VCB release – At the June 13th meeting of the Coos Bay-North Bend-Charleston Visitor & Convention Bureau’s (VCB) Board of Directors, the Board formally approved the fiscal year budget for FY25. This budget is based on expected revenues from lodging taxes collected on overnight accommodations within the city limits of Coos Bay and North Bend, at the lodging properties of the Coquille Indian Tribe in North Bend, and within a prescribed area around Charleston. Also included in the anticipated revenues are carryover from FY24 as well as funding from the City of Coos Bay for the management of the Coos Bay Visitor Center (VIC). The VCB is solely funded by these lodging taxes with an occasional grant for specific purposes from such entities as Travel Oregon. The lodging tax rate in our area is 9.5%. The VCB receives a portion of the lodging tax funds collected, equating to approximately 39%, to accomplish its goals. The VCB’s total budget for Fiscal Year 2025 is $1,395,530 split between the project of the VCB to enhance our economic vitality through tourism and visitor services through the VIC. “While this may appear to be a healthy budget, it is a fraction of the budgets our competitors on the Central and North Coast have to entice visitors to their areas,” said Janice Langlinais, VCB Executive Director. “We have, over the past few years, made great strides in growing our market share and thereby increasing the number of visitors to our area and the related spending by those visitors. Since 2017, our budget has grown by more than $1 million due to this growth in tourism to our area.” Visitor Spending in the Coos Bay, North Bend, Charleston area topped $147.9 Million in 2023, approximately 45% of the total visitor spending in Coos County ($329.5 Million) for 2023. “As with any entity tasked with spending tax dollars, we know we can only spend what we actually receive in lodging tax revenues,” stated Langlinais. “Our marketing plans are fluid and nimble so that we can adjust our plans as needed based on those revenues.” More info can be found on the VCB’s website.
