Travel Salem welcomed news earlier this month that the U.S. Congress passed legislation to create economic growth and thousands of new American jobs by welcoming millions more international travelers to the United States. The Travel Promotion Act will allow the United States to establish a multi-million dollar promotion program to compete on the global stage for the billions of dollars and immeasurable goodwill that would come with overseas travelers.

“The Salem area is an international destination with visitors from all corners of the globe,” said Angie Morris, president and CEO of Travel Salem. “International travelers seek out Salem for its authentic experiences, abundant and unique outdoor recreational opportunities, culinary bounty and rich historic amenities. This monumental legislation establishes a new revenue stream necessary to compete on the global stage. Travel Salem will continue its partnership with Travel Oregon as we look for new ways to attract international travelers and leverage this new legislation.”

“This is a historic victory for the U.S. economy and the one in eight American workers whose jobs depend on travel,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. “The United States Congress has sent a clear message that travel is a high priority to our nation and that tangible steps must be taken to increase travel to and within the United States. We are extremely grateful to the bill’s champions: Senators Reid, Dorgan, Ensign and Klobuchar in the Senate and Representatives Delahunt, Blunt and Farr in the House.”

The Travel Promotion Act establishes a public-private partnership to promote the United States as a premier international travel destination and communicate U.S. security and entry policies. According to analysis by Oxford Economics, the bill is estimated to drive $4 billion in new consumer spending annually, provide $321 million in new federal tax revenue each year and create 40,000 U.S. jobs nationwide. Further, it is expected to reduce the federal budget deficit by $425 million over the next 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

Overseas visitors spend an average of more than $4,000 when they visit the United States.

The Travel Promotion Act is modeled after successful state-level initiatives and is funded through a matching program featuring up to $100 million in private sector contributions and a $10 fee on foreign travelers who do not pay $131 for a visa to enter the United States. The fee is collected once every two years in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security’s Electronic System for Travel Authorization. No money is provided by U.S. taxpayers.

The U.S. Travel Association is the national, non-profit organization representing all components of the $770 billion travel industry. U.S. Travel’s mission is to promote and facilitate increased travel to and within the United States. For more information, visitwww.ustravel.org.

***Travel Salem is a non-profit organization that promotes Salem and Marion and Polk counties for leisure tourism and convention and event business. The local annual economic impact of the greater Salem area visitor industry is $496 million. Travel Salem manages the Official Salem Area Travel Café/Visitors Center located at the historic Grand Hotel building (181 High St. NE, Salem), two I-5 satellite visitor information locations located at the Best Western Mill Creek Inn (3125 Ryan Dr. SE) and the Red Lion Hotel (3301 Market St. NE), and the Official Salem Area Website www.TravelSalem.com***

“The tourism industry is vital to Oregon’s economy, and I’m confident these two new members of the Commission will serve our state well,” the Governor said. “I know they will carry forward the intensive state effort to help tourism grow and thrive, which is good for all sectors of Oregon’s economy. When we promote Oregon, we do more than invite people to visit our many beautiful tourist attractions — we bring them face to face with Oregon’s people, our towns and cities, and our vibrant business scene.”

Audette and Utz fill two vacancies on the Commission. Made up of nine members, the Commission provides expertise and sets policy direction for Travel Oregon staff.

“We are excited about the addition of Alana and Karen to the Oregon Tourism Commission,” said Todd Davidson, CEO of Travel Oregon. “The Governor has selected two more talented, experienced people who will help advance the tourism industry in our state. Their unique backgrounds and insight will help Travel Oregon position the state as a must-see vacation destination and establish Oregon’s brand in strategic geographic regions.”

Audette grew up in the family hospitality businesses in Aspen, Colo. and Bend, Ore. She took a nine-year detour from her tourism roots to head east for a career in legislative policy on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Audette has served as President and CEO of the Central Oregon Visitors Association (COVA) since 1993. Under her leadership, COVA has more than quadrupled its annual marketing budget and membership base.

Utz is the owner and operator of The Black Walnut Inn in Dundee. In addition to her appointment to the Oregon Tourism Commission, she serves on the Board of Directors for the Oregon Lodging Association and Yamhill Valley Visitors Association. She is an active member of the Bed & Breakfasts of Yamhill County group.
The Oregon Tourism Commission, dba Travel Oregon, works to enhance Oregonians’ quality of life by strengthening economic impacts of the state’s $8.4 billion tourism industry. Visitwww.TravelOregon.com for details.

