Dear Tourism Partners,

Just a few days from now is election day, and I think it could be one of the most consequential in Tulsa history.

On the ballot this Nov. 3 is a proposal to raise the existing hotel guest tax rate from 5 percent to 9.9 percent (bringing it in-line with other cities across the state like Oklahoma City, Norman and Enid), assessed on hotel room stays in the City of Tulsa.

This is not a tax on Tulsa residents; it does not touch income taxes, sales taxes or property taxes. It is only paid by those who book hotel rooms in the city. These funds allow for much-needed renovation and maintenance to the BOK Center, Arvest Convention Center and Tulsa Performing Arts Center, and allow for resources to market Tulsa worldwide, driving visitors to eat in our restaurants, visit our small businesses and generate the sales tax that our city runs on.

This proposal is also a wonderful example of citywide collaboration—unanimously approved by city council and supported by the Mayor’s office as well as Tulsa’s hotel, restaurant and business community.

Tulsa is enjoying a run of worldwide acclaim and momentum not seen since the oil boom of the 1920s. It’s time to capitalize on that momentum and propel Tulsa into the future and solidify ourselves as a premier, top-tier destination for travelers, business, sports and more around the world.

Tulsa is certainly having a moment right now and we want to keep that momentum rolling!

We welcomed home Garth Brooks with three sold-out shows at the world-class BOK Center, celebrated the 47th year of the best Oktoberfest in America at Zeeco Oktoberfest Tulsa (complete with a surprise performance from Tyson Ritter of All-American Rejects) and held the annual Brookside BooHaHa Halloween parade, all on one weekend!

Of course, the Route 66 Centennial year keeps rolling right along as we’re now just days from the Route 66 Centennial Celebration on Nov. 11! That’s the official birthday of Route 66, and the day starts with Tulsa’s iconic Veteran’s Day Parade. After that, explore the Tulsa Arts District all afternoon as 10 different stops open their doors to celebrate America’s Main Street. A street party, presented by Hard Rock, takes over Main Street between OKPOP and Cain’s Ballroom, and then Bob Wills’ Texas Playboys take the stage for a free concert at Guthrie Green before Wilderado plays a sold-out show at Cain’s. The Centennial year has been incredible here in the Capital of Route 66®!

Coming up in just a couple weeks, the National Tour Association Travel Exchange will take place in Tulsa! On Nov. 15-18, TREX will not only be held here but be celebrating its 75th anniversary—how perfect that it's the same year as the Route 66 Centennial!

This is one of the largest gatherings of travel and tour operators in the world, and they'll be here to learn and network, but also experience everything Tulsa has to offer and see why our city needs to be on their list of tour destinations!

One thing I’m super excited about is the reopening of Gilcrease Museum, and last month they announced when it will welcome visitors again. After more than five years of careful planning, preparation and building, one of the most significant collections of art, history and culture in the Americas will once again open its doors to the public in March of 2027. Once again, Tulsa is proving to be a culture capital!

As always, a heartfelt thank you to you, our incredible tourism partners. Tulsa would not be what it is without your passion, collaboration and support. And let me say one more time, please be sure to vote this Nov. 3, and share with your friends and family!

Now, on with the tour...

Renee McKenney, President
+ Your Tulsa Regional Tourism Team!

Tulsa Tourism in National News

Garth Brooks Returns to Oklahoma for Rowdy Homecoming Concert - Rolling Stone
Tulsa Shootout Surpasses 600 Entries – SPEED SPORT
How To Plan A Route 66 Centennial Weekend Around The Fee-Free NPS Day On Veterans Day – TheTravel
Watch 'The Lowdown' Season 2 Trailer With Ethan Hawke, Tommy Lee Jones – Hollywood Reporter
Sandy Scott goes back-to-back on Korn Ferry Tour, while Williams Sides extends season despite playoff loss – Golf Channel
Tommy Lee Jones Makes Rare Red Carpet Appearance at ‘The Lowdown’ Premiere – People
Sterlin Harjo’s Oklahoma Is a ‘Land of Secrets.’ He’s Revealing Them One by One. – The New York Times
Bette Midler Accepts 2026 Woody Guthrie Prize & Sings a Protest Song – Billboard

Tulsa Tourism in Local News

Tulsa's pedestrian bridge named 2026 Bridge of the Year – Tulsa World
Tulsa’s transformed Gilcrease Museum has an opening date – Tulsa Flyer
In full bloom: Tulsa’s Casii Stephan is reaping bouquets of success – TulsaPeople
At AmericanaFest, Tulsa Music Takes The Spotlight – The Pickup
10th Tulsa Native American Day celebrates culture, heritage – Tulsa World
Tulsa's Outsiders House Museum acquires rare 1967 book proof – News on 6
U.S. National Arabian & Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show returns to Tulsa – Tulsa’s News Pulse
Tulsa school to host 60th anniversary event for ‘The Outsiders’ – Journal Record

Visit Tulsa News
Leisure Travel

Don’t miss our next TAG meet-up!

