July/August 2026 Partner Pulse
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In This Issue:
- National Travel and Economic Trends July 2026
- Canadian Travel Sentiment Study July 2026
- Visit Portland Upcoming Events
- Partner Mixer
- Tourism Talks
- Portland on the Move
- SleepWell- Furniture Friends Sponsorship Opportunity
- Summer Itinerary with Capshore Photography
- Noteworthy Industry News and Events
- Portland in the Press
- Partner of the Month
- Featured B2B Partner
- New Partners
- Visit Portland Referrals
This month’s newsletter is packed with valuable updates, opportunities, and helpful information. Take a few minutes to read through it and stay in the know.
NATIONAL Travel and Economic Trends July 2026
- National hotel booking pace for August – November 2026 is running well ahead of last year at this point, with September pace up 9.1% year-over-year (compared to -2.5% at the same point last year) (Source: Tourism Economics)
- Greater Portland’s hotel booking pace for August is up 5.9% over last year. September is up 10.7%, October is slightly down 1.4%, and November is down 19.1%. (Source: Key Data)
- Note: 63% of Greater Portland’s visitors have a booking window of less than 3 months, so we expect October and November to rise. (Source: Downs & St. Germain)
- Recently, hotel demand has been exceeding air travel volumes, indicating that more travelers are opting to drive to their destinations.
- Overall hotel demand and rates are growing nationally; the latest forecast projects U.S. hotel demand up 1.3% and RevPAR up 2.8% for 2026, a solid rebound from a flat 2025.
Read more National trends here
Canadian Travel Sentiment Study July 2026
- Canadian travel to the U.S. is on the rise, with 28% of Canadian travelers visiting in the past six months, compared to 23% a year ago.
- 49% plan to visit the U.S. in the next 12 months, up from 43% this spring.
- The U.S. still wins on appeal; 91% of Canadian travelers agree the U.S. has “lots to see and do,” a study-period high. Perceptions of safety and welcome are lower, which is where Portland’s warm, small-city experience can stand out from the hesitant view of big U.S. cities.
Visit Portland Upcoming Events
Our next Partner Mixer will take place at Shipyard Brewing. Enjoy a beverage and some light bites while you network with fellow industry peers and Visit Portland staff. Mixers are free for partners and their staff.
Thursday, September 17, 2026
4:30 PM-6:30 PM
Shipyard Brewing | 27 Hancock St, Portland
Tourism Talks: KeyBank Presents “Wake Up & Grow with SBA”
Sponsored by the Clarion Hotel, Tourism Talks are free, partner-exclusive workshops for you and your staff led by professionals in their industry.
Join KeyBank for an informative workshop designed for entrepreneurs and small business owners looking to explore financing opportunities through SBA lending programs.
Wednesday, September 23, 2026
8:30 AM-10:00 AM
Clarion Hotel | 1230 Congress St, Portland
Portland on the Move
Last month, some members of the Visit Portland team traveled to the “other Portland” to attend the 2026 Destinations International Annual Convention, hosted in partnership with Travel Portland. Nearly 2,000 destination marketing and management leaders from around the world gathered under the theme “Solutions for Today, Strategies for Tomorrow.” The three-day conference focused on revenue growth, building community trust, strengthening teams, and delivering measurable results.
Fun travel memory from our CEO, Lynn Tillotson: “A highlight of the trip was seeing the famous Portland Penny—the very coin used in the historic best two-out-of-three coin toss that determined whether the city would be named Portland or Boston. As proud Mainers, it was a pretty special piece of history to see in person.”
SleepWell – Furniture Friends Sponsorship Opportunity
Furniture Friends is working with high school vocational students in Southern Maine to provide hands-on skill-building through the construction of sturdy, lightweight bed frames. The students deliver these frames, along with a mattress, at no cost. Furniture Friends is also working with Maine Needs to complete the full bedding package with soft, welcoming comforters, sheet sets, and pillows. We are looking forward to engaging Maine businesses to support this innovative program.
To learn more, contact Tae Chong at tae.chong@furniturefriends.org
Summer Itinerary with Capshore photography
Our latest itinerary, written and photographed by Amy Welch-Olson (Capshore), is a two-day itinerary designed for a friend-group getaway and spans Portland, South Portland, Cape Elizabeth, and Yarmouth. Thank you to the participating partner businesses; if you would like to be considered for additional media and PR initiatives, reach out to our Digital Marketing and PR Coordinator, Whitney.
Noteworthy Industry News and Events
- flyte new media has released a new article on our Partner Blog on how hospitality and tourism businesses can improve their visibility in AI search tools to strengthen web content and online reputation. Read here.
- The Maine Office of Tourism has released Q2 stakeholder updates. View the recording here. The next Quarterly Stakeholder Briefing will take place September 9 at 11:00 AM. This webinar will discuss visitor tracking research, a PR update, and more. Register here.
- According to the latest Longwoods International American Travel Sentiment Study, 28% of travelers used AI to plan a recent trip, up 9.0 points since August 2024 (19%). The top way travelers used AI to plan their trip was to find attractions and get ideas for destinations to visit. Learn more
- Industry Nights at the Portland Regency Hotel & Spa are happening every Sunday night from 2:00 PM-close at The Armory Lounge and Garden Cafe. Receive 25% off food and beverages.
- Discover New England’s upcoming educational webinar is featuring a Mexico Market update. To join this webinar, click here.
Portland in the Press
- Travel + Leisure featured Portland and the Casco Bay Lines Ferry. This article was also picked up by AOL and Yahoo. Read article here.
- Additionally, Travel + Leisure showcased various Portland attractions in another feature, which can be viewed here.
pARTNER OF THE MONTH
Our Partner of the Month Program highlights Visit Portland Partners who have made extraordinary efforts to support our mission.
Click here to see who we are honoring this month.
fEATURED b2B PARTNER
Good Company helps leaders meet the moment with clarity and confidence. Their mindful leadership approach blends evidence-based practice, practical tools, and meaningful conversation to create lasting change. Good Company creates the space and structure for growth that endures, one conversation at a time. View listing
New Partners
Visit Portland Referrals
Pro Tip: If you refer a business to Visit Portland, you’ll receive $25 off your partnership renewal.
Why am I seeing both logos?
Our new brand is rolling out in phases, with the launch of our new website serving as a key milestone before a full public transition. Because this update spans every touchpoint, from digital platforms to signage and printed materials, you will see both logos in use for a short period. We appreciate your patience as we work to complete the transition by the end of June.