Rugged coastlines, soaring mountain peaks and sprawling vistas prove there’s nothing ordinary about the Pacific Northwest. Washington and Oregon have an abundance of opportunities that make event planning easy: Seattle and Portland rise to every occasion with technologically advanced venues, and a pair of fertile wine regions are flush with experiences that appeal to all the senses.
There’s something for everyone in this diverse region. Meeting planners looking to hold meetings in these states will be rewarded with extraordinarily productive end results.
Seattle & Northwest Washington:Inviting & Invigorating
The Emerald City of Seattle shines for associations seeking a multi-faceted destination. “Seattle offers diverse and unique experiences and has a reputation for excellent hotels, a centrally located convention center and exciting attractions,” said Marco Bloemendaal, senior vice-president of convention sales and services at Visit Seattle.
The American Volleyball Coaches Association’s annual convention was held in the city last year. Assistant Executive Director Jason Jones said, “I was incredibly impressed with the job Seattle did hosting our event. The combination of first-class facilities, friendly people and a vibrant downtown area provided our attendees with an unforgettable experience.”
Bloemendaal noted that Seattle often inspires record-setting attendance. More than 60 percent of groups that have booked future events are repeat clients. Case in point: The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, the American College of Emergency Physicians and the American Academy of Optometry all had record-breaking attendance in 2013.
Near the downtown waterfront, the bike-friendly Bell Harbor International Conference Center features 100,000 square feet of event space. And the center recently partnered with Pike Place Brewing Company to offer craft-beer tastings and tours.
A larger venue is downtown’s 414,722-square-foot Washington State Convention Center, which is undergoing a $21 million renovation, slated for completion next year. The Conference Center, a 71,000-square-foot, silver LEED–certified space is connected to the convention center.
There are more than 4,500 hotel guest rooms downtown, which Bloemendaal describes as “vibrant, walkable and anything but cookie-cutter.” The Hotel 1000 has the latest videoconferencing technology and a virtual golf club. The Red Lion/Fifth Avenue recently completed a $25 million renovation. Late this year, a new Kimpton plans to open within the landmark Palladian Building.
Gray skies will have no impact on events held at Chihuly Garden & Glass—which can accommodate up to 1,000—home to the most comprehensive artwork of Dale Chihuly. Other cultural sites include the Museum of History & Industry at Lake Union Park, with space for up to 750 people, and the new Center for Innovation, which opened last year. Pike Place Market has meeting rooms for up to 200 people and a 14-person communal kitchen. The iconic Space Needle holds private event space for up to 350 people.
The city is more accessible thanks to new Delta Air Lines routes from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Nearby, the 18-acre Cedarbrook Lodge offers complimentary shuttle service to the airport and light-rail station. The property is undergoing a $16 million expansion, with plans for additional guest rooms (a total of 167) by this fall.
Seattle Southside, a tourism organization that represents the cities around the airport, helps organizations find meeting area options. Popular sites include the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field, with event space for up to 300 people; the LEED-certified ShoWare Center in Kent, with space for up to 7,300; and ACME Bowling, Billiards & Events in Tukwila, which can accommodate groups of up to 1,000 guests.
Destination Bremerton Waterfront promotes cities located west of Seattle on the Kitsap Peninsula. The Kitsap Conference Center at Bremerton Harborside is steps from the ferry terminal in Bremerton. The conference center, which partnered with the Silver City Brewery, is expanding its third floor. The project is expected to wrap this summer and will increase the capacity from 750 to 1,100 people. About 25 miles to the southwest, in Union, is the Alderbrook Resort & Spa with event space for up to 200 guests.
In Bellevue, 10 miles east of Seattle, the 54,000-square-foot Meydenbauer Center hosts numerous conferences, trade shows and expos each year. The Hyatt Regency/Bellevue has transformed its library lobby into a technology lounge. To the southeast, in Snoqualmie, the Salish Lodge & Spa has completed a $1 million renovation and has added the Hidden Terrace, which can be used for private events.
Six miles north of Bellevue, in Kirkland, the Woodmark Hotel, Yacht Club & Spa can accommodate events of up to 250. In the nearby wine country of Woodinville is the Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery, with indoor event facilities for up to 200 and an amphitheater for up to 4,300; the Columbia Winery welcomes up to 250; and the Novelty Hill-Januik Winery has four group spaces.
North of Seattle on Puget Sound, Edmonds is home to the 10,000-square-foot Edmonds Conference Center, with space for up to 400. In Lynnwood, the Lynnwood Convention Center features 36,000 square feet of meeting space. The Courtyard by Marriott/Seattle North-Lynnwood-Everett has completed a $2 million renovation, and the Homewood Suites by Hilton/Seattle-Lynnwood is scheduled to open in May.
