Control the Controllables: Leadership, Accessibility, and Strategic Focus in Central Oregon

In this episode, Eric sits down with Scott Larson, President & CEO of Visit Central Oregon, to unpack how destination leaders navigate uncertainty, prioritize what matters, and make long-term bets in a short-term world. From accessibility as both a moral and market imperative to using the World Cup not as a campaign—but as a test, this conversation is a masterclass in disciplined thinking. This isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing the right things—on purpose. 🔑 What You’ll Learn 1. Why most conference energy dies—and how to keep it alive The move: don’t bring back 15 ideas. Bring back 1–2 and actually build around them. Momentum isn’t about inspiration. It’s about constraint. 2. Accessibility isn’t a feature—it’s a system Central Oregon’s approach to working with accessibility platforms: Overcoming business fear (“is this a liability?”) Moving beyond compliance → toward usability Building toward a filtered, personalized experience layer (not just blogs) The real insight: Most destinations say they’re accessible. Very few make it discoverable. 3. The missed opportunity in travel UX Current state: “Here are 5 trails… one of them works for you.” Future state: “Tell us your needs → we’ll show you only what works.”