​THE OXFORD HOTEL BEND NAMED #11 BEST US HOTEL IN 2019 TRIPADVISOR TRAVELERS’ CHOICE AWARDS
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Bend, Ore. – The Oxford Hotel Bend has once again been recognized as a winner in the United States category of the TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice® Awards for hotels, earning its Top 25 recognition for the seventh year in a row. In 2019, the Oxford Hotel Bend ranked 11th out of the Top 25 hotels designated for the award. It is the only hotel in Central Oregon to receive this honor.

For the last 17 years, these awards have highlighted the world’s top properties around the globe. Travelers’ Choice award winners were determined based on the millions of reviews and opinions collected in a single year from TripAdvisor travelers worldwide. The hallmarks of Travelers’ Choice winners are remarkable service, value and quality. 

“We are humbled to receive this recognition for the seventh year in a row,” said Oxford’s President and CEO, Curt Baney. “Our team remains committed to providing each and every guest with a unique stay from their moment of arrival, and this award is a direct reflection and celebration of those efforts. We also extend our deepest appreciation to the many guests who have shared their Oxford experience on TripAdvisor.”

“We congratulate the properties around the world recognized as the best hotels, which receive our highest honor – Travelers’ Choice Hotel awards,” said Desirée Fish, vice president of global communications for TripAdvisor. “Winners should be proud of their award as millions of travelers will consider this list when picking the perfect hotel for their needs this year.”

To see why the Oxford Hotel Bend is #11 in the nation, visit https://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Hotels-cTop-g191#11 to view TripAdvisor traveler reviews.

For all 2019 Travelers’ Choice winners, visit www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice.

Travelers can also follow the conversation on Twitter at #travelerschoice. 

About Oxford Hotel Bend
The Oxford Hotel Bend is the city’s first and only luxury boutique hotel. Located in the heart of downtown Bend, the seven-story hotel features 59 spacious and luxurious executive rooms, many with views of the Cascade Mountains. Designed with both the leisure and business traveler in mind, the Oxford Hotel Bend features a variety of amenities and services intended to up the ante on the traditional boutique hotel experience. For more information, visit www.oxfordhotelbend.com.

About TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel site*, enables travelers to unleash the full potential of every trip. With 702 million reviews and opinions covering the world's largest selection of travel listings worldwide – covering 8 million accommodations, airlines, experiences, and restaurants -- TripAdvisor provides travelers with the wisdom of the crowds to help them decide where to stay, how to fly, what to do and where to eat. TripAdvisor also compares prices from more than 200 hotel booking sites so travelers can find the lowest price on the hotel that's right for them. TripAdvisor-branded sites are available in 49 markets, and are home to the world's largest travel community of 490 million average monthly unique visitors**, all looking to get the most out of every trip. TripAdvisor: Know better. Book better. Go better.

The subsidiaries and affiliates of TripAdvisor, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRIP) own and operate a portfolio of websites and businesses, including more than 20 travel media brands: www.airfarewatchdog.com, www.bokun.io, www.bookingbuddy.com, www.citymaps.com, www.cruisecritic.com, www.familyvacationcritic.com, www.flipkey.com, www.thefork.com (including www.lafourchette.com, www.eltenedor.com, www.iens.nl and www.dimmi.com.au), www.gateguru.com, www.holidaylettings.co.uk, www.holidaywatchdog.com, www.housetrip.com, www.jetsetter.com, www.niumba.com, www.onetime.com, www.oyster.com, www.seatguru.com, www.smartertravel.com, www.tingo.com, www.vacationhomerentals.com and www.viator.com.

 * Source: Jumpshot for TripAdvisor Sites, worldwide, September 2018
** 2018 Source: TripAdvisor log files, average monthly unique visitors, Q3 2018

FootZone is excited to announce that this year over 70 local and regional races will be represented at our race registration expo, Ready, Set, REGISTER! Whatever a runner’s favorite distance, we’ve got a race for them! Races represented this year include 1Ks, 5Ks, 10Ks, half marathons, full marathons, 50Ks, 100Ks, triathlons, runs for a cause, girlfriends runs, relays galore, dog runs, trail runs, road runs, running camps, training groups, running clubs, races in every corner of the state and beyond, and runs for chocolate, beer, and wine! Race representatives attending Ready, Set, REGISTER, will be offering registration discounts and other perks!

Ready, Set, REGISTER, will take place on Saturday, February 2nd from 11-4. Ready, Set, REGISTER is a win-win event that boosts early season, local race exposure, and allows runners and walkers to meet with race representatives, ask questions about races, schedule their 2019 race calendar, and save money on registration! In 2018, RSR saw 200+ runners take advantage of the immense diversity of races.

