Zavier Borja

Zavier Borja has joined Visit Bend as its destination stewardship director.

Borja started in the position Jan. 2. The destination stewardship director oversees the tourism group’s grant programs, the Bend Sustainability Fund and the Bend Cultural Tourism Fund, in addition to other stewardship partnerships like the one with Leave No Trace.

Borja, born in Redmond and raised in Madras, comes to Visit Bend from the Governor’s Office as regional solutions coordinator, where he worked to form partnerships to address challenges in Central and South Central Oregon.

Borja is also the founder of Vámonos Outside, which champions outdoor opportunities and access for Latino and BIPOC communities in Central Oregon. He has also held the role of community relations manager at the City of Bend, where he developed and managed communication, policies and engagement strategies to increase access to city services with underrepresented communities.

He is the board president of the Latino Community Association and serves on boards and committees such as the Heart of Oregon Corps, Gray Family Foundation, Oregon Community Foundation and the Roundhouse Foundation. Additionally, he has served as an elected board member for the Bend Park & Recreation District.

“As someone born in Central Oregon and living in Bend for the last 13 years, I’m honored to join Visit Bend as the destination stewardship director, where I’ll have the opportunity to champion sustainability, foster community engagement, and help shape the future of responsible tourism in Bend and beyond,” said Borja.

He holds a degree in management and organizational leadership from George Fox University and an outdoor industry leadership certificate from Oregon State-Cascades University.