregon’s new guides:

SustainaBill, our resident expert in all things sustainable travel.
Boots, whose knowledge of Oregon’s greenways and trails is second to none.
Kayakyak, the perfect companion for whatever water recreation you want to get into.
Dark Sky, who’ll point out all of Oregon’s stargazing and cosmic events.
Telephone Paul, the guy to ask when it comes to live events, festivals or concerts.
Rosa, who’s always in the know on the latest seasonal trends for wine, food, or music.

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If you look up from Quito city centre, you will be able to catch a glimpse of one of the biggest statues in the world: The Virgin of El Panecillo. Also known as the Virgin of Quito, it measures 41 metres from base to tip and rests atop the loaf-shaped hill at the heart of the city (hence its name, with panecillo meaning “bread roll” in Spanish) and can be seen from just about any point in the city.
The Virgin of El Panecillo serves as both a cultural and religious figure for Quito, a constant reminder of the city’s faith and religious nature. As well as being one of the top symbols of Ecuador’s capital city, it attracts thousands of visitors each year, making it one of its most-visited landmarks.
Together with the Church of the Company of Jesus, the Basilica of the National Vow, the TelefériQo cable car, La Ronda neighbourhood, the Middle of the World City and Itchimbía Park, it makes up the Seven Wonders of Quito, a collection of must-sees for anyone who visits the Capital of the Centre of the World.The statue of the Virgin is made from 7,400 numbered pieces of platinum, aluminium and other metals which were all put together like a giant puzzle.  Measuring 30 metres tall, the stone and reinforced concrete base adds another 11 metres to its overall height. Its total stature of 41 metres makes it the tallest aluminium statue in the world, even taller than the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro.
The base comprises 18 columns representing Ecuador’s provinces at the start of the 1970s, when construction began. At the top of the base is a 180º viewpoint offering unrivalled panoramic views of the city of Quito. The base is crowned with a globe and a snake, which allude to the original sin, from which the Virgin rises up.
The sculpture depicts the Virgin Mary as portrayed in the Book of Revelation – the Woman of the Apocalypse – a woman with wings and a chain shackling the snake. Finally, she wears a crown comprising 12 stars, which symbolise the 12 apostles. This statue is based on the Virgin of Quito, a 17th-century wooden sculpture made by Bernardo de Legarda, one of the finest artists of the Quito school.ADVERTISEMENTSince its inauguration on 28 March 1975, the Virgin of El Panecillo has attracted visitors from far and wide, amazing people with its imposing structure and the impressive vistas from its viewpoint, offering a unique perspective of the city. For the residents of Quito, it is a symbol of identity and local pride, turning it into a truly authentic landmark that is greatly valued.

Quito, the Capital at the Middle of the World, is the closest city to the sun and the only place where it is possible to stand with one foot in each hemisphere. This city, declared the First Cultural Heritage of Humanity thanks to its Historic centre, mixes the pre-Hispanic, colonial, traditional and modern.Quito is also a place for adventure. This equatorial city is the start of the Avenue of Volcanoes, or you can visit the Andean Chocó, home to the spectacled bear and thousands of bird species.It is also the gateway to the four worlds of Ecuador: Galapagos, Pacific Coast, Andes and Amazon. Quito has a unique cuisine that fuses ancestral knowledge and flavours with avant-garde proposals that conquer the palates of those who try it.https://visitquito.ec/

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The World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) 2023 Economic Impact Research (EIR) today reveals Germany’s Travel & Tourism sector is recovering at pace to recover to within 95% of pre-pandemic levels.The sector is set to contribute €355BN to the national economy this year, getting to within 95% of the 2019 highpoint, and representing 9.3% of the economy. WTTC is also forecasting that the sector will create more than 168,000 jobs this year, recovering most of the jobs lost due to the COVID 19 pandemic to reach 5.6MN.
A look back on last year
Last year, the Travel & Tourism sector’s GDP contribution grew by 43.4% to reach more than €338BN, representing 8.8% of the economy, edging closer to the 2019 high of €374BN.
Last year the sector also created 550,000 more jobs from the previous year to reach 5.4MN jobs nationally – one in eight jobs across Germany.The sector has now recovered over 50% of the 1MN jobs lost during the pandemic.
Last year also saw the return of international travellers heading to Germany with spending from overseas visitors growing 61% to reach almost €31BN.ADVERTISEMENTDomestic visitor spend is within touching distance of the pre-pandemic level of €307.8BN and is currently €304.4BN, a year-on-year increase of 49%.
Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “The Travel & Tourism sector in Germany is making a strong recovery. It will contribute €355BN to the German economy this year and employ one in eight jobs across the country.
“Germany is forecast to remain the fifth most popular tourism destination in Europe over the next decade, demonstrating its enduring appeal.”
What does the next decade look like?
The global tourism body is forecasting that the sector will grow its GDP contribution to more than €440BN by 2033, 10.3% of the overall economy and will employ almost 6.1MN people across the country, with one in seven Germans working in the sector.
Europe
In 2022, the European Travel & Tourism sector contributed €1.9TN to the regional economy, just 7% below the 2019 peak. WTTC forecasts the region’s GDP contribution from the sector will reach more than €2TN in 2023 – within touching distance of the 2019 highpoint.
The sector employed almost 35MN people across the region in 2022, an increase of 2.9MN from the previous year but still 3.2MN behind pre-pandemic levels. WTTC forecasts the sector will fully recover the jobs lost during the pandemic by the end of 2024.