To accommodate the number of races and expected registrants, Ready, Set, REGISTER will be held at the Liberty Theater, directly across from FootZone at 849 NW Wall St. in downtown Bend, Oregon. Visit the FootZone website to view the full line-up of races: http://www.footzonebend.com/event/ready-set-register/

About FootZone: FootZone is Central Oregon’s only locally owned and independent running and walking store. Since 1995, FootZone has been the hub of the local running community, hosting clinics, training groups, weekly runs, and a number of charitable events each year, in addition to sponsoring local races. FootZone is a full service running and walking store in downtown Bend. To learn more about FootZone, please visit www.footzonebend.com.

One of the best things about living in Bend is that there is always a plethora of things to do, and Downtown Bend is at the heart of it all!   Here is your weekend report of things to do for Jan 25-27th, 2019.  Enjoy your weekend! 

Sunday, January 27, 2019
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Downtown Bend Public Library
507 NW Wall St.
Bend, OR
Directions
Price: FreeFriends of the Bend Libraries Winter Book Sale is Sunday, January 27 1-4pm. Big sale 50% books excluding orange sticker books. Public welcome. Located at the Library Admin. Building 507 NW Wall. Proceeds benefit the two Bend Libraries. More info: www.fobl.org or call 541-7047.

Join Bend Brewing Co. on Friday, January 25th to celebrate the release of our newest canned beer, Trade War Export Stout! To make the night extra fun, we've partnered with our friends over at Too Sweet Cakes bakery to pair their cookies with our beer. Each pint of Trade War purchased you get a FREE honey & vanilla chocolate cookie from Too Sweet Cakes - it's a match made in heaven!

Live music by Toast and Jam will go from 6:00-8:30.

Also - our brewers have made 3 variations of Trade War that will be available to try in a tasting package that are also paired with Too Sweet Cakes Cookies! The pairings are:

Trade War Stout with Cherry & Chocolate
Cookie: Almond & Cherry

Trade War Stout with Cardamon & Vanilla
Cookie: Brown Sugar & Cardamon

Trade War Stout with Coconut
Cookie: Coconut & Toffee ​

Saturday, January 26, 2019
2:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Downtown Bend Public Library -- Brooks Room
601 NW Wall St.
Bend, OR
Directions
Price: Free**Effective Communication Strategies

*Communication is more than just talking and listening – it’s also about sending and receiving messages through attitude, tone of voice, facial expressions and body language. As people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias progress in their journey and the ability to use words is lost, families need new ways to connect. Join us to explore how communication takes place when someone has Alzheimer’s, learn to decode the verbal and behavioral messages delivered by someone with dementia, and identify strategies to help you connect and communicate at each stage of the disease.

*To learn more or register, please call 1-800-272-3900.

Downtown is the heart of Bend - and has been for over 100 years.  As our City grows, we need to secure easy access for all (drivers, bike-riders, walkers, and bus riders) into and out of Downtown Bend.  Downtown is the civic, cultural and entrepreneurial hub of our City, and the Transit Master Plan needs to reflect this in it's near, mid, and long-term goals.  

January 15, 2019 – Wren and Wild announced today that it has relocated to 112 NW Minnesota Ave. A soft opening is scheduled for Friday, January 25h, as a private press party from 3-5 pm, then 5-9 for VIP Clients. Saturday and Sunday, the 26th and 27th, will be considered the official grand opening weekend, where specials and giveaways along with food and libations will be offered. 

​In the last several years, Wren and Wild has established themselves as the leading organization to provide clean beauty products. With over 20 years experience in the beauty industry, Mandy Butera created Wren and Wild after discovering how toxic conventional beauty has become. Her passion for natural products and nourishment from the inside out inspired her to create a green beauty store where you can experience your true self.

Rosa Shea, owner of Tangerine Hair Salon on Minnesota Ave in Downtown Bend, had a dream to be the best hair salon with the most incredible customer service.  With 38 four and five star reviews on Yelp, it looks like her dream is coming true.  Now, Rosa and her team are taking that vision to the next level with their recent remodel.  They have not only upgraded their space, but you'll find new products and services as well.  Call today to book an appointment, (541) 389-9090

In the current growth climate of Bend, Oregon you often hear cars and bikes pitched against each other.  When one person talks about parking and roads, the other side cries out about bikes and public transit.  The truth is that a healthy community has ALL of these things - safe bike/ped access throughout the City (especially in the Downtown district) abundant bike parking, a robust public transit system, forward-thinking development of roads and connectivity for cars, and adequate parking for residents and visitors.  

I think most people can agree that biking & public transit have a plethora of benefits.  It's healthy, it's better for the planet, it saves money, and it cuts down on congestion.  The DBBA diligently works to encourage Downtown employees to bike and carpool, actively works with Commute Options to explore new ways to educate and encourage people to use alternative modes of transportation, and advocates in their future Downtown vision for the development of bike/ped connections into Downtown, protected bike lanes, and increased bike parking.  The DBBA was an partner in bringing Zagster Bike Share and the Ride Bend bus to Downtown.  We love alternative modes of transportation!

