Oregon State University - Cascades’ Science Pub on Feb. 21 will explore challenges experienced by tourism destinations around the globe, including Bend, and how to balance attracting visitors while maintaining community livability.
“The Tourism-Community Balance: Getting it Right in Bend and Beyond” will be presented by Todd Montgomery, executive-in-residence and the Robin and Curt Baney Professor in Hospitality Management, and the director of the Sustainable Tourism Lab at OSU-Cascades. Montgomery will be joined by Kevney Dugan, CEO of Visit Bend.
The Science Pub will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Worthy Brewing’s Eastside Brewery & Pub, 495 NE Bellevue Drive in Bend.
The Sustainable Tourism Lab works with communities worldwide to help them develop roadmaps for economic, community and environmental sustainability, taking into account the needs of visitors and area residents.
Montgomery will share recent research about community sentiment toward tourism in Pacific Northwest communities, including Bend, as well as in Alaska, Hawaii, and the Northern Marianas Islands. His findings help destination marketing organizations like Visit Bend and local community leaders determine how to invest in tourism in ways that benefit the economy and residents.
“Visit Bend is emerging as a national leader in sustainable tourism,” said Montgomery. “The Bend Sustainability Fund, which awards grants to organizations to support projects and experiences that support sustainability, is one example of an innovative solution Visit Bend is championing to balance tourism and community needs.”
Dugan will address why community sentiment data is valuable to Visit Bend and other tourism organizations. He’ll also outline efforts underway to create a sustainable tourism-community balance in Bend.
Science Pubs are made possible with support from Worthy Brewing.
Networking and food and beverage service begin at 5:30 p.m., and the presentation starts at 6:30 p.m. Science Pubs are free to community members, but reservations are required. Space is limited to 100 guests.
To register, visit osucascades.edu/sciencepubs. For accommodations for disabilities contact 541-322-3100 or events@osucascades.edu.
About OSU-Cascades: Oregon State University’s campus in Bend brings higher education to Central Oregon, the fastest growing region in the state. Surrounded by 2.5 million acres of mountains and high desert, OSU-Cascades offers small classes that accelerate faculty-student mentoring and engages in top tier research as part of Oregon State University. Degree programs meet industry and economic needs in areas such as innovation and entrepreneurship, natural ecosystems, health and wellness, and arts and sciences, and prepare students for tomorrow’s challenges. OSU-Cascades is expanding to serve 3,000 to 5,000 students, building a 128-acre campus with net-zero goals.