Oregon Destination Marketing Organizations

1. Oregon Destination Marketing Organizations PREPARED BY BILL CROSS, Executive Director, OBOA

2. Developing an Advocacy Program for Your DMO

3. All Politics is Local Elected officials want to hear from their constituents. They want to know how policies will effect the people they represent. This is true even if their philosophy is entirely different than yours. Don’t let politics deter you from contacting an elected official as today’s opponent may be tomorrow’s ally.

4. Politics Politics is three words: relationship, relationship, relationship. There is one thing politicians care about: getting elected and reelected. All things being equal, politicians will go with the flow. Your job is to create the flow. Never ask politicians for anything until you have helped them enough that they will welcome an opportunity to repay them.

5. Power Pyramid

6. What’s Good for Tourism and Hospitality is Good for Oregon The tourism and hospitality industry is a primary driver of socio-economic viability. We are a cornerstone of our State’s economy, our communities, our cultural vitality and our employment base. Tourism is Oregon’s largest traded-sector employer contributing $7 billion to Oregon’s economy and employing 90,000 Oregonians.

7. State Policy Issues Protecting our Transit Occupancy Tax – both the statewide 1% for Travel Oregon and the local TOT share for tourism marketing activities. Supporting investments in the infrastructure such as transportation funding. Supporting statewide marketing strategies such as the Film Tax credit expansion

8. Local Policy Issues Preserving TOT funds for tourism marketing. Opposing local taxes specifically targeted at the hospitality industry. Local transportation, economic development, public safety, parks, regional conference centers, menu labeling, car rental tax and community events that may impact tourism.

9. DMO Roles in Policy Issues Monitoring and staying abreast of the issues. Providing research and information. Advocating positions through the DMO or its members, partners and stakeholders. Developing relationships with governmental officials, Travel Oregon, other DMOs and industry partners such as ORA and OLA. Communicating the value of tourism within your market sphere.

10. DMO Resources Community Relations and Public Outreach Committee Policy Issues Advisory Committee Evaluating the impact of issues on the industry Board of Directors, Staff and Individual Members Relationships with governmental officials, Travel Oregon, other DMOs and industry partners such as ORA and OLA.

11. Candidate Surveys Design surveys to educate the candidates and to inform your constituents. Design surveys for both local and legislative candidates. Survey results should be presented in a neutral and factual manner. Use survey results to provide additional information to candidates (in particular those candidates that win).

12. Other Election Activities Host candidate forums for both local and legislative races. Provide candidates with background information on the industry so that they can be better informed when campaigning (particularly on any hot local issues). Host a reception with your Board of Directors and other prominent members for the candidates that win their campaigns and other incumbent elected officials.  

13. Oregon Destination Marketing Organizations This information was prepared by Bill Cross, Government Affairs Advocate, ODMO W.V. Cross Enterprises, Inc., 114 Coolidge Street, Silverton, OR 97381 phone: 503-873-5384; fax: 503-873-9389 e-mail: wvce@teleport.com