The Willamette Valley welcomes everyone to enjoy the bounty of the area, and The Willamette Valley Visitors Association (WVVA) is working to create an inclusive, safe place for people from all walks of life. In 2019, WVVA contracted with a race, diversity, equity, and inclusion (RDEI) expert and formed the first of many committees to take action and affect change. Then our nation experienced countless social injustices and a worldwide pandemic. As the country shifted to rise up and meet these challenges, the travel and tourism professionals throughout the Valley equally recognized immediate action was required in our community as well.
Together these professionals began the hard work of identifying the needs and developing resources to promote responsible tourism by reducing social and economic inequalities and advocating for diverse and inclusive visitor experiences through a diverse and inclusive workforce.
WVVA is committed to being conscious of its impact on society, including social and environmental, to make positive change for the organization, the tourism industry, and visitors to the Valley. We recognize we have a responsibility to our communities, our environment, and ethical business practices.
The staff at WVVA and the Destination Marketing Organizations that make up the region are diverse and inclusive. Our Executive Director is an Indigenous woman of color. WVVA extends the search for diversity and inclusion to include working with minority-owned businesses from women-owned to BIPOC. Partnerships are forged with other organizations who share our passion for RDEI and bring different perspectives from their experiences in locations around the US, including but not limited to Clinton Street Consulting, Lawrence PR, Madden Media, and Travel Oregon, and the destination marketing organizations below that make up the Valley.
Together, we are committed to transparency and cultivating a safe and supportive place for people from all walks of life. If you have questions or want to learn more, please reach out.
You can get involved and help the Willamette Valley be an inclusive place to visit. Whether you want to directly affect change by joining a committee and participating in developing resources, or you want to become part of the community and disseminate information and share how you are providing inclusive guest experiences, we have a place for you.
You can help us create resources that address accessibility and inclusivity by sharing how your business is welcoming to visitors. Click on the form below by providing as much detail as possible.
If you’ve met one disabled person, you’ve only met one disabled person. Every individual is unique, and requires different types of assistance. WVVA is actively seeking disabled persons to act as an ambassador or liaison to provide real-world recommendations for accessibility in the Willamette Valley.
You’re invited to learn more about how to make a difference for the Willamette Valley and those who visit our special part of the Pacific Northwest. Fill out our commitment form to get started.
If you can’t commit your time, you can join our community and stay up-to-date on our progress through our newsletter. Along with exciting information about what is happening around the Valley, we will share RDEI resources and updates you can pass along to your coworkers, family, and friends.
The Willamette Valley Visitors Association’s (WVVA) mission is to build awareness for the Willamette Valley as a premier year-round travel destination through marketing, sales, and destination development. Comprising six visitor associations, WVVA serves as the regional destination marketing organization for the Willamette Valley, driving visitor expenditures and economic impact to all parts of the region.
Explore the program report designed by the Transformational Travel Council and a team of regenerative tourism development practitioners that will inform WVVA’s goals in participant and community understanding of transformational travel practices and regenerative development for tourism.
