Spotlight on Oregon

Air Canada is preparing to carry people from a third Canadian city to Portland, Oregon, with one Oregon tourism official saying those who make the journey to her jurisdiction able to save some money during a time when our dollar is clearly struggling.

Air Canada will begin seasonal daily service between Toronto and Portland on May 26, with the airline already offering four-times-a-day year-round service between Vancouver and Portland and twice-daily year-round service between Calgary and the Oregon city.

And Lisa Itel, Travel Oregon’s travel trade manager, The Americas & Oceania, told a Thursday Toronto gathering that her “tax-free state” means it’s “not about what you spend, but how much you save.”

Oregon has been developing a Canadian dollar at par program that includes hotels, with “hotels from all over the state getting ready,” she continued.

Itel said the state can easily accommodate outdoorsy sorts, in part by offering year-round skiing at its Mount Hood in a resort one member of the delegation noted has “the longest ski season” in North America.

Other outdoor options include cycling and golf.

Itel noted her state has numerous micro-climates and can enjoy 300 days of sunshine. “When you go to Oregon, you’re getting several destinations in one.”

Those landscapes include Pacific coastline and wine-producing regions.

Heather Anderson, tourism manager USA, Canada & Oceania for Travel Portland, said her “super hip” city has flourishing craft brewery and culinary scenes – with the latter highlighted in part by its many food carts – and will see 3,000 hotel rooms come online in the next four years.

“Portland is no longer an unknown destination,” she added of the “very innovative destination. The growth is phenomenal.”
Portland is also home to 288 public parks, she reported.

Anderson said the city serves as a good base for exploring much of Oregon, being 90 minutes from the coast and 30 minutes from wine country.

Pictured are Anderson and Itel.

(http://www.travelportland.com, http://www.traveloregon.com)