portland maine tourism development district

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PORTLAND, MAINE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT

About the portland tourism development district.

 The mission of the Portland Tourism Development District (PTDD) is to enhance tourism-related activities and infrastructure in the City of Portland by promoting tourism, improving the physical environment, fostering economic development, providing visitor services, facilitating collaboration among stakeholders, and funding these efforts through special assessments on local businesses. The PTDD is dedicated to attracting more visitors, improving the local economy, and ensuring a positive visitor experience by working collectively with tourism-related businesses, local government, and other partners to achieve our goals.    

Our HISTORY

The Greater Portland Convention & Visitors Bureau dba/Visit Portland was formed in October of 1982 by a group of hoteliers wishing to focus on marketing to the visitor and meetings industry.  After nearly 33 years, in 2015, the organization and its Board of Directors began researching the potential of creating a creative funding mechanism for destination marketing.  It was then that the concept of a Tourism Improvement District (TID) was introduced. Seeing the success of over 170 destinations implementing a TID in 2019, they enlisted Civitas's assistance to form a Tourism Improvement District.  After four years and several ups and downs, the Portland Tourism Development District (PTDD) was the 210th district formed in the United States.  

The PTDD is governed by a twelve-member board of directors comprised of a hotel majority from the City of Portland, non-PTDD Visit Portland Partners, and a non-voting ex-officio city representative. The board oversees the careful stewardship of PTDD dollars to create solid and measurable results in attracting tourism activity, increasing overnight stays, and growing Portland’s tourism market share.

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Portland city council approves new hotel tax to fund tourism marketing campaign.

The 1.5% tax would double the budget of the 'Visit Portland' tourism group

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The Portland City Council voted Monday to create a tourism development district, with the purpose of funding a new tourism marketing campaign for the city.

The 5-4 vote will allow city hotels with more than 40 beds to charge a 1.5% tax to fund the "Visit Portland" tourism office.

The program would double its current budget of just under $1 million, which is often dwarfed by the tourism spending of similar-sized cities across the country.

Some city councilors said that the funding would be better used to serve Portland residents and tackle the issues of the city, such as housing, rather than attract outside visitors.

Business owners say that an increase in tourism would also increase the city's revenue and that Portland is capable of becoming a year-round destination.

This is the biggest city, probably the only city of 'vacationland,'" said Donato Giovine, the owner of Gorgeous Gelato on Fore Street. "And 'vacationland' means that you have to invest a lot on tourists, on tourism, and on trying to attract them. Otherwise, it's 'vacationland' just on the plates."

The proposal was amended by the council to ensure that 10% of the funding would go to attracting visitors of color to Portland.

Formation of Landmark Portland Tourism Development District

A huge congratulations to Portland, Maine, on the formation of the Portland Tourism Development District (PTDD) under the visionary leadership of Lynn Tillotson, President and CEO of Visit Portland.

The PTDD’s unique assessment method, based on the business activity related to each parcel within the district, creates a fair and rational funding model. This model leverages the average short-term room rental occupancy percentage and the Average Daily Rate (ADR) as reported by STR. This value is multiplied by one and one-half percent (1.5%), a method firmly grounded in the 36 Maine Revised Statutes §1811. The genius of this approach is the careful calibration of the funding model to the prosperity of the tourism sector itself. As the sector thrives, so too will the funds available for reinvestment into further growth and development.

With an impressive first full year budget projected at approximately $2,953,968, the PTDD is poised to provide a meaningful boost to Portland’s economy. It’s a testament to the meticulous planning and rigorous execution of the team led by Lynn Tillotson. The subsequent annual assessments will continue to evaluate the benefits accrued by the parcels based on the business activity, ensuring a cyclical, ongoing growth process.

The PTDD, an exceptional initiative that required both a comprehensive vision and meticulous attention to detail, is primarily designed to fund Sales, Marketing, Promotions, Destination Development, and Special Events. Notably, the district will also support sustainable initiatives and workforce development programs, reaffirming Portland’s commitment to a thriving, sustainable, and equitable tourism industry.

Tillotson, with her unyielding determination and innovative mindset, has relentlessly worked for over four years to bring this project to fruition. Through her leadership, the creation of the PTDD now sets an ambitious precedent for developing the Portland tourism industry while also sustaining the environment and enhancing the local community’s prosperity.

