VCB release - At the July 16th meeting of the Coos Bay-North Bend-Charleston VCB Board, Janice Langlinais, Executive Director of the VCB, and Tim Goulet, with the VCB’s advertising agency of record, Echo Creative, presented the plans for advertising and marketing the destination between July 2026 and June 2027. This year’s plan focuses primarily on adventures that draw visitors to the area including, charter fishing, crabbing & clamming; ATVing in the Dunes; Hiking; Mountain Biking; Water Sports such as kayaking, SUP and surfing; Arts & Culture; Gaming; Sightseeing; and Nightlife. Major events that bring visitors for multiple nights will also be a focus of this year’s plan. “Our plan includes very little print advertising as we increase our digital, social, and website presence – meeting our visitors where they are, primarily, which is online,” said Janice Langlinais. “Our plan allows us to be fluid and nimble, taking advantage of opportunities without being tied to months- or year-long contracts.” “The primary focus of any destination marketing organization is to bring outside visitors who will stay overnight and spend money in our communities,” said Tim Goulet. “The VCB’s plan prioritizes campaigns that target potential tourists from 2 to 6 hours away, while incentivizing longer overnight stays for major events and unique “bucket list” adventures. Target markets include the entire I-5 Corridor from Seattle to Northern California, Central Oregon, Idaho, and Denver.” The VCB will also unveil a new, fully-accessible website in the first quarter of FY27 and will build new advertising and social content to support and complement the new mobile-first and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) compliant site. The plan includes a slight reduction in budget as a conservative measure due a softening of tourism nation-wide. This year’s total marketing and advertising budget is $750,000. Other aspects of the VCB’s budget include approximately $50,000 in trade show presence, printing & mailing costs, and bringing visiting travel writers to the area. Other administrative costs such as salaries, insurance, wi-fi, debt service and subscription, and office supplies bring the VCBs total budget to approximately, $1.18 million.