About the Portland Tourism Development District
MISSION
The mission of the Portland Tourism Development District (PTDD) is to enhance tourism in the City of Portland through strategic, year-round initiatives that support local businesses, strengthen the workforce, and enrich the visitor experience. By funding marketing efforts, destination development, and visitor services through special assessments on participating businesses, the PTDD ensures sustainable tourism growth. Central to this mission is fostering collaboration among tourism-related businesses, local government, and community partners to drive economic development and create a thriving, inclusive tourism economy that benefits residents and visitors.
Our HISTORY
The Greater Portland Convention & Visitors Bureau dba/Visit Portland was formed in October of 1982 by a group of hoteliers wishing to focus on marketing to the visitor and meetings industry. After nearly 33 years, in 2015, the organization and its Board of Directors began researching the potential of creating a creative funding mechanism for destination marketing. It was then that the concept of a Tourism Improvement District (TID) was introduced. Seeing the success of over 170 destinations implementing a TID in 2019, they enlisted Civitas's assistance to form a Tourism Improvement District. After four years and several ups and downs, the Portland Tourism Development District (PTDD) was the 210th district formed in the United States.
GOVERNANCE
The PTDD is governed by a twelve-member board of directors comprised of a hotel majority from the City of Portland, non-PTDD Visit Portland Partners, and a non-voting ex-officio city representative. The board oversees the careful stewardship of PTDD dollars to create solid and measurable results in attracting tourism activity, increasing overnight stays, and growing Portland’s tourism market share.