In Mukilteo, the Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour can accommodate up to 950. Up to 800 people can meet in Everett at the Edward D. Hansen Conference Center at Comcast Arena, with a 11,385-square-foot ballroom and 57,000 square feet of exhibit space. Farther north, the Tulalip Resort Casino & Spa in Tulalip offers 30,000 square feet of event space. Three miles south is the 23,000-square-foot Hibulb Cultural Center.
Off the coast, the San Juan Islands offer recreational activities and meeting areas. The Roche Harbor Resort on San Juan Island can host events of up to 300. On Orcas Island, Rosario Resort & Spa has refurnished guest rooms.
In Bellingham, Western Washington University can accommodate events of up to 650 people. The Bellingham Cruise Terminal has meeting space for up to 250 people. New hotels with meeting space include the SpringHill Suites Bellingham by Marriott and La Quinta Inn & Suites/Bellingham.
In Ferndale, the Silver Reef Hotel Casino Spa has added the 10,350-square-foot Event Center for a total of 22,000 square feet of event space. In Lynden, the Northwest Washington Fair & Event Center has space for up to 5,000. The Semiahmoo Resort Golf Spa in Blaine has reopened under new ownership.
Greater Tacoma: Creative Construction
Tacoma, south of Seattle, gives a nod to innovation and creativity. In downtown at LeMay-America’s Car Museum, the 165,000-square-foot, four-story building has space for up to 2,500 people, including banquet space and a 3.5-acre outdoor event area.
The Museum of Glass offers colorful indoor space for up to 500 and three outdoor plazas for events, and the nearby Tacoma Art Museum can host up to 1,200. Hotel Murano is decorated with museum-quality glass art (including that of native son Chihuly). The adjacent 277,000-square-foot Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center and the Tacoma Dome can seat up to 23,000. The Brewery District is home to a new Holiday Inn Express.
This month, the University of Washington/Tacoma is scheduled to host a conference of the American Men’s Studies Association. Other organizations that have met in town include the Association of Pacific West Quilters and the Puget Sound Grantwriters Association.
In suburban South Tacoma, the 32,000-square-foot, silver LEED–certified Star Center can accommodate groups of up to 255, and in Puyallup, the Washington State Fair Events Center has 122,000 square feet of space. Farther south, in the state capital of Olympia, meeting choices include the Red Lion Hotel, with 16,500 square feet of conference space, and in nearby Tumwater, the Olympic Flight Museum offers 10,500 square feet of space and quick access to the adjacent Olympia Regional Airport.
About 65 miles southwest of Tacoma, within Mount Rainier National Park, is Crystal Mountain, the state’s largest ski resort, for groups of up to 600. In addition to overnight accommodations and recreational options, the Mt. Rainier Gondola whisks visitors up to the 6,872-foot summit to a restaurant where up to 100 diners can enjoy stunning views.
The Cascades & Southern Washington: All in Good Taste
No matter the season, the towns around the Eastern Cascade Mountains provide scenic experiences such as excursions to wineries and fruit orchards and stays at resorts overlooking the verdant valleys and rolling rivers.
Downtown Wenatchee is home to central Washington’s largest meeting hotel, the Coast/Wenatchee Center, which is attached to the Wenatchee Convention Center. Together, the duo offers 50,000 square feet of event space. Other venues include the 4,300-seat Town Toyota Center and the Confluence Technology Center, with 5,194 square feet of meeting space.
Local producers have created activities to introduce groups to their valley’s bounty. Alpine Lakes near Leavenworth offers farmstead cheese-making workshops, and the Cashmere Cider Mill in Cashmere teaches apple cider–making classes. In Wenatchee, cooking classes are taught by local celebrity chef Richard Kitos at the IvyWild Inn, and Chateau Faire Le Pont, which has event space for up to 300 people, hosts winery tours.
Another destination for wine lovers is the Yakima Valley, with more than 70 wineries, many with event venues. In the city of Yakima, the Yakima Convention Center features 48,000 square feet of indoor space including a 23,400-square-foot ballroom as well as a 7,000-square-foot outdoor plaza. More than 850 guest rooms are available within walking distance of the center.
In neighboring West Valley, Hackett Ranch’s Cave at Gilbert Cellars has indoor space for up to 100 and an outdoor amphitheater for up to 200. Twenty miles north, in the Yakima River Canyon town of Ellensburg, the Canyon River Ranch Lodge has 10 two-bedroom condominiums, nearly 2,300 square feet of meeting space and additional waterfront space.
Twenty miles south of Yakima, in Zillah, the Bonair Winery can host up to 75, and the Silver Lake Winery can host up to 200. In Prosser, the Walter Clore Venue Pavilion has event space for up to 250 people with a culinary center expected to debut this year. The Desert Wind Winery has event space for up to 325. The Terra Blanca Winery & Estate Vineyard in Benton City has 8,000 square feet of indoor banquet space and outdoor terraces for up to 350 people.