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Underground Donut Tour Launches in Victoria

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Today, the Underground Donut Tour, the World’s Best Donut Tour, is launching their next tour in Victoria, British Columbia. The Underground Donut Tour has been running for 8 years across the US, Canada, Ireland, and the UK, including Chicago, Philadelphia, New York City, Portland, Seattle, Boston, Nashville, New Orleans, Miami, London, Dublin, Toronto, Vancouver and now adding Victoria to our roster. Hosting thousands of guests from around the world and showcasing the best doughnuts each city has to offer.
“Victoria is such a beautiful city with so much to see and do. From gorgeous architecture to the focus on sustainable living, indigenous culture, and finally an incredible food scene. We have some absolutely delicious donuts lined up for this tour. We can’t wait for our guests to come and check them out,” said Jeff Woelker, founder of the Underground Donut Tour.
What Can Customers ExpectWalking between 4 of the best doughnut shops in Victoria – we share the history of each location, along with many local sights, sounds, and tastes of the area. Our tour primarily takes place around downtown Victoria, the Inner Harbour, the Market Square, and Chinatown.
“We’re so excited to get this tour started. Everyone we’ve spoken with is so excited to take part and we can’t wait to share the rich history, culture, and stories with our guests. And not to mention, the donuts are absolutely delicious,” said Sage Schmied, Victoria’s city manager for the Underground Donut Tour.
When Do Tours RunTours will start on Friday, August 11th, and run year-round. Tours run numerous times a day and days of the week, so check our website for the latest schedule. Tickets are sold on a first come, first served basis, so don’t miss out.ADVERTISEMENTHow Can Customers Book TicketsTickets are 73 CAD for adults and 60 CAD for kids 10 and under. Tickets can be booked at www.undergrounddonuttour.com today.

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CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF YOSEMITE FACELIFT

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Yosemite National Park’s annual park-wide cleanup event, Yosemite Facelift, is proudly celebrating its 20th anniversary this September, with significantly expanded programming and partnerships.
Yosemite gateway partner Rush Creek Lodge & Spa is taking this voluntourism experience to new heights by offering their Facelift guests the opportunity to trade trash for Spa services! Between September 4th and October 5th, 2023, lodge guests participating in Facelift will receive a complimentary detox spa experience which includes a magnesium foot soak at Rush Creek Spa.Founded in 2003 by Ken Yager, President of the Yosemite Climbing Association, Yosemite Facelift has grown into a transformative week-long event, bringing together volunteers from around the world to contribute to the preservation of this cherished national treasure. Yosemite Facelift was conceived as a way for climbers to give back to Yosemite after each bustling summer tourist and climbing season, instilling a sense of stewardship and environmental responsibility among participants.
The 20th anniversary event is set to take place in Yosemite Valley on September 20th to 24th, 2023, with volunteer opportunities from as little as an hour to larger multi-day projects, plus daily giveaways, guest speakers, music and celebrations. This initiative has inspired similar cleanups in over 20 additional locations across America, including the 2nd annual Groveland Facelift September 9th and 10th, 2023. To participate in any Facelift event, interested individuals must pre-register at yosemiteclimbing.org.
Facelift volunteers staying at Rush Creek Lodge & Spa will end their day not only satisfied with their stewardship efforts, but also with the invitation to head to the innovative Yosemite-inspired Spa for some luxurious pampering. Rush Creek Spa’s Wellness team will treat guests to a complimentary Detox Experience that includes a magnesium foot soak in the Spa’s heated outdoor lounge and access to day use amenities such as the Granite Waterfall Mineral Hot Tub, Warm Waterfall Coves, Aromatherapy Steam Room and more.. To book this exclusive wellness treatment, guests can call the Wellness Team at (209) 379-2425.
Over the years, Yosemite Facelift has witnessed remarkable success in its efforts to keep the park free from litter and waste. During the event’s 16th year in 2019, nearly 3,000 dedicated volunteers participated, resulting in the collection of nearly 16,000 pounds of trash, a significant portion of which was recycled to keep it out of landfills. To date, the cumulative efforts of Yosemite Facelift have led to the removal of an impressive 1 million pounds of trash from Yosemite National Park, making a substantial positive impact on the environment.ADVERTISEMENTKen Yager, the visionary behind Yosemite Facelift, is dedicated to expanding cleanup initiatives to other national parks as well. Collaborating with the National Park Service and sponsors such as The North Face, 5 Gyres, Patagonia, and Leave No Trace, Yager launched similar cleanups in South Lake Tahoe, Mammoth Lakes, Rocky Mountain, Joshua Tree, and others. He hopes that Yosemite Facelift will serve as an inspiration for communities to engage in environmental stewardship not only in parks but also in their local surroundings, as they did in San Francisco’s Glen Park earlier this year.
Yosemite Facelift remains committed to preserving the natural splendor of Yosemite National Park and encourages everyone to join this noble cause, and Rush Creek Lodge & Spa is honored and eager to support its participants. By fostering a spirit of camaraderie and fun while cleaning up the environment, Yosemite Facelift continues to inspire a worldwide community of volunteers dedicated to preserving our precious natural heritage.
For more information and to participate in Yosemite Facelift, please visit yosemiteclimbing.org. To book the exclusive wellness treatment at Rush Creek Lodge & Spa, participants can call the Wellness Team at (209) 379-2425.

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