Travel Oregon Names New Government Director — Oregon Journalism Venture

By James Neff
June 3, 2026

Kate Sinner, a director at Business Oregon with connections all through state authorities, was chosen Wednesday to take over as the chief director at Travel Oregon, the state’s tourism promotion company.

Greg Willitts, chair of the Oregon Tourism Commission, stated in a press release: “Kate strikes the right balance between government executive leadership and private-sector acumen. She is passionate about Oregon, and her energy is infectious. Kate is the leader we need for Travel Oregon.”

Sinner, 48, steps into an vital job at a tricky time. Tourism generates about $14 billion of financial exercise yearly and helps 120,000 jobs in Oregon. (Travel Oregon’s $45 million funds comes instantly from lodging taxes.)

But worldwide journey to Oregon, significantly from Canada, is down, based on Travel Oregon information, due partially to the Trump administration’s tariffs and its rhetoric about making Canada the 51st U.S. state.

Furthermore, home journey to the state has been harm by rising gasoline costs, which have soared as a result of U.S.-Israel struggle with Iran.

Sinner, whose wage was authorised at as much as $249,000, replaces former govt director Todd Davidson, who had a base wage of $365,000 and whose complete compensation reached $477,000 in 2024.

The decades-long Travel Oregon chief introduced his retirement final May simply earlier than OJP revealed an investigation into the company that detailed a poisonous office that flourished from free oversight by its board of commissioners and the Legislature, and delayed $9 million in grants for small companies.

Sinner labored for the previous eight years at Business Oregon, the state’s financial improvement company.

Before that, she served as a legislative staffer for Govs. John Kitzhaber and Kate Brown from 2014 to 2017. She lobbied for Oregon State University from 2007 to 2014 and labored as a contract lobbyist within the Capitol for CFM Advocates from 2004 to 2007.

“My entire career has been dedicated to Oregon,” Sinner stated in a press release, “and I can’t think of a better way to contribute to its economic success than serving in this role with the many partners across the state.”

Gov. Tina Kotek, who authorised her hiring Thursday, stated in a press release: “I am excited for the opportunities ahead under Kate’s leadership to broaden our approach to destination management so that we maximize the economic potential of travel and business development in every corner of our state, while staying true to Oregon’s values.”