“As an organization funded 100% through membership dues over the last 40 years, we could not be more excited! Tourism is Maine’s #1 industry, and small businesses and their employees rely on visitor spending. We aim to increase awareness during the winter months to help level out the seasonality, ensuring workers have a more regular year-round schedule. In winter, Portland is a fantastic place to be, and we want to tell the world.” notes Tillotson. “These funds will significantly impact our ability to market our destination. Thank you, Civitas, for your unwavering dedication and help over these four years; we could not have done it without you.”

Congratulations to the team at Visit Portland and its leadership, Lynn Tillotson, whose vision and tenacity have made the PTDD a reality. They, as a team, have pioneered a new path for tourism and development in the city, paving the way for a future that is brighter, more prosperous, and more sustainable. We see great things for the tourism industry in Portland, Maine.

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18 Best Things to Do in Portland, According to a Maine Local

Delicious seafood restaurants, beautiful island excursions, and cool breweries await.

When it comes to finding things to do in Portland, Maine, there's no one itinerary that fits all. The Pine Tree State's largest city is filled with maritime history, waterfront trails, and a slew of artisanal shops, award-winning restaurants, and craft breweries.

As a lifelong Mainer and former Portland resident, I can recommend a few things to keep in mind when planning your trip. For starters, pack some comfortable shoes and layers (even the hottest of summer days come with brisk nights).

Portland is essentially divided into two parts: on-peninsula (where the bulk of the following recommendations are located) and off-peninsula (including the outskirts and many residential neighborhoods). Walking, biking, taxis, and public transportation are all options if you mainly plan to stay on the peninsula. If you want to explore the outskirts of town, you'll likely need a car. Parking can be complicated, especially during peak travel months, so you may want to choose a hotel that offers it (such as The Francis, where it's free for guests).

From historical trails to island excursions, here are 18 of the best things to do in Portland, Maine.

Walk along the Eastern Promenade.

For a quintessential waterfront stroll, set off along the Eastern Promenade Trail from downtown Portland. The two-mile path is one of several in the park of the same name , designed by the renowned Olmsted Brothers in the early 1900s. Along the way, look out for the many migratory birds that make a rest stop here, and grab a bite from the food trucks in the Cutter Street parking lot. The East End Beach (which is more rocks than sand) is a scenic spot to take in the views of Casco Bay or rent a kayak for a different perspective of the city. If you want to explore further, the promenade links to the Back Cove Trail and Bayside Trail .

Enjoy the view from the Portland Observatory.

Get a 360-degree panorama of the city from atop the 86-foot-tall Portland Observatory . You can climb the seven flights of stairs at your own pace or request a guided tour for a deeper dive into the legacy of the building. The tower, which dates from the early 1800s, is the only remaining historic maritime signal station in the United States. Open from late May to early October, it's run by the nonprofit Greater Portland Landmarks , which also offers walking tours of various Portland neighborhoods.

Have a drink at Luna Rooftop Bar.

The Canopy by Hilton has a prime location on the Portland waterfront, and its rooftop bar and restaurant, Luna , has become a favorite among hotel guests and locals since it opened in 2021. Small bites and artisanal cocktails await with a panoramic view of the harbor from the sixth-floor vantage point. If you happen to book a stay at the hotel, don't miss the pastries and specialty lattes at Salt Yard , located on the street level.

Visit the art gallery in The Press Hotel.

Housed in the former headquarters of the Portland Press Herald, The Press Hotel is one of the best luxury hotels in Maine . Even if you're not staying here, it's worth popping by the property's lower-level art gallery, which is open to the public and spotlights the state's emerging and established creatives. Stick around for a beverage in the lobby bar, which pays homage to the glory days of journalism with an installation of 62 vintage typewriters.

Check out an event at Thompson's Point.

Thompson's Point is a one-stop spot for entertainment, a children's museum, and year-round special events (it even has a skating rink in the winter). In the summer, the venue offers free live music at sunset and ticketed concerts in partnership with the State Theatre , as well as a wide selection of food trucks and places to grab a beer, wine, or coffee. On select Sundays, the restored railroad shed hosts the Maker's Market, where you can shop for pieces from local artisans while sipping mimosas from the bar.