TripAdvisor®, the world’s most trusted source of travel advice, announced last week the results of its Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security guidelines survey of more than 1,100 U.S. respondents. Although recent incidents have spurred new security guidelines and concerns, 96 percent of respondents are still planning to fly this year. Only eight percent of travelers said they have changed their 2010 flight plans at all in light of new security guidelines.

Familiar, But Not Feeling It

Seventy-two percent of travelers said they are either completely or mostly familiar with the latest TSA airport security guidelines. When asked if the new measures are appropriate, though, 42 percent said yes, 34 percent said the TSA was overreacting and 24 percent said the new guidelines are not strict enough.

TSA Doesn’t Get an “A” from Travelers

Despite new security initiatives being undertaken by the TSA, 50 percent of travelers believe the agency is not doing a good job of increasing security. Twenty percent of respondents said the TSA was doing a good job, while 30 percent were unsure. About a third of respondents (33 percent) think the TSA should focus on improving airport security by providing better training for staff, while 25 percent cited increased coordination with foreign airport security officials.

Suspicions Rise

Eighty-two percent of respondents support the security “profiling” of certain passengers based on their race, ethnicity, religion, or national origin, and subjecting them to additional airport security screenings.

Security Over Convenience

Seventy-seven percent of travelers said they would rather have enhanced airport screenings, even if it meant longer lines at the airport. Thirty-five percent of travelers said they would favor a ban on carry-on luggage if it would make flights more secure.

Excited About Deals, But Dreading Delays

When asked what they were most excited about in air travel for 2010, 41 percent of travelers said great online airfare deals, followed by 15 percent for in-flight Wi-Fi and eight percent for increased airport security. When asked what they were most concerned about in air travel for 2010, 28 percent cited longer security lines, 23 percent higher airfares and 22 percent more airline fees.

Ready to Act

Ninety-nine percent of travelers said that they would take action if they observed suspicious activity on their flight. Ninety-one percent would alert a flight attendant to the suspicious behavior, while nine percent would take matters into their own hands.

Erring at Airports?

Ninety-six percent of travelers think that the level of security varies from airport to airport across the U.S. Only 37 percent of respondents think that U.S. airports are more secure than foreign airports.

Don’t Tinker with In-Flight Toilets

Seventy-six percent of travelers do not think airlines should ban in-flight bathroom use during the first and last hours of flights, as was the case on some flights following December 25, 2009. Twenty-two percent of respondents would support the ban as long as there were reasonable exceptions in place, such as for travelers flying with young children.

Dressing for Airport Security Success

Sixty-four percent of respondents said they dress differently when going to the airport in order to avoid setting off the metal detector. Despite the precautions, however, 70 percent of travelers said they have set off the metal detector at the airport.

More Screenings, But Still Flaws

Thirty-seven percent of respondents said they have made it through security with a prohibited item. Seventy-two percent of travelers said they have been selected for additional screening at an airport security checkpoint, with eight percent of those respondents reporting their secondary screening took place after December 25, 2009.

“Despite recent events and airport security changes, the vast majority of travelers aren’t changing any flight plans for 2010,” said Bryan Saltzburg, general manager of new initiatives at TripAdvisor. “Travelers appreciate the need for increased security at airports so they can have safe and enjoyable flights. Ideally, enhanced security won’t come with added hassle at the airport.”

Her work has earned Bentley’s Grill and The Grand Hotel Salem/Phoenix Grand Hotel the Marion County’s Earthwise Certification.  It has also been recognized with an excellent rating with iStayGreen.org (an green hotel review site).  Congratulations and thank you to Kristi Reed for her hard work!  Enjoy her profile published in the Portland General Electric Newsletter last month:

When Salem’s Phoenix Grand Hotel formed a green team, Sales Director Kristi Reed was the obvious choice to lead it. Reed was thrilled to use her passion for sustainability at work.

Guests Enjoyed the Grand Opening Earlier this Month.

Members of the Phoenix Grand Hotel staff attended The Grand Hotel Bridgeport “Grand Opening Celebration” earlier this month that included delicious appetizers prepared by Bentley’s Grill, sushi, a hotel tour and a ribbon cutting ceremony.  If you are planning to visit the Portland area in the future- we encourage you to stop by and see this beautiful hotel for yourself while taking in a day of tax free shopping at the Bridgeport Village shopping district.

