Cottage Grove - Eugene Sportsmen's Club
Travel Lane County operates as the official destination marketing organization for Lane County, Oregon, serving the Eugene, Springfield, and Oregon Coast regions. Founded in 1980 and structured as a private nonprofit 501(c)(6) corporation, the organization works to increase overnight visitors and dr...
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Travel Lane County operates as the official destination marketing organization for Lane County, Oregon, serving the Eugene, Springfield, and Oregon Coast regions. Founded in 1980 and structured as a private nonprofit 501(c)(6) corporation, the organization works to increase overnight visitors and drive economic development through hospitality and tourism.
The organization is guided by a 30-member voting board plus appointed ex-officio members representing diverse sectors across Lane County:
- •Hotel & Lodging: InnCline Hotels, Merete Hotel Management, Graduate Eugene, ALKO Hotels, and Valley River Inn representatives
- •Food & Beverage: Restaurant owners and university dining directors
- •Transportation: Lane Transit District leadership
- •Arts & Culture: Eugene Ballet, Cascades Raptor Center, and cultural venue directors
- •Government & Public Service: Eugene City Council, County Commissioners, City Managers
- •Recreation & Outdoor Businesses: River outfitters, event organizers
- •Community Development: Economic development managers and business leaders
Travel Lane County receives approximately $4 million annually from Lane County's 2.1 points of transient room tax, providing sustainable funding for regional marketing and tourism development.
The board operates at the policy level, with responsibilities including:
- •Approving annual marketing plans and budgets
- •Reviewing and adopting strategic plans
- •Evaluating personnel policies and bylaws
- •Hiring and evaluating the President/CEO (currently Samara Phelps)
- •Providing input on issues affecting the hospitality and visitor industries
- •Representing member interests to local and state government
All staff members report to the President/CEO, who implements board-approved strategies and policies.
Board members are expected to:
- •Attend monthly board meetings
- •Participate in Travel Lane County partner events
- •Attend the Spring Visitor Industry Celebration
- •Participate in the December holiday mixer
Per bylaws, three consecutive unexcused absences from board meetings constitute resignation from the board.
Travel Lane County's member businesses operate throughout Lane County, including:
- •Eugene: Hotels, restaurants, arts organizations, transit, city services
- •Springfield: Chamber of Commerce, economic development, county services
- •Cottage Grove: Area chamber, local businesses, event venues
- •Florence: Chamber, city services, coastal attractions
- •Cascades Region: Recreation and outdoor tourism businesses
Board members bring extensive experience:
| Member | Organization | Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Sarah Smith (Chair) | InnCline Hotels | Hotel operations, hospitality management |
| John Barofsky (Vice Chair) | Beppe & Gianni's Trattoria | 30+ years restaurant industry |
| Pam Whyte (Treasurer) | EMGE & Whyte, CPA | Tax, accounting, financial planning |
| Richard Boyles | Merete Hotel Management | Hotel development, real estate |
| Jonnie Helfrich | A. Helfrich Outfitter | McKenzie River rafting and fishing |
| Kaarin Knudson | City of Eugene | Architecture, sustainability, housing policy |
| Vonnie Mikkelsen | Springfield Chamber | Chamber management, economic development |
| Randy Groves | Eugene City Council | Public service, emergency management |
| Steve Mokrohisky | Lane County | County administration, government leadership |
The organization's mission directly supports Lane County's economy by:
- •Marketing the region as a visitor destination
- •Increasing overnight visitors and travel spending
- •Supporting hospitality businesses and employment
- •Coordinating tourism infrastructure and events
- •Advocating for visitor industry interests
Board members represent a cross-section of Lane County's economy and communities, including:
- •Hotel and lodging management
- •Food service and restaurants
- •Arts and cultural organizations
- •Government administration
- •Transportation and infrastructure
- •Recreation and outdoor recreation
- •Professional services
- •Business development and real estate
- •Non-profit leadership
The board actively welcomes interest from Travel Lane County member businesses in the hospitality industry. Those interested in applying should contact President/CEO Samara Phelps at [email protected].
Travel Lane County President/CEO: Samara Phelps Email: [email protected] Service Area: Lane County, Oregon (Eugene, Springfield, Florence, Cottage Grove, Cascades regions)