2025 Visitor Industry Celebration & Summit
Celebrating Industry Leaders in the Eugene, Cascades & Coast Region
Join us on May 22, 2025 at The Shedd Institute for the Arts for our Visitor Industry Summit and Awards Lunch. You can register to be a Summit attendee or a lunch only attendee. Either way, we are excited to have you! Space is limited this year, so register early to ensure a seat at this exciting day of learning and celebration. Individual seats and tables of 8 are available and you have the option of the full summit and luncheon or just the luncheon.
Check-in and breakfast for the half-day summit begins at 8:00 a.m.
Check-in for Visitor Industry Celebration Lunch begins at 11:30 a.m.
Thanks to our 2025 Presenting Sponsors Mereté Hotel Management and Summit Bank. Our Industry Sponsor is Turell Group.
What you can expect as a Summit Attendee
The 2025 Visitor Industry Summit takes place ahead of the Industry Celebration luncheon on May 22 beginning with a keynote address by Dave Moss, Executive Director of the Eugene Symphony.
Breakout sessions will offer three tracks.
Our additional breakout sessions provide opportunities to learn more about the importance of tourism in Lane County, how to make sure you are utilizing your partnership with Travel Lane County, and much, much more!
What you can expect at the Summit Breakfast Keynote
Acclaimed and boldly creative arts leader Dave Moss is the Executive Director of the Eugene Symphony Association (ESA). Prior to his appointment in Eugene, Moss was the President and CEO of the Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra (HSO) where he worked with members of the orchestra, the Board of Directors, the administration, and volunteers to strengthen all aspects of the organization’s artistic, fiscal, governance, education activities, and community engagement. During his tenure he was named one of Hawai’i’s Most Admired Leaders by Pacific Business News. A recovering violist, Dave performed at venues from Disney Concert Hall to Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden to Coachella, and was equally at home performing with The Who, Kayne West, Itzhak Perlman, Renee Fleming, or in the Broadway production of Hamilton. Moss holds degrees from the University of Chicago, The Juilliard School, and Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music.
What you can expect as an Awards Lunch Attendee
You are invited to welcome Samara Phelps to her first Visitor Industry Summit as President/CEO. Samara will provide an industry update and discuss the development of a 10-year destination master plan.
Ms. Phelps grew up in Eugene and began her career in the visitor industry working for Travel Lane County where she gained experience as a Visitor Services Coordinator, Director of Visitor Services and Director of Stakeholder Relations between 2007-2015. In 2015, she joined Clackamas County Tourism and in 2019 was named Executive Director of Clackamas County Tourism which is the destination marketing and management organization promoting the Mount Hood Territory region. She also gained valuable experience in managing a regional destination management organization (RDMO) by leading the Mt. Hood & the Columbia River Gorge RDMO's.
Samara attended the University of Oregon where she attained a Bachelor of Arts in General Science with a minor in Business Administration. She holds a VisitAble Disability Inclusion Certificate and is a graduate of both the Oregon Tourism Leadership Academy and the Chinook Institute for Civic Leadership. She has been active within her community and serves as the President of Nearby Nature here in Eugene.