Visitors Development Fund

The purpose of the Visitors Development Fund (VDF) is to ensure that expenditures of revenues from the 2.5% increase in the Multnomah County transient lodging tax and vehicle rental tax that are allocated to the VDF shall be expended to attract visitors to Portland, Oregon and Multnomah County that maximize hotel occupancy and vehicle rentals.

Background

In April 2000 the hotel and rental car industries agreed to self-tax themselves and increase the existing occupancy and rental car taxes by 2.5%. Through an unprecedented public/private partnership the Visitors Development Initiative (VDI) was created and the tax increase has generated enough revenue to not only expand the Oregon Convention Center, but also assist in capital improvements for PCPA and Jeld-Wen Field, provide enhanced marketing dollars for the convention center and create a Visitor Development Fund for the purpose mentioned above.

The PRIMARY CATEGORY of the VDF is to secure Citywide Conventions, Meeting and Tradeshows, utilizing the convention facilities that generate hotel room and vehicle rental revenues in Multnomah County. It is imperative that the convention facilities are successful in order to generate the maximum economic return for the community and to ensure the success of the other elements of the VDI.

The SECONDARY CATEGORY of the VDF funds is to secure leisure activities and events that maximize hotel occupancy and vehicle rentals in Multnomah County.

Contact

For more information, contact grants@pdxvdf.com