Our annual tourism conference wrapped up last week in Reedsport! The 2025 People’s Coast Summit offered Oregon Coast tourism partners two days engaging workshops, thought-provoking keynotes, networking, and celebration of the 2025 tourism season.
We were honored to bring together industry leaders, local businesses, and community stakeholders for the seventh annual conference. Each year, we travel to a different coastal town for a campus-style conference that allows attendees to meet the people and experience the businesses that make these destinations unique.
Some highlights of this year’s conference included:
- An opening keynote on the Power of Oregon Main Street, which explored North Bend and Reedsport efforts to revitalize their downtowns. After the keynote, we dispersed into breakouts in three businesses on Reedsport Main Street, showing this work in action.
- Our hands-on breakout workshops covered everything from marking content and grant writing to international sales and a deep dive into AI tools for businesses
- In a lunch keynote centered on transportation, we heard from Kathy Kleczek (DLCD), Janice Langlinais (Oregon’s Adventure Coast), Bobbi Price (Yachats City Manager), and Caroline Fitchett (Salmonberry Trail) about how transit solutions are energizing Oregon Coast communities. They explored how planning intersects with livability, walkability, and climate goals, creating more equitable, accessible, and sustainable places for both residents and visitors.
- Our dinner keynote was a powerful and emotional film screening and panel of ‘What We Lost Along the Way,’ with Director Devin Boss, Tim Williams, and Mo Sherifdeen. The keynote left attendees with a renewed perspective on the role of tourism in storytelling, and a call to action for destination managers, marketers, and community leaders to elevate local voices and create space for authentic, lived narratives.
- Day two kicked off with a panel on innovative events rooted in culture, meaning, and sustainability. Alanna Kieffer and Kim Cooper Findling shared about events shaping the coastal tourism landscape, while Lisa Norton and Leslie Palotas shared how to engage authentically with tribal culture when planning and supporting events.
- Dr. James Sulikowski closed the summit with an engaging talk about sharks and their pace in our coastal tourism ecosystem. The presentation left attendees with new perspectives on the ocean, and maybe even a few marketing ideas.
- Of course, no Oregon Coast Visitors Association event could be complete without a classic bonfire to round out two incredible days of learning and networking. After dinner on day one, we gathered around the fire for hot cider and great conversation.
Our campus-style conferences make this a unique tourism event: one that often recruits the help of an entire town. This year’s summit would not have been possible without the incredible hosts who offered their time, skills, and space:
- City of Reedsport / Rosa Solano
- Stillwagon Distillery
- Umpqua Discovery Center
- Ridin Dirty Rentals
- Highwater Cafe
- Harbor Light
- Winchester Bay Marina
- Kismets Landing
Sponsorship
And one last huge thank you to our summit sponsors: Cardwell Creative, Oregon Coast Today, The Columbia Coast TV Show, Media America, Pelican Brewing, and Explore Lincoln City for their support of the 2025 People’s Coast Summit.
We are honored to host this event year after year as an opportunity for our partners to rest, recharge, and get inspired for the coming seasons. With the support of our partners, we will continue to empower local tourism professionals with the knowledge and resources needed to adapt and thrive in a dynamic and evolving industry.