Go brewery hopping.

With a craft beer scene like Portland, picking just one brewery to visit is impossible. The Maine Brews Cruise offers behind-the-scenes walking and bus tours of the city's pubs and breweries. Those wanting to experience Portland's breweries on their own time can check out the Maine Brewers' Guild's route planner , which allows you to build a personalized itinerary and map.

Eat tacos at Bird & Co.

While many visitors have their taste buds set on fresh Maine seafood (and rightly so), this taco joint should not be skipped. Thankfully, the 12 taco varieties are sold individually because the creative menu will likely have you ordering one of each (or close to it). Vegan and vegetarian options are deliciously celebrated, too.

Admire masterpieces at the Portland Museum of Art.

Whether you're a museum lover or simply looking for things to do in Portland on a rainy day, you can't go wrong with a visit to Maine's largest and oldest public art institution. Founded in 1882, the Portland Museum of Art features temporary exhibits and a permanent collection with over 19,000 works, including pieces by Andy Warhol and Claude Monet. The museum spans three architecturally stunning buildings in the city's vibrant Arts District and boasts a great sculpture garden. Check out the calendar to see what's on, or plan your visit around the free admission times, including Friday evenings and every third Thursday of the month.

Take the ferry to Peaks Island.

One of the best things to do in Portland (or anywhere in Maine, for that matter) is to get out on the water — especially in the summer. For a few dollars each way, a 20-minute ride to the islands of Casco Bay will let you bask in the ocean air, and the frequent ferry schedule makes it easy to fit into your itinerary. On the charming Peaks Island, you can find a quiet picnic spot, enjoy ice cream from Down Front or a cinnamon bun from Peaks Cafe, and stop by the one-a-kind Umbrella Cover Museum . Kayak and bicycle rentals are available (though golf carts are the preferred method of transportation). For a longer getaway from the city, spend the night at The Inn on Peaks Island.

Shop at The Black Box.

Located on the popular strip of Washington Avenue, The Black Box is a series of repurposed shipping containers that provide small businesses with a physical space to operate. Current retailers include Moonday Coffee, Thicket Jewelry, and Pinebury activewear. Since this is an incubator space, check the website for the most up-to-date businesses.

Ride the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad.

This family-friendly railway takes passengers on 40-minute train rides along the Eastern Promenade with scenic views of Casco Bay. Save some time to roam the museum before or after the ride. In the summer, there's the Ice Cream Train, where every passenger gets a cone, and winter brings the festive Polar Express, based on the popular Christmas movie.

Discover hidden gems on Stevens Avenue.

There's a small stretch of Stevens Avenue in the Deering Center neighborhood that's not to be missed. Grab a coffee at Rwanda Bean , where 50 percent of the profits go back to the farmers. Then, check out The Honey Exchange to learn about beekeeping and peruse some home goods, natural beauty and health products, honey-based items, and local beverages. Darby Jones , a boutique that dubs its carefully selected wares as "desirable nonessentials," is a great alternative for typical souvenirs.

Chow down on fresh seafood at Luke's Lobster.

There's a certain buzz and sense of place that comes with dining within arm's reach of a working waterfront. Seeing the fisherpeople pull up with the day's catch connects diners at Luke's Lobster with their meal and the local community. But it isn't just the fresh seafood that's to be celebrated. Luke's Lobster has outposts around the globe, including an online market, and it's proud of its sustainable practices and Certified B Corp status.

Catch some live music.

Portland attracts an array of musicians and artists, and is home to multiple venues for performers. Portland House of Music , One Longfellow Square , State Theatre , Blue , and Merrill Auditorium are among the most popular spots to enjoy a concert.

Go lobstering with Lucky Catch Cruises.

Experience a day in the life of a lobster fisher with Lucky Catch Cruises , which offers interactive excursions focusing on Maine's most important food export. During the 90-minute tour around Casco Bay, you can try your hand at hauling up the traps and enjoy the scenic views of the coast, historic forts, and lighthouses. After the cruise, purchase some lobster at the wholesale price — the restaurant next door, Portland Lobster Company , will happily cook your catch for you.