General Manager Josh Sanders and his amazing staff have done a fine job putting the finishing touches on the new hotel, rolling out the red carpet and welcoming guests from all over the area visiting the Portland area.  One guest was so impressed she left the following comments on The Grand Hotel Bridgeport’s blog:

Submitted on 2009/09/22:

My husband & I returned home last evening from a wonderful two night stay at your new hotel. We were with our daughters, who stayed five nights. Your hotel is not only beautiful, it is cozy and clean. We found the staff to be incredibly helpful, friendly and professional. When I say “staff”, that applies to all we had contact with from desk, managers, housekeepers etc. The location is great too!

Warm and Inviting Hotel Lobby

Spacious Rooms and Suites

VIPs Industries, Inc., parent company of The Phoenix Grand Hotel and Bentley’s Grill , would like to once again thank Rick Yurk and his staff at BAM Agency for their excellent work in creating yet another fine logo for our latest project, The Grand Hotel at Bridgeport. During the past few years, we have worked closely together with BAM in the creation of the Salem Conference and Phoenix Grand Hotel logos.

Everyone knows how important a company logo is.  It is usually the first impression that is made on the consumer- and it requires great skill and thought to be able to convey a company’s message and brand successfully.  Rick and his staff have assisted us in many successful branding projects and we are thrilled with their latest creation as we launch our new hotel located at Bridgeport Village just outside of Portland.

BAM Agency is located in Salem, Oregon and has a exceptional team of creative and hardworking people who specialize in the design and development of comprehensive branding & advertising.  Rick and his staff have also assisted us in many successful branding projects, and we highly recommend their services @ www.bamagencyinc.com.

And now, with the rise of Web 2.0 applications like Twitter, Facebook and online travel communities; there are so many new ways our guests can share their experience with us and with others.  These communites allow for anyone to be a travel writer or a member of the media. There are many bridges of communications that are open- and we want our guests to use them!

Social media gives consumers more power and a larger platform to discuss what they like or dislike about companies and their products and services. We embrace this new age of social media reporting and invite our guests to be a part of this consumer reporting.

Have you been to the Grand recently?  How was your stay?  What did you enjoy the most?  What can we do to make your experience better in the future?

These are questions we ask our guests- and hope they relay this information to us.  If you enjoyed your experience; we hope you feel compelled to share this in our online community on Facebook and Twitter.  Better yet, share your experience and knowledge and tips with other travelers in consumer networks such as Real Travel, Trip Advisor, etc etc (see our sidebar for all review options).  Giving our guests a voice and a platform to share their experience is good for everyone.  We want to hear your feedback so we can provide the very best accomodations in Salem.  Please be a part of the movement and let us hear from you.

We recently recieved this review from a happy guest and wanted to share (of course!)

Ron Wills, a guest from Washington state, recently emailed us his feedback and gave us a perfect 10 for his experience with our staff,  accomodations, and hotel amenities.  He went on to say: “Your facility is the finest in the Salem area and one of the best we have stayed in. Thank you for an enjoyable stay.”  Thank you Ron for your feedback and we look forward to the next time we see you!

Several months ago, The Phoenix Grand Hotel-@phoenixgrand -and Bentley’s Grill-@BGrill - decided to hop aboard the “Twitter Train” to see what the craze was all about.  It took some time and some getting used to- and honestly, it is still hard to explain how it works and why we love it.   But we do.  Each time I log on, I become immersed in the ongoing wide spread conversation happening in real time about everything and anything: big topics like the The Economy, Word News and Events, Politics, Travel Industry & News and not so big topics too.  

The amount of travel information in Twitter is endless- and you can use the collective knowledge in Twitter to help you plan just about anything.  This really became clear when I saw this “Tweet” from @TravlAndLeisure yesterday

It’s not just good for letting people know what you’re up to. #Twitter can help shape your next trip. http://tinyurl.com/c46uch

It links to their post- Using Twitter for Travel . The post offers excellent suggestions on how Twitter users can receive helpful tips and advice with their travel plans by asking your network in Twitter.  I love that they give a shout out to Travel Portland  who helps to answer questions about traveling to Portland when you use #inpdx in your tweet. Very smart! 

During the past few months, we have found and connected to more travel sites and people than we could have ever imagined.   We have learned a great deal by following these folks in Twitter- reading their tips and following the links to their articles.  In fact,  we are so thrilled by this wonderful travel community we have tapped into, that we want to share some of our favorite Travel “tweeters”

1. Conde Nast Traveler- “Truth in Travel” is their moto, their site is recognized as one of the best places to find up to date and unbiased reports on the very best in travel.  The writers offer a wide collection of travel knowledge, tips, and well-kept secrets.  It also features 2 blogs that we recommend for any travel savvy person to subscribe to:

The Perrin Post is CNT’s consumer news editor Wendy Perrin’s blog where she dishes out smart and current travel news and information.  We also love The Daily Traveler  written by the editors at Condé Nast Traveler, this dynamic blog answers consumer questions and share travel secrets, tips, and more.  
 

