Sunriver to host 2014 state tourism conference
At the closing ceremonies of the 2013 Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Salem this week, Todd Davidson, CEO of Travel Oregon; Skip James, Director of Sales and Marketing for Sunriver Resort; and, Alana Hughson, CEO of the Central Oregon Visitors Association announced that Sunriver Resort in Central Oregon has been selected as the Host Site for the 2014 Governor’s Conference on Tourism to be held April 27 – 29, 2014.
“This will be the fourth time the Governor’s Conference on Tourism has selected Sunriver as the host site and we could not be more delighted to welcome our statewide tourism colleagues back to Central Oregon next spring,” said Alana Hughson, CEO of the Central Oregon Visitors Association.
“We expect more than 500 tourism industry professionals from throughout the state will travel to the region, many with family members, for the 2014 conference. The COVA team will work with our partners at Travel Oregon, Sunriver, and throughout the region, to host an unforgettable conference providing Central Oregon the opportunity to highlight the spectacular and diverse attributes of our destination.”
In addition, at the April 14, Oregon Tourism Commission meeting, Alana Hughson, appointed by Governor Ted Kulongoski to serve on the Commission in 2010, was unanimously approved to serve as Vice Chair of the Commission for the FY14 term, beginning in June. Karen Utz, of the Black Walnut Inn and Vineyard in Dundee, will serve as Chair.
“For the past two years Alana Hughson has served as a valued member of the Oregon Tourism Commission. We are proud to support her new leadership position as Vice Chair as we continue to serve the state with the positive impact that travel and tourism brings to Oregon’s economy,” said Todd Davidson, CEO of Travel Oregon.
The Oregon Tourism Commission (dba Travel Oregon) works to enhance visitors’ experience by providing information, resources and trip planning tools that inspire travel and consistently convey the exceptional quality of Oregon. The commission aims to improve Oregonian’s quality of life by strengthening economic impacts of the state’s $8.8 billion tourism industry that employs more than 92,000 Oregonians.
The Central Oregon Visitors Association (COVA) has been the non-profit tourism Destination Marketing Association serving Central Oregon since 1971. Supported by nearly 500 member businesses and operating with an annual budget of more than $1.8 million; COVA manages tourism advertising, marketing, promotion, public relations, industry relations, special event management and the region-wide Housing Bureau. www.VisitCentralOregon.com
