June 18, 2009

British Airways Serves Oregon A to Z Wineworks

British Airways is now serving Oregon's A to Z wine on its international flights.

A to Z Wineworks began in 2001 as a partnership of two winemaking families. The background of the owners and staff come from well known Oregon wineries. Owner Bill Hatcher managed Domaine Drouhin and his wife, Debra, worked at Eyrie Vineyards. Vintners Cheryl Francis came from Chehalem Winery and Sam Tannahill from Archery Summit.

When A to Z grew and expanded, the families partnered with others including Gregg Popovich (head coach of the NBA's San Antonio Spurs) and had the incredible good fortune to acquire Rex Hill Vineyards in December 2006.

Posted by: Michelle Woodard Category: International Remarks: 0

May 19, 2009

Tour Operator Hosts Twilight Event To Benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation

Hey Twilight fans! Beyond Boundaries, a Colorado based tour operator is hosting an Independence Day celebration on July 4 at PGE Park in Portland.
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Join the cast from Twilight and New Moon when they take to the field to play "Vampire Baseball" to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oregon.

Click here for more information from www.fantrips.travel

A variety of packages are available so don’t miss the opportunity to see Rachelle Lefevre... aka Victoria throw the first ball of the game, have dinner at PGE Park and enjoy July 4 fireworks.

Tickets are available through www.ticketmaster.com

Posted by: Michelle Woodard Category: International Remarks: 0

May 15, 2009

Canadian Press Touts Portland Area

The Calgary Herald ran an article by Hans Tammemagi showcasing Portland and the surrounding area. Powell's Book Store, the Pearl District, Classical Chinese Garden, Timberline Lodge, Multnomah Falls, and Scapoose Bay are all referenced in the piece.
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Click here to read the complete article

Be sure to also check out the links to the stories titled: A world of wonders on the Willamette as well as World's 10 best secret dining clubs which lists Portland's unique agritourism offering from Plate & Pitchfork.

Posted by: Michelle Woodard Category: International Remarks: 0

April 16, 2009

International & Domestic Travel Trade Update

Travel Oregon's International & Domestic Travel Trade Department had a couple of highlights to share from happenings this month. Read below for more details.

As a result of a creative Social Media campaign, 10 new Oregon landing pages have been created by European Tour Operators and 12 will be linked on the new Travel Channel Europe "Oregon Uncovered" television series website. These will be launched in time for POW WOW and will be included in a press release for all markets. This was accomplished at no additional cost other than offering the links to the website. Typically an individual state landing page, costs between 5-10k in promotional dollars.

• Travel Oregon recently hosted two journalists with Korean Ski publications, with focus on skiing, wine and culinary tourism. As a new Visa Waiver Country, South Korea offers tremendous potential for new business and is the only Asia market showing growth in the ski product offerings.

Posted by: Michelle Woodard Category: International Remarks: 0

April 15, 2009

Meet International & Domestic Travel Trade Speakers At The Governor's Conference

Mark you calendars for the Oregon Governor’s Conference on Tourism which will take place at the Salem Conference Center on April 19-21. Registration will be available on-site, where you will be able to meet presenters for the International and Domestic Travel Trade Department.

Take a peak at the following International and Domestic Travel Trade sessions:

Sunday, April 19 - 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Santiam Rooms 4-5.
Oregon Tour and Travel Alliance
Meeting:

Guest speaker: Dawn Rueckl, Vice-President of Wells Gray Tours in Kamloops, BC. Ms. Rueckl current serves on the National Tour Association Leadership Team (Convention Committee) and Team Canada Tourism Board of Directors. You can also meet her in one-on-one appointments at both speed dating sessions.

Monday, April 20, 10:30 a.m. to 11:50 a.m.
International Marketing on a Small Budget: Use the Web and Take Your Business Global

Martin Stoll, founder and President of the GoSeeTell Network, and Michele Michalewicz, Chairman and CEO, National Tour Association, will show you how to use the web to get your product in front of millions of potential customers around the world. GoSeeTell Network is a Portland (Oregon) based technology and consulting company. GoSeeTell's core competence are "social recommendations".

Both Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning
International Speed Dating á la Travel Oregon - I & II:

Are you new to the international and/or domestic trade markets, or have you been in it for quite some time and have some very specific questions? Ask the experts available just for you in seven minute appointments.

Those on-hand will be:
• Petra Nahr, European Sales Manager, Travel Oregon
• Rob Thomas, Asia Sales Manager, Travel Oregon
• Lisa Itel, Domestic Sales Manager, Travel Oregon and Carol Ross, President of Oregon Tour and Travel Alliance
• Brian Gomi, Product Manager, Rocky Mountain Holiday Tours. Gomi has more than 12 years of experience as product manager in the receptive operator field. During this time, he has worked for Rocky Mountain Holiday Tours, a premier inbound operator based in Colorado.
• Yuka Smith, Sales Manager, Dai-Ichi Travel. Smith is a travel consultant for Dai-Ichi International Inc. aka Dai-Ichi Travel in the Pearl District of Portland. Dai-Ichi approaches its 13th year of servicing the Asian travel market for both outbound and inbound travel.
• Eva Staack, Oregon Account Manager, Wiechmann Tourism Services. Staack has been the Oregon/Washington Account Executive in Frankfurt, Germany, since April 2007. Prior to joining Wiechmann Tourism Services, she worked for the City of Luebecks as the Promotions Manager coordinating all domestic and international trade activities.
• Cynthia Billette, Owner/Operator Columbia Crossroads, Inc. Billette’s travel industry career spans over 30 years. She started Columbia Crossroads, Inc., based in Portland, Oregon, in 1995 to provide clients with authentic experiences at an excellent value. She has deep product knowledge in the entire US, India, China and Europe, and most specially, the Pacific Northwest.
• Michele Michalewicz, Chairman and CEO, National Tour Association as well as president and co-owner of Western Leisure, Inc.
• Dawn Rueckl, Vice-President of Wells Gray Tours in Kamloops, BC. Rueckl currently serves on the National Tour Association Leadership Team (Convention Committee) and Team Canada Tourism Board of Directors.

Monday, April 20, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Europe Travel Channel - "Oregon Uncovered"

View one of the new Oregon episodes from the Travel Channel Europe (premiered March 2009) and take part in a discussion around how your business, community, and region can leverage all three years of this 15 episode broadcast which will be seen in 12 countries and 48 million households. You'll also find out ways to showcase your region or business globally using the b-roll film footage and social media from the "Oregon Uncovered" series.

Posted by: Michelle Woodard Category: International Remarks: 0