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Winners of the 2009 WCVA Vacation Photo Contest

June 16th, 2009 by Sunyi

The results are in! The Washington County Visitors Association proudly announces the results of the inaugural photography contest. It was a difficult decision, as the WCVA staff reviewed submissions based on the following criteria:

1. Originality
2. Technical Excellence
3. Composition
4. Overall Impact
5. Artistic Merit
6. Relevance to Tourism

Thanks to all those who submited photos to our contest. And keep an eye out…you may just see one of YOUR Washington County photos in an advertisement or in our next Visitors Guide.

And the winners are (drum roll, please):

Grand prize: Swallow Squabble

Grand Prize Winner ($1,000) by ‘bescoles’, Barbara Scoles

Second Prize (x2): Henry Hagg Lake, Winter Sunrise

Second Prize ($500) by ‘moontan2008’, Bob Streicher

Second Prize: Springhill Rd, Harvest, Gaston

Second Prize ($500) by ‘mlaphoto’, Mary Lane Anderson

Third Prize (x4): Red Carpet

Third Prize ($250) by ‘Bobshots’, Larry Andreasen

Third Prize: Train Bridge

Third Prize ($250) by ‘kevinpastores’, Kevin Pastores

Third Prize: Jenkins-Estate, Cooper Mtn.

Third Prize ($250) by ‘yankeecam’, Bob Wayt

Third Prize: Scotch Church

Third Prize - ($250) 'scott.mcdonald1962', Scott McDonald

Tags: birding, Jenkins-Estate, Scotch Church, tourism, Tualatin, washington county oregon, WCVA
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Washington County Visitors Association (WCVA) Awards Grant Funds for Tourism Development Projects

June 3rd, 2009 by Sylke Neal-Finnegan

The Washington County Visitors Association (WCVA), awarded just under $200,000 in tourism grants to local organizations. The WCVA is a destination marketing organization charged with marketing the county as a tourism destination. Up to $200,000 are allocated to local organizations annually for tourism development.

Selected by the WCVA’s grant committee, which is comprised of members of its board of directors, the seven recipients will receive the funds beginning in July for projects designed to enhance Washington County’s tourism products.

Recipients of the WCVA’s 2009-10 tourism grants are: 

• Banks Community Foundation ($15,000): Funding support to produce a Banks, Ore., visitor guide highlighting the attributes of L.L.
  

  First store built in Banks, 1901.

  “Stub” Stewart State Park, which is an important attraction for out-of-town visitors

• Broadway Rose Theatre ($30,000): Funding support to hire part-time staff dedicated to promoting upcoming theater productions to out-of-town groups, and funding support for out-of-area advertising
• Horning’s Hideout ($18,826): Funding support to build two competition-quality disc golf courses, with the goal of hosting tournaments, which will potentially attract out-of-town visitors
• Hulaman Triathlon ($50,000): Funding support for the Hulaman Triathlon sporting event, with the goal of positioning the event at a higher competitive level to attract and increase the number of out-of-town athlete attendees
• North Willamette Vintners Association ($30,000): Funding support to develop programs and wine events in Washington County to attract out-of-town visitors
• L.L. “Stub” Stewart State Park ($8,350): Funding support to build a competition-quality disc golf course, with the goal of hosting tournaments, which will potentially attract out-of-town visitors
• Tualatin Riverkeepers  ($40,000): Funding support to purchase equipment and hire part-time staff to implement a guided river-rafting program in Washington County, which will enhance the county’s tourism assets for the group tour and independent travel markets

Hornings Hideout

The sole purpose of the funds allocated is for the development or promotion of emerging events, activities and other tourism-related attractions in Washington County. To be considered for funding, projects must have the potential to attract and draw tourists from at least 50 miles outside of Washington County and the Portland Metro area, thereby increasing visitor spending in the local economy.

All grant recipients are required to demonstrate how the awarded funds increased visitor spending in Washington County from visitors who traveled from out of the Portland Metro area, as well as report a return on investment on these grants.

Congratulations to all of this year’s recipients!

Tags: Banks, Hornings Hideout, Hulaman Triathlon, LL Stub Stewart State Park, North Willamette Vintners, theater, tourism, Tualatin Riverkeepers, washington county, washington county oregon
Posted in WCVA News | 2 Comments »

International POW WOW Shuts Down South Beach!!!

May 27th, 2009 by Heather Anderson

Alas, we are hard at work for Washington County. Last week, as WCVA’s Tourism Sales Manager, I attended the travel industry’s premier international marketplace and the largest generator of Visit USA travel.  I joined the Oregon delegation and spent three days in intensive, pre-scheduled business appointments and met with a variety of International and Domestic buyers from key countries interested in the various things Oregon and Washington County have to offer. The Oregon delegation consisted of representatives from Travel Oregon, Travel Portland, Travel Lane County, The Oregon Coast, Southern Oregon and Central Oregon.

Pow Wow is no ordinary trade show.  It roughly consists of U.S. travel executives representing more than:

Historically, the business negotiated in these meetings results in the generation of over $3.5 billion in future Visit USA travel. International

The Oregon Delegation represents!

Pow Wow offers international and domestic buyers and U.S. suppliers the opportunity to conduct business that would otherwise occur only through an exhaustive number of around-the-world trips. There were also plenty of opportunities to network at the various ‘nighttime events’ offered each evening.  On Sunday they shut down South Beach for a massive beach party. Also, we had an Oregon moment. Intense rain and a little flash flooding had us ‘wading’ the streets of Coconut Grove and forced us to come together and fight our way to the buses!  Onward ho!

Deja vu?

Highpoint – Arriving to the welcome party in South Beach by bus and noticing that the police escort and closed off streets were for us! We took over a huge portion of the beach dressed in white and experienced the many moods and colors of Miami Beach in a breathtaking setting right on the sand! One stage with world-renowned DJ Irie spinning club music, another stage featuring music of the tropics and yet another with live jazz entertainment all wrapped up with performers, food, vendors and great conversation!

Lowpoint - As a native Oregonian I am blessed with beautiful “fair” skin…so, my lowpoint was obviously my sunburn!

DJ Irie and the Oregon Delegation (I'm the 4th from the left.)

Tags: Events, Pow Wow, tourism, washington county oregon
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