July 13, 2023
TRAVEL SOUTHERN OREGON COAST NETWORK NEWS
TRAVEL SOUTHERN OREGON COAST 2023 ANNUAL REPORT RELEASED

As we head into the high season, I want to take a moment to acknowledge with awe and gratitude the incredible DMO and Chamber partners, front-line staff, business owners, Main Street Programs, and attractions that comprise the Southern Oregon Coast tourism industry. Your creativity, enthusiasm and resilience inspired us as we rode the roller coaster of the pandemic. As business rebounded (in a BIG way) last summer, we were ready (and thrilled!) to greet our visitors with the same down-to-earth hospitality and scenic wonders that leave them eager to share stories and return to our coast.

Our small but mighty TSOC team also had a home run year. We invested in community development efforts, provided grants to projects large and small, launched a website, both consumer and industry e-newsletters, plus world-class marketing campaigns, all while working behind the scenes to enhance visitor experiences from Reedsport to Brookings. Thanks for taking time to celebrate our accomplishments, and for all you do to keep our industry thriving.

With gratitude, Julie Miller, Executive Director, Travel Southern Oregon Coast
RELAX, REFRESH, REFUEL SOCIAL MEDIA AD CAMPAIGN GARNERED STELLAR RESULTS

TSOC partnered with five local communities on the Southern Oregon Coast—Bandon, Lakeside, Oregon's Adventure Coast, Reedsport, and Travel Curry Coast—to create our most recent social media campaign, "Relax, Refresh, Refuel." The campaign ran from March 1 through May 11, 2023 on Facebook and Instagram. By using social proof (getting "likes" from friends or influencers) prior to boosting the ads, the campaign produced stellar results with analytics that far exceeded industry standards. 

The campaign featured 36 individual ads, which TSOC posted to Facebook and Instagram on our @southernoregoncoast accounts. The ads focused on visiting the south coast for a relax-cation, a refreshing adventure vacation, or a foodie's dream vacation—all specific to each participating area. TSOC targeted travelers both local and abroad who were looking for these three types of vacations, creating individual audiences for each category of ads.

Relax, Refresh, Refuel received more than 5.5 million impressions and 33k+ link clicks that allowed viewers to discover more about each community and learn where they can “play, stay, and dine” on the Southern Oregon Coast. The campaign also collected more than 100k engagements across the 36 ads. Comments included excitement about each of the communities across all three topics.
A FUSION OF ART, NATURE, & EDUCATION PROPOSED TO PERMANENTLY HOUSE FINNIAN THE ROCKFISH

Annie Williams, a RARE (Resource Assistance for Rural Environments) AmeriCorps Member placed with TSOC, has once again used her skills as a gifted landscape artist to help create a unique and innovative landscape architecture design for the Southern Oregon Coast. Annie and TSOC partnered with the Port of Bandon to design a unique space in front of the Farm & Sea Building.

Initially, the project was aimed at providing a more permanent and prominent resting place for Bandon's Washed Ashore sculpture, Finnian the Rockfish. As it progressed, it turned into an expansion of the existing seaweed aquaculture experiment run by the Port.

The project features a series of innovative design elements, each contributing to the overall aesthetic and functional appeal of the space.

  • Finnian the Rockfish, the centerpiece of the project, is now placed on an elevated platform and backed by kelp sculptures.
  • A berm-style planter and bench combination, designed as a windbreak, holds hardy, native plants from the south coast for a beautiful blend of functionality and aesthetics.
  • An accessible, tidepool-based touch tank will house real intertidal critters to provide an educational experience for visitors, and a close-up encounter for those who prefer not to crawl on rocks.
  • A proposed expansion of the Port's seaweed aquaculture project showcasing a stair-stepped decking design will provide an elevated view into the tanks, topographical interest, and cohesion with the existing boardwalk.
  • Interpretive signage to enhance the educational aspect of the project.

Due to the heavy tourist use in the summer, a limited construction season window, and the Port's decision to build in conjunction with a new parking lot for efficiency, the construction and permitting process has been postponed until next year. This delay, however, has a silver lining as it allows the Port to apply for additional grant funding using the new design, ensuring both projects can proceed successfully. Stay tuned for future updates.
Travel Southern Oregon Coast Network
541-297-2821
PHOTO CREDITS: Finnian the Rockfish by Annie Williams