Why Here?
Cities in the scenic Pacific Northwest are working hard to win more meetings business. Boise, Idaho (above), is doubling the size of the 50,000-square-foot Boise Center, and in Portland, Ore., progress continues on the creation of a new headquarters hotel.
SPOTLIGHT ON Seattle
A 159-room hotel will be built from the ground up in Seattle by Commune Hotels & Resorts and its partners. The
Thompson Seattle will be part of a mixed-use development in downtown, adjacent to Pike Place Market, to open in spring 2016.
A $2 million renovation has been completed at the 358-room Seattle Marriott Waterfront, focusing on the lobby and 11,354 square feet of meeting space.
Taste of Tulalip
Seven eateries, from fine-dining to an Asian restaurant and a sports bar and grill, are among the fun spots at the 370-room Tulalip Resort near Seattle. For groups, 30,000 square feet of meeting space awaits.
PORTLAND, ORE.
Local Update
• Metro, the government entity that owns the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, has approved the final development agreement for a new headquarters hotel. Plans for a 600-room Hyatt Regency, which is expected to cost $212 million, are now in the design and preconstruction phase. Building is slated to begin next summer, with a projected fall 2017 opening. A block of 500 rooms will be reserved for the convention center and the city's convention and visitor services bureau, Travel Portland, to offer set rates for groups planning 36 months or more in advance.
• In unveiling its new Curio Collection recently, Hilton Hotels & Resorts indicated that a new hotel in Portland, Ore., will be part of the group when it opens in late 2016. The 300-room property, on which construction is slated to begin in the first quarter of 2015, will have a themed restaurant on the ground floor, function space, a rooftop restaurant and lounge, and a fitness facility complete with an indoor pool and spa. The to-be-named property is being developed by Widewaters Hotels LLC.
• The Oregon Convention Center has achieved Level Four certification under the APEX/ASTM Environmentally Sustainable Meeting Standards, administered by the Convention Industry Council. The center offers two ballrooms, 50 meeting rooms and approximately 255,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space.
• The 223-suite Residence Inn by Marriott opened in April in the city's trendy Pearl District. The all-suite property offers complimentary breakfast, grocery delivery service, free Wi-Fi, a 24-hour market, dry-cleaning services, a laundry room, a bar, an indoor pool and an exercise room. The hotel also has a 2,010-square-foot ballroom, 1,600 square feet of prefunction space and a boardroom.
• Attendees of events held at the Oregon Convention Center and booked through Travel Portland have free access to the region's transit system. The passes are distributed at registration.
• The Radisson Hotel Portland Airport has finished an extensive renovation of all 190 guest rooms, the business and fitness centers, the lobby and more. The hotel has more than 2,500 square feet of meeting space.
• A recent $2.3 million guest-room renovation at the 127-room Hotel Lucia focused on technology. The property worked with Intel Labs to create an interactive social media installation in the lobby, and the collaboration has been extended to the guest rooms. The entire hotel also has been upgraded with a fiber-optic network. Phase two of the project, expected to be finished this year, will redo the lobby, all 2,458 square feet of meeting space and all public spaces.
Meeting Hotels: Among properties for groups are the 503-room Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront, 477-room DoubleTree by Hilton Portland, 331-room The Nines, 276-room Embassy Suites Portland Downtown and 240-room Crowne Plaza Portland Downtown Convention Center.
To find and compare hotels, and send RFPs, visit mcvenues.com.
Convention Center: Oregon Convention Center; exhibit space, 255,000 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 50; (800) 791-2250
Airport Transit: Portland International Airport, about nine miles from downtown. Transfer cost via taxi, $35; via shuttle, $14; via light rail, $2.50
Taxes: Room tax, 11.5%; Portland Tourism Improvement District tax, 2%; sales tax, 0%; total tax on rooms, 13.5%
Group Venue: The historic Center for Architecture, once a stable, has been renovated with sustainability in mind. The 1880s building is now LEED Platinum-certified and houses the AIA Portland, AIA Oregon, Architects Without Borders and the Center For Architecture. The 1,200-square-foot center welcomes groups of 10 to 100 people. (503) 223-8757
Contact: Travel Portland, (800) 962-3700
Water Hike
In Bellevue, Wash., park rangers lead three-hour canoe trips through
Mercer Slough Nature Park, a 320-acre wetlands, Saturdays and Sundays from May to September. (425) 452-6885
BELLEVUE, WASH.
Local Update
• The 384-room Seattle Marriott Bellevue, to open in November, is expected to attain LEED Silver certification. The hotel will offer 24,000 square feet of meeting space.
Meeting Hotels: Properties include the 732-room Hyatt Regency Bellevue, 353-room Hilton Bellevue, 337-room Westin Bellevue and 178-room Sheraton Bellevue Hotel.
To find and compare hotels, and send RFPs, visit mcvenues.com.
Convention Center: Meydenbauer Center; exhibit space, 36,000 square feet; meeting rooms, nine. (425) 450-3777
Airport Transit: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, 17 miles from downtown. Transfer cost by taxi, $50; by shuttle, $20
Taxes: Room tax, 4.9%; sales tax, 9.5%; total tax on hotel rooms, 14.4%
Group Venue: Twelve signature beers -- including the Extra Special Bitter, Oatmeal Stout and Scotch Ale -- are featured at the Bellevue Brewing Company. The Taproom seats 265 for an evening of tastings and new American fare. (425) 497-8686
Contact: Visit Bellevue Washington, (425) 450-3777
North of the Border
Consider a pre- or post-meeting trip to Victoria, the capital of British Columbia. Among waterfront hotels is the lovely 200-room Inn at Laurel Point. From there, take a whale-watching excursion or garden tour (the Butchart Gardens, above, are particularly glorious). For details contact
Tourism Victoria.BOISE, IDAHO
Local Update
• Ground has been broken on an expansion of the Boise Centre, adding new meeting, ballroom and kitchen space accessible by skywalk to the existing 50,000-square-foot facility, which is being renovated. The work, which will nearly double the current space, should finish up in the third quarter of 2016. The project will add a 15,000-square-foot ballroom, a 7,000-square-foot commercial kitchen, 14,000 square feet of breakout space and 7,000 square feet of prefunction space.
• Under construction downtown is JUMP, which stands for Jack's Urban Meeting Place, a nonprofit, interactive creative center and gathering place. The facility, opening in 2015, will include studios for cooking, body movement classes and multimedia. The Pioneer Room, with a full catering kitchen, will accommodate up to 600 people.
Meeting Hotels: Properties include the 303-room Riverside Hotel, 254-room Grove Hotel, 195-room Boise Hotel & Conference Center, 182-room Red Lion Hotel Boise Downtowner, 124-room La Quinta Inn & Suites Towne Square and 112-room Hotel 43.
Find and compare hotels, and send RFPs, at mcvenues.com.
Convention Center: Boise Centre; exhibit space, approximately 25,000 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 20. (208) 336-8900
Airport Transit: Boise Airport, six miles from downtown. Transfer cost by taxi, $15; many area hotels offer complimentary shuttle service
Taxes: Room tax, 7%; sales tax, 6%; total tax on hotel rooms, 13%
Group Venue: The 744-seat Egyptian Theatre, which opened in 1927, features a golden proscenium that makes a compelling backdrop for general sessions and other events. (208) 345-0454
Contact: Boise Convention and Visitors Bureau, (208) 344-7777 or (800) 635-5240