Todd Davidson 

Deb Vaughn 

Amy Drake 

Emele Hibdon 

Tay Vaughn 

Bryan Mullaney 

Hannah Hicks 

Thomas Moser 

Terry Hopkins 

Jake Haupert

TJ Holmes 

Gabby Conner

Jessica Cannon 

Sean Smith 

Kim Freeze 

Will Volpert 

Alison Hensley Sexauer 

2026 Southern Oregon Travel Jam

T﻿ravel Southern Oregon is the Regional Destination Marketing/Management Organization (RDMO) for southern Oregon covering Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath and Lake County.

Travel Southern Oregon

Feb 23, 2026 in Medford—a day of fresh ideas, powerful connections &amp; regenerative travel insights from keynote Jake Haupert.

Rogue Valley Country Club

<p>This one-day event, held at the Rogue Valley Country Club in Medford, will be jam-packed with fresh ideas, powerful connections, and hands-on inspiration for everyone working to elevate tourism in Southern Oregon. Whether you’re a business owner, creative professional, land manager, tribal or nonprofit partner, the Travel Jam is your space to connect, learn, and transform the travel experience.</p>

Agenda

Kick off the conference on Sunday night (2/22) at Dunbar Farms with a casual evening of local food and drink and connection with fellow industry colleagues. 

Sunday Social at Dunbar Farms 

2026 Travel Jam Registration Check-In  and Exhibitor Showcase

Welcome Address

Enjoy refreshments and networking in the pre-function space. 

Break 

What is the difference between ad Letter of Intent and an actual Grant Application? Why are there so many character limits on narrative responses? Do funders hold it against applicants if they reapply after being previously denied? Should I start a new non-profit? If you’ve ever asked yourself any of these questions, join us for a conversation about the “why’s” of different grant opportunities, including LOI-based programs, invitation-only cycles and grants with rolling deadline. Leveraging a cumulative 25 years of managing both public and community-based grant programs, Amy and Deb will help pull back the curtain on the mindset of funders to help attendees understand how to better prepare for and submit successful applications.



Breakout 1A: Making Grants Magic: Strategies for Funding Success In Different 

Breakout 1B: Building Brand Excellence Through Strategic PR

Making social media feel effortless and deliver real results is possible. Join Tay Vaughn, Head of Creative at GO Creative Group, for a session on social media creative direction that drives performance for travel and tourism clients. Attendees will learn a practical framework for aligning goals and target markets with clear creative direction that streamlines content creation and drives measurable results.

Breakout 1C: Social Media Tune Up: Setting Creative Direction that Works

Join Travel Oregon Strategy Manager, Hannah Hicks, and Research Director, Bryan Mullaney for an overview of Travel Oregon’s research and how to turn findings into actionable insights. Attendees will learn how incorporating available data supports better visitor experiences, stronger economic outcomes, and more sustainable destination management.

Breakout 2A: Where to Find & How To Use Tourism Data

This session highlights the responsibility- and opportunity - organizations have to serve as trusted voices for their industries while navigating public policy and funding conversations.

Breakout 2B: Advocacy as Stewardship: Representing Your Industry at the Policy

Attendees will learn key industry terminology, explore the differences between Oregon’s core international markets, and gain insight into how these markets approach visiting Oregon. Whether you’re a DMO, hotel, attraction, or other tourism partner, you’ll leave with a clear understanding of the role receptive tour operators play and how to confidently engage and follow up with them. This is your opportunity to move beyond mystery and start building meaningful travel trade connections that lead to more international business.

Breakout 2C: "Demystifying the FIT Travel Trade: Connecting Oregon Partners wi

Presenting Sponsor: Travel Medford

Designing the Destination of the Future with Keynote Speaker Jake Haupert 

Lunch with Travel Southern Oregon

Hear directly from regional partners as they share recent project wins from across Southern Oregon. This panel highlights collaborative efforts, innovative ideas, and measurable successes that are elevating our region’s visitor experience

Southern Oregon Regional Project Wins Panel

This presentation explains how travelers find and trust tourism businesses online, and how sharing your local knowledge helps more people discover and choose you.

Breakout 3A: Search Visibility Drives Visitation: How Travelers Find You

Food and agriculture quietly shape nearly every tourism experience — from where people stay and eat to how they move through a place. This session explores how values-driven travelers, local food networks, and intentional partnerships help destinations keep dollars circulating locally, strengthening both visitor appeal and regional resilience.

Breakout 3C: Local, Local Everywhere: How Place-Based Food Choices Shape Memor

The strongest destinations grow alongside their partners. This session explores how shared-value partnerships-where everyone benefits meaningfully-can drive growth, community buy in, and resilient destination marketing strategies.

Breakout 3B: Redefining Value: Building Partnerships That Strengthen Your Dest

Tourism Entrepreneurship Panel 

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2026 Southern Oregon Travel Jam

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2026 Southern Oregon Travel Jam

More events from Travel Southern Oregon

Discover more events from Travel Southern Oregon, from Travel & Outdoor to other experiences you might love.

More Travel & Outdoor events

Browse more Travel & Outdoor events with different dates, prices, and formats to find your next great experience.

Still looking for the right event?

Explore all events in Medford and filter by date, category, and more to find the perfect fit.