Members
History of Travel Lane County
On January 23, 1980, the Eugene-Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau was officially incorporated following recognition and support from both the cities of Eugene and Springfield and the Eugene and Springfield Chambers of Commerce.
In 1980 the Bureau had a staff of 3½ employees, a budget of $170,000, and shared office space with the Eugene Chamber of Commerce. The Lane County Convention Center had just opened, and the Eugene Hilton and City Conference Center and Hult Center for the Performing Arts were under construction.
Through the years the Bureau has continued to grow in budget, staff, and programs. In 1981, a Sales Department was added; in 1985 a Membership Director position was created to enhance the growing member base; and in 1987, due to the expanding sales and services needs, a Sales and Services Coordinator position was created. That same year the Bureau was awarded the County tourism contract and the Tourism Department was born.
1993 brought many changes. An increase in the rate of room tax by the County, an increase in our budget, and TRT (transient room tax) funding solely by Lane County. In August, the board voted to change the Bureau's name to the Convention and Visitors Association of Lane County Oregon (CVALCO) to reflect its new countywide marketing responsibility.
In February 1995, CVALCO moved from 7th & Lincoln to its present location at 754 Olive Street in the 8th & Olive Building. In December of that year the mobile visitor van was created and a number of part-time staff were added to provide visitor services in the van and in the office on weekends. In 1998 a Community Relations department was added to increase community awareness of CVALCO and the visitor industry. In 2008, a sports service position was added.
In early 2009, CVALCO was renamed Travel Lane County, and the destination of Lane County was positioned in the marketplace as Eugene, Cascades and Coast. This strategic shift was designed to leverage national awareness of Eugene and link it to the strong regional attributes of the Cascade Mountains and Oregon Coast to generate stronger overnight returns for all communities within Lane County. At the time, Travel Lane County had 17 regular and/or full time and 6 part time members of the staff.