  2. Travel and Leisure is one of the leading publications to read about travel deals, reviews, advice and more.  Following them in Twitter is a great way to stay up to date on the latest travel industry news and trends.

 3. Travel Been is a perfect spot for consumers who want to find the very best that is offered by all of the travel sites.  This network connects the best travel websites in one location. 

4. Trazzler  If you need help determining the best places for your to travel, Trazzler is for you.  This site helps you answer the question, “Where should I go?” by recommending trips unique to your location and Travel Personality.

5.  Traveling Mamas- Read the adventures of  @Cajun_Mama, @DesertMama, @KaraSW, @MudslideMama- 4 travel savvy and witty women who provide their personal experience in destinations around the world.  Reading their blog is a lot of fun, you never know where they are going to end up next.

Some Local Favorites:

1. Travel Oregon-We love this site for their love and devotion to the the state of Oregon.  They recognize Oregon is one of the best places to travel at any time of the year and have great suggestions on places to visit, places to stay, to dine, to shop, things to do and much more.  Their blog is a must read for anyone who loves Oregon.  

2. TravelSalem- Our friends at TravelSalem   provide a wonderful resource of the best wineries, museums, attractions and so much more that makes Salem, Oregon a wonderful place to visit.  They always list events and festivals to watch out for during your visit. 

 3. The Oregon Wine Blog is another local favorite as the writers chronicle their experiences and adventures exploring unique Oregon wines, events and places in the heart of Willamette Valley.  Readers of this blog will be reminded of what makes this region so special when they follow them. 

To date, we are following nearly 400 people in Twitter- all of whom have something unique and special to say.  We would love to hear from you and hear your favorite Travel Sites that you are following in Twitter!  And if you are not on Twitter, consider joining.  You will be amazed at how much you can learn from this huge community! 

Since the summer of 2007, a group of Salem’s large downtown employers have been actively pursuing Vision 2020 projects to enhance the heart of the City – downtown, north downtown, and the Edgewater/Wallace area of West Salem.  From this collaboration, SalemAlive.com, a comprehensive website of Salem events, has been created.

Going live on March 30, SalemAlive.com will allow residents to search for activities within the City Center, by location or interest area.  SalemAlive.com will also offer residents the ability to “self-submit” events that may be of interest to residents and visitors alike.

One of the Vision 2020 goals, identified in community conversations last year, was to better coordinate the marketing and advertising of City Center activities.  Vision 2020 community leaders are working hard to make this happen.   A subcommittee was formed specifically tasked  with creating a broad-reaching, single source of information to bring Salem residents and visitors to the City Center.  The subcommittee includes several local businesses including  the Phoenix Grand Hotel, Willamette University, Mission Mill Museum, Travel Salem, Go Downtown Salem!, Chemeketa Community College, Chamber of Commerce, Salem Health, and Elsinore Theatre.  Many of the partners, including Travel Salem, are involved in hosting, or marketing, Salem events and activities to visitors, and convention and event planners.

Travel Salem provided their website as a partner for SalemAlive.com due to similarity of the goals of both organizations.  With the partnership of SalemAlive.com and TravelSalem.com, residents can easily access additional information regarding attractions, special packages, and promotions to encourage the discovery of their community and the two-county region.

Vision 2020 Action Team members will be available to demonstrate SalemAlive.com at the Vision 2020 Community Forum on Tues., Mar. 31 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the Salem Conference Center.

Vision Statement – Vision 2020

In the year 2020, the Salem City Center is a vibrant, year-round regional destination for employees, visitors, and residents.  The City Center is known for its historic and artistic character, and its unique and easy to find alleyways, plaza, and gathering places.  A diverse array of shopping, dining, and cultural activities and entertainment attract people at all hours of the day.  The Salem City Center is welcoming, visually appealing, and accessible for all ages.  Pedestrian walkways, bicycle paths and streets connect the adjoining neighborhoods and communities to and from the City Center, Willamette River, meandering waterways, parks, green spaces, trails and play spaces.  Served by high-quality and reliable transportation, the City Center is its own distinct neighborhood and a safe home for people of all income levels.