OTEC's PlaceVR Video Featured in Industry Magazine

Article pulled from NWPPA Bulletin magazine.

Eastern Oregon is a popular vacation destination and tourism is one of the top three industries for the four-county area that Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative serves. Along with providing safe and reliable electric service for the area, the cooperative is involved with economic development and they know that local businesses are hurting as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fortunately, OTEC already has a project in progress that's going to jump-start economic development and attract future visitors: virtual tours with 360-degree video and virtual reality.

"The lack of tourism is really hurting a lot of businesses, so we're looking at that impact and how to help them," said Lea Gettle, OTEC's manager of administration and strategic services. "Because we already started our PlaceVR projects, we can offer people an experience online, just like all of the big museums and tourist attractions are doing."

Virtual tours with 360-degree video

PlaceVR is the name of the division at Golden Shovel Agency that is producing a series of 360-degree video and virtual reality experiences for OTEC to attract business investment, new residents, and tourists to Eastern Oregon.

"We really think our virtual tours are going to be an important piece for attracting visitors once everything opens up," said Gettle. "We're hoping that it's going to give people a taste of the beauty and amenities that our region offers so that they'll plan their next vacation here."

The 360-degree videos, called Familiarization Tours, put viewers in the middle of scenes that allow them to experience the vastness of the landscape; get a feel for downtown thoroughfares and amenities; and step inside businesses and attractions to see what they're really like.

Brain activity mimics being in a new place.

The immersive nature of 360-degree video creates an intense experience for the viewer that fires the same brain activity as if the person were really in a new place. The result is that people remember what they've seen and heard, and they're open to taking action - like booking a trip to visit in person.

Local tourism partners have shifted their marketing strategy as they think forward to a post-pandemic future. They have previously been successful in promoting Eastern Oregon to international audiences, but now they're shifting those marketing dollars to states and regions that are closer to home and OTEC is doing its part to help with these efforts.

"People aren't going to be comfortable traveling by plane and want to avoid crowds. We think more people will want to stay local and instead choose activities like camping and mountain biking," said Gettle.

Rural Oregon seeks to attract remote workers

Not only does OTEC believe that their 360-degree videos are going to be a powerful tactic to attract post-pandemic tourims, they see opportunities to attract new residents who suddenly have the opportunity to work from anywhere because of the changing attitudes about remote work.

For many, relocating to Baker, Grant, Union, or Harney counties would be a dream come true. Outdoor spaces for hiking, mountain biking, hunting, fishing, and camping are minutes away. In the winter, the region is a haven for snow sports like skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling. These are exactly the kind of activities that you can experience with the 360-degree tours.

Watch the videos and learn more about OTEC's economic development efforts at economicdevelopment.otec.coop or placevr.net.