Wander the cobblestone streets of the Old Port.

The Old Port is a section of downtown Portland that's home to 19th-century red brick buildings, cool boutiques, bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and live entertainment venues. Even when Portland's population soars from 66,000 to more than two million in the summertime, there's a quaint vibe to this part of the city. Pair your visit with a sail with Portland Schooner Co. , which offers two-hour Windjammer cruises around the bay.

Stop by Maine's oldest bookstore.

Founded in 1886, Sherman's Maine Coast Book Shop has several locations around the state, including one in the heart of Portland on Exchange Street. Here, you can find books by local authors, as well as those on the bestseller list. Sherman's also sells gifts, toys, and a variety of Maine-made specialty items.

Grab a bite at The Porthole.

Yes, it will be busy, but The Porthole is simply one of those places you have to experience in Portland. The hole-in-the-wall restaurant opened on the waterfront in 1929 to fuel fishermen early in the morning before they went out for a day of laborious work. May we suggest the lobster Benedict for breakfast and baked stuffed haddock for dinner?

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Visit Portland seeks to add guest fee to fund tourism marketing boost

Visit Portland hopes to create a Tourism Improvement District to provide a source of funding for hotels to use for promotion and other efforts to increase room occupancy and the amount of money tourists spend in the area.

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Tourism in Portland has fluctuated over the last few years in comparison to the state’s overall upward trend. Now a promotional organization for the greater Portland region wants to change that with a new hotel guest fee that would fund more marketing.

Maine’s tourism numbers climbed from 27.9 million visitors in 2012 to 37.4 million in 2019, but greater Portland’s numbers see-sawed between 5.3 million and 6 million during the same period, according to Visit Portland President and CEO Lynn Tillotson.

Courtyard Portland Downtown/Waterfront on Commercial Street is one of the hotels that is supportive of a Tourism Improvement District, which would assess guests an additional fee that would then be used for hotel marketing, group sales and promotions. Michael Kelley / The Forecaster

“Our visitation in Greater Portland is not seeing an increase,” Tillotson said. “We are seeing this little up and down thing. We should be seeing a steady increase as it correlates to the state’s increase.”

Tillotson hopes Portland can become the first municipality in the state to establish a Tourism Improvement District to provide a funding stream to better market the area as a year-round travel destination. Guests at participating hotels would pay an additional 2% of their total bill to the district, which in turn would be used for group sales, marketing, promotion and other efforts to increase room occupancy and the amount of money tourists are spending in the area.

An estimated $2.1 million per year could be raised through the district, Tillotson said, and that would go a long way towards helping Visit Portland market the area as a travel destination. Many other marketing organizations like Visit Portland are funded through local option sales tax, which Maine does not have. Instead Visit Portland’s promotion efforts are funded through membership. Prior to the pandemic, the organization was operating on a close to $1 million budget, but the budget is now closer to $439,000. In comparison, the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority that markets Asheville, North Carolina, a market similar to Portland, has a $20 million budget, funded through a room occupancy tax.

While the tourism numbers in the city have seesawed over the years, the hotel room inventory in Portland had skyrocketed. Since 1980, the number of hotel rooms in the city has increased 319%, from 1,026 to 3,574. Advertisement

A Tourism Improvement District, Tillotson said, is a “effective and proven solution for tourism and marketing funding.”

Aaron Marks, general manager of the Courtyard Portland Downtown/Waterfront, thinks forming the district is a good idea to help hotels in the area, especially the smaller ones.

“I think it is a great way for us to pool together and will be a benefit for the region,” he said.

Project consultant Tiffany Gallagher of Civitas Advisors said the popularity of the districts is picking up across the county. Right now there are 190 districts in 17 states, but the closest to Maine is in Newport, Rhode Island. There are discussions in 18 other states, including Massachusetts and New York, to establish new districts.

The goal, Gallagher said, is the establish the Portland’s district by late summer or early fall, after receiving City Council review and approval.

“If we can more through the process in the summer, ideally the district could be collecting in the fall and begin spending that money to benefit the hotels,” she said.