Although we are passionate about biking and public transit, we also recognize the need to develop easy, effective road connections as well as adequate parking in the Downtown district.  Here are just a few cases where being able to drive and park in Downtown easily and safely is important:

The vision of the DBBA is to keep Downtown Bend an accessible and welcoming place for everyone, regardless of race, sex, religion, gender identity, age, social status, or mobility.  Downtown serves a unique and special role in our community.  It is the only shopping & arts district that is public. This allows it to fulfill a role in our community that no other place can.  Nationally, Downtowns serve as locations where communities come alive, where bonds among neighbors are strengthened and where a sense of belonging is fostered.  They are locations that spark economic development and drive entrepreneurial creativity. 

Currently there are 5,799 parking spaces in Downtown Bend, there are about 4,000 Downtown Bend employees, 94,520 Bend residents (reported by World Population Review), almost 20,000 visitors to Bend daily (reported by The Source in July 2016), we have upwards of 3,200 hotel rooms in Bend (reported by the Bulletin in Sept 2016), and in November of 2018 KTVZ reported that the High Desert population was growing by 20 people per day. 

At a recent meeting with ODOT, they reported that they expect the population to be 160,000 plus by 2040.  This is a 50% population increase in 20 years.  Currently, the Downtown Bend parking garage is frequently at capacity - especially during events or during busy shopping seasons (Art Walk, Christmas).  With the current population growth prediction, we can expect it to be outdated very soon.  We need to plan now for additional Downtown parking in the future.  

Parking is an important part of Downtown Bend's future success, and needs to be developed hand-in-hand with increased bike access & public transportation.  The City of Bend has done an amazing job addressing parking in Downtown Bend over this last year.  The candidate chosen as the Downtown Bend Parking Manager has worked effectively and quickly to appraise the situation, find 'quick-win' solutions, enroll teamwork from community partners, and implement new strategies.  Let's continue that good work by building a comprehensive plan for the future of transportation and parking in Downtown Bend. 

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BEND CULTURAL TOURISM FUND
Grant Applications Due April 12, 2019
 



​The Bend Cultural Tourism Commission announces the fifth year of the Bend Cultural Tourism Fund with the opening of its on-line grant application for Cultural Tourism grants. The complete application is due April 12, 2019 at 5:00 p.m.   Guidelines and instructions for both are available at https://www.visitbend.com/about-us/bend-cultural-tourism-fund/ The Commission will make its awards in May 2019, and anticipates over $200,000 in grant awards.
 
In 2018, the fund awarded a total of $205,000 helping local organizations leverage marketing resources to attract more cultural tourists during the shoulder seasons and winter months – a time of year when the city’s tourism industry is down yet the vibrant cultural activities so central to Bend’s character are still going strong.
 
The Bend Cultural Tourism Fund (BCTF) is a grant program dedicated to enhancing the local economy through the promotion and cultivation of Bend’s cultural tourism programs, with an emphasis on activities that help attract cultural tourists during the shoulder seasons and winter months. For more information, please see the website at
https://www.visitbend.com/about-us/bend-cultural-tourism-fund/. 

Last night during the City of Bend's City Council Goal Setting Work Session (video link here), City Council heard from a plethora of local community groups and neighborhood associations. The Downtown Bend Business Association was invited to talk about the needs of Downtown Bend business and building owners. 

The Downtown Bend Business Association (known as the DBBA or The Downtowners) spoke of the need to move people and products around Downtown Bend efficiently, safely and reliably.  This need aligns with City Council's 2017-2019 Goals & Objectives for the greater Bend community.  

Executive Director, Mindy Aisling, said that business and building owners within the Downtown Bend EID were concerned that they were closely approaching, or had already met, a cap on their customer count, and that they were concerned about how they could continue to grow their businesses without expanding and improving access to, and parking in, Downtown Bend.  Aisling reported that increased parking & accessibility was the DBBA's Board of Directors primary concern.  

The DBBA's written input to Council (see below) also mentions Safety & Hospitality and Future Planning and Budgeting as the top three areas of focus that the DBBA would like to witness in the near future.

​The DBBA's official, measurable, request to Council was to see the City's Capital Improvement Plans (CIPs) reflect the needs of Downtown Bend businesses and visitors, including a plan to develop a future parking garage, and to have the Transportation System Plan acknowledge Downtown Bend's location as a centrally located transportation hub for all modes of travel.

After the meeting, Aisling made statements supporting many of the requests from local groups that Council had heard from, including the Bend Orchard District Neighborhood Association's request for bike and pedestrian connections from the East side into the BCD and Downtown areas.  "We are doing everything we can to support and increase the use of alternative transportation into and out of Downtown Bend - both for our visitors and for the 4,000 plus employees that work in Downtown."

Aisling also praised the City of Bend in her comments, "I am honored to work with City of Bend staff, every staff member that I have had the opportunity to work with has shown creative, intelligent thinking and a commitment to positive growth in our community."

For more information, or to become a part of the Downtown Bend conversation, email the DBBA at downtownbend@gmail.com.