Join us for our next quarterly Tulsa Awareness Group meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 4! Learn about upcoming large-scale events in Tulsa and how your organization, business, attraction or company can be prepared and maximize the impact of the additional visitors in town. Space is limited, so RSVP today!

Our host, 1907 Productions, will be kicking off their fifth anniversary celebrations, so come get a behind-the-scenes look at one of Tulsa’s premier production companies, and catch live music from Tulsa’s own Mark Gibson as well!

RSVP Here

Is Your Visit Tulsa Listing Accurate?

Local businesses—Don't forget to review your complimentary listing on visittulsa.com.
- You can use PartnerNet to make updates, add events and more!
Having trouble updating yours? Reach out to pattikrausert@visittulsa.com.

Convention & Visitors Bureau News
Meetings & Conventions

Your CVB Recently

Tulsa State Fair Livestock & Horse Show
Oct. 1-11
4,100+ room nights
$2.18M estimated Direct economic impact | $3.8M estimated Total economic impact

Garth Brooks “Blame It All On My Roots” Tour
Oct. 23-25
450+ room nights
$5.77M estimated Direct economic impact | $9.9M estimated Total economic impact

Sports Commission News
Professional & Amateur Sports

Your TSC Recently

Korn Ferry Tour Compliance Solutions Championship
Sept. 28-Oct. 4
2,400+ room nights
$2.26M estimated Direct economic impact | $3.97M estimated Total economic impact
The Patriot Golf Club (Owasso)

Special Olympics OK State Soccer
Oct. 21
$885.9k estimated Direct economic impact | $1.5M estimated Total economic impact
Metro Tulsa Soccer Club

Tulsa FMAC News
Office of Film, Music, Arts & Culture

Season 2 of The Lowdown Debuts on FX

The second season of Sterlin Harjo’s critically acclaimed The Lowdown debuted on FX and Hulu on Oct. 14, continuing to follow the exploits of “Tulsa truthstorian” Lee Raybon (Ethan Hawke) as he works to hold truth to power.
Along with returning series regulars, season two adds Betty Gilpin (GLOW) as public defender Ginger and Tommy Lee Jones (The Fugitive) as Raybon’s estranged, grifter father. The role is his first scripted television performance in more than 40 years.
New episodes air on Wednesdays on FX, available to stream on Hulu.

Two feature films in production in Tulsa

Mazel Tough, a romantic comedy about the “pressures of the Jewish dating scene” began production in the Tulsa area in October. The film is the directorial debut of Evan Scolnick and stars Alex Rich (Genius: Picasso), Colin Ford (We Bought a Zoo), Adam Shapiro (The Bear) and others, telling the story of a young Jewish man’s search for love during the holiday season.
Emma Roberts (American Horror Story) stars in feature-length horror film A Body in the Woods, also in production in Tulsa this fall. Roberts plays Alice Lincoln, “a woman at the turn of the century living deep in the Marshall Woods, a place long-plagued by legends of a menacing witch.”
Of Tulsa as a filming location, Production List says “Tulsa in particular has become more active as a production destination, offering lower overall costs compared to the coasts and a growing local crew base.”

Tulsa Kicks off Collaborative Music Program MOKA

The Tulsa Office of Film, Music, Arts & Culture is part of a groundbreaking regional musical initiative aimed at expanding regional audiences and supporting area talent.
MOKA (for Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas and Arkansas) is a collaborative, multi-city artist exchange program that will connect the ecosystems of some of the country’s best music cities while building touring infrastructure and sharing audiences. The organizations involved are Tulsa FMAC, the Lawrence Musical Alliance (Lawrence, Ks.), KKFI 90.1 FM Crossroads Music Fest (Kansas City, Mo.) and Creative Arkansas Community Hub & Exchange (Northwest Arkansas).
The first shows took place in Lawrence and Kansas City in September and then at The Colony in Tulsa in October, featuring Micaela Young (Oklahoma), Baang (Arkansas), Copper Threading (Missouri) and Bad Alaskan (Kansas).