The idea, according to Visit Portland, has the support of many of the hotels in the city, including the Press Hotel,  Canopy by Hilton, Hyatt Place Portland, Hilton Garden Inn Waterfront,  Clarion Hotel, Courtyard Portland Downtown/Waterfront, Hilton Garden Inn Airport, Westin Portland Harborview, LaQuinta, Ramada Inn, Residence Inn Portland Downtown, Portland Harbor Hotel and Cambria Hotel.

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A Maine tourism hotspot hopes new housing project will revive its middle class

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Greenville’s town leaders and businesses hope a proposed housing development will bring a much-needed economic boost to an area that has struggled to attract and retain workers because of its limited housing stock.

The Northern Forest Center last week announced  it bought a 5-acre parcel off Spruce Street where it will build a 29-unit housing development, including a mix of multi-family buildings, duplexes and single-family homes, over the next three years. It is designed to provide the “missing-middle housing” that will enable families to invest in the town and “build the sustainability of the Moosehead Lake region’s year-round economy,” Director Mike Wilson said.

The local hospital, an inn owner and others said Wednesday they see the development, estimated to cost $11.5 million, as a step to alleviating the lack of affordable housing in town. They hope it helps employers fill vacancies and gives prospective workers more reasonably priced options. The development has the potential to inject new energy into Greenville and draw young families to grow the school’s population, they said.

“We have this vast outdoor playground that is really attractive to young workers and families. I talk to people who want to move here, but if you can’t provide housing, you hit a dead end,” said Jenn Whitlow, owner of the Blair Hill Inn.

Whitlow has had to provide housing for her employees since she bought the inn two years ago. She spent days calling owners of short-term rentals to get six-month and year-long leases at three houses in town, where eight of her roughly 30 employees live. Some contribute partially toward rent, but Whitlow covers the expenses for many because it’s a more affordable arrangement for them, she said.

When Whitlow’s spa manager wanted to buy a house in Greenville and couldn’t find one, she offered her the apartment on the inn’s property. She didn’t want to lose someone whose experience has boosted the offerings and professionalism of the spa, she said.

“When you don’t have the talent locally for some of these speciality roles, you have to bring people in and give them housing,” she said.

Whitlow imagines she will always have to provide housing because it makes the job more enticing, especially for seasonal workers. Some of her employees are local, while others are from outside the state and country.

Once the development is built, however, she will look to rent there and sponsor the applications of employees interested in living there, she said.

One of Greenville’s major employers, Northern Light CA Dean Hospital, supports the Northern Forest Center efforts because housing is a barrier to recruiting and retaining staffers. Traveling nurses, for instance, find it a challenge to find temporary housing, a hospital spokesperson said.

“Some employees face long commute times. Others choose housing in or near Greenville that doesn’t completely meet their needs because of the low inventory of affordable local housing,” said Marie Vienneau, the hospital’s president.

Whitlow knows people who live in Greenville’s low-income housing developments “who are gainfully employed and ready to step out of that,” she said, but there are no realistic options for them. She hopes this new development can give them that opportunity, she said.

It might also be interesting to seniors who own homes and wish to scale back, said Margarita Contreni, president of the Moosehead Lake Regional Economic Development Corp.

The group had plans to bring single-family homes to the land off Spruce Street but sold it to the Northern Forest Center because it couldn’t find a developer who could do it “within our financial targets,” she said, adding that prices only rose with the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation.

The Northern Forest Center is the right group to execute the project because it has brought middle-income housing to Millinocket and communities in other states, Contreni said.

The Greenville development will be the group’s sixth housing project and the first to be built from the ground up. The center has previously developed housing in Millinocket and in New Hampshire, with other projects planned in Bethel, Maine; St. Johnsbury, Vermont; and Tupper Lake, New York.

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Applications from the FY 2024 Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, and Cleanup Grant Competition

In concert with EPA’s commitment to conducting business in an open and transparent manner, copies of applications submitted under the FY 2024 Multipurpose, Assessment, and Cleanup Grant solicitation are being publicly available until August 31, 2024 , on this webpage. Note, attachments (including attachments that were included in response to threshold criteria), and information that confidential, privileged, or sensitive information have been removed or redacted. Please contact the applicant for additional information.

EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of the information. The cooperative agreement is negotiated after the selection announcement. Therefore, the funding amount and activities described in the selected applications are subject to change.

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