The UO hosts conferences and guests from all over the world, and many faculty and staff are frequent flyers traveling near and far to conferences as well.

To help all those trips go smoothly, the university will host the UO Travel Fair this week in the EMU ballroom with more than 50 travel vendors on hand. The trade show-style fair will also host a series of breakout sessions on travel presentations and topics.

From 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 14, travel coordinators, faculty and staff are invited to attend the fair at no charge to learn more about travel resources available in Eugene as well as tips for traveling domestically and internationally.

“The trade show will offer information about travel, hotel pricing partners will attend and representatives from Travel Lane County, Bolt Bus and Mount Bachelor Ski Resort are part of the event,” said Laurie Jacoby, travel manager at the UO business affairs office.

UO travel coordinators are encouraged to attend and invite people in their departments who travel. It’s a chance for UO travelers to meet with travel partners.

“The university spends about $20 million per year on outbound and inbound conferences, and departments bring in people from all over the world,” Jacoby said. “Travel tips that people don’t always think about — like immunizations before traveling — and other information to keep in mind while traveling are offered in the educational breakouts.”  

Shuttle companies, taxis, airlines and hotels in Eugene, Portland and other areas will have representatives at the fair.Last year there were 250 to 275 people who attended, and this year Jacoby is expecting 300 to 350 people.

The breakouts also will discuss the ins and outs of international travel as well as mitigating risks and illness. PanAm.Travel will examine the benefits of using a travel management company, and smart traveling tips and airfare quotes are also part of the breakouts.

“We want travelers to know they are invited and we want them to attend,” Jacoby said.

―By Corinne Boyer, Public Affairs Communications intern