Wineries in the Tri-Cities area make for spirited gatherings. In Richmond, the J. Bookwalter Winery & Bistro has space for up to 70 people; Tagaris Winery has space for up to 175; and the Barnard Griffin Winery has space for up to 75. All three wineries can be booked together, and as many as three groups can rotate between them for tastings. The 45-acre Howard Amon Park is often used for large events. Several new hotels are scheduled to begin development near the Horn Rapids Golf Course, which has event space for up to 85 guests.
In nearby Pasco, the Trade, Recreation & Agriculture Center provides more than 120,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space and a 3,400-seat arena. The Stone Ridge Event Center has facilities for up to 350. Across the river in Kennewick is the 75,000-square-foot Three Rivers Convention Center and the Toyota Center/Three Rivers Campus, with a 27,000-square-foot arena for up to 200 booths, or up to 7,000 people. The Clover Island Inn offers bicycles to ride along the Columbia River. Groups with scheduled upcoming events in Kennewick include the Washington State Hay Growers Association and the Washington Activity Coordinators Association.
One hundred wine-tasting rooms can be found in Walla Walla, 50 miles to the east. Downtown, the Marcus Whitman Hotel & Conference Center offers 13,000 square feet of event space. Later this year a Courtyard by Marriott is scheduled to open with 120 guest rooms, conference space and an exhibition kitchen.
Spokane: Well-Rounded Appeal
Spokane, Washington’s second-largest city, appeals to art lovers, foodies and outdoor enthusiasts. All have exceptional options in this growing destination, and event venues run the gamut from certified green to gaming centers.
On the banks of the Spokane River, the silver LEED-certified Spokane Convention Center has 164,307 square feet of event space with an additional 91,000 square feet under construction and expected to be ready in December. The INB Performing Arts Center has a 2,700-seat auditorium with a built-in stage. Next door, the Davenport Hotel Collection is developing a hotel with 722 guest rooms and 60,000 square feet of meeting space that is expected to open in 2015.
Both the convention and the performing arts centers are on the south side of Riverfront Park, home to a private carousel, skating rink and IMAX theater. The new Spokane Public Market offers local and handcrafted goods. The recently launched Inland Northwest Ale Trail features 16 craft breweries open for tastings.
Other downtown spaces include the 1,600-seat Martin Woldson Theater and the nearby 756-seat Bing Crosby Theater. The Barrister Winery has event space for up to 200, and the Magic Lantern Theater is home to two auditoriums, for up to 35 and 108 people, respectively. On the east side of the city, the expanded Spokane County Fair & Expo Center offers more than 140,000 square feet of exhibit space and grandstand seating for up to 5,100. West of town, in Airway Heights, the Northern Quest Resort & Casino features a new 11,000-square-foot concert venue for up to 5,000 attendees.
Southwestern Washington: An Eye on Expansion
Vancouver was developed on the banks of the Columbia River. The city is consistently rated one of the top 10 meeting and convention destinations in the region and enjoys a steady flow of business, which is expected to increase over the next two years. Developments on the east side of the city are expected to add nearly 300 hotel rooms. Planned properties include the 99-room Hampton Inn & Suites/Vancouver East, scheduled to open in August with 1,740 square feet of meeting space. Groups that have convened in Vancouver include the Washington State Association of Counties, the Northwest Organization of Nurse Executives and the National Pigeon Association.
Downtown, the five-acre Esther Short Park was recently named among the top public spaces in the country by the American Planning Association. It is used for public and private events including the 2012 Kumoricon, which drew more than 4,000 people. Adjacent is the Hilton/Vancouver, and a few blocks south is the Red Lion Hotel at the Quay. Fort Vancouver National Historic Site has five areas that can be used for events for up to 150 people.
Just north of Vancouver, in Ridgefield, the Clark County Event Center offers 97,200 square feet of space, an indoor equestrian arena and an outdoor grandstand. The Sleep County Amphitheater has a 6,000-square-foot stage with 7,810 seats.
Greater Portland: Mega-minded Events
The Oregon Convention Center in downtown Portland is the largest such venue in the Pacific Northwest, with 1 million square feet of space. It has 255,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space, 50 meeting rooms, two ballrooms and 30,000 square feet of fully landscaped outdoor space. The center has seen a rise in visitor spending and summer occupancy rates since 2012.
Another mega space is the Rose Quarter, a campus with a half-dozen venues, including the 20,000-seat Moda Center (formerly the Rose Garden Arena); the 12,000-seat Veterans Memorial Coliseum; a 40,000-square-foot exhibit hall; and the Commons, an outdoor plaza for up to 5,000. Just down the Willamette River, the Oregon Museum of Science & Industry can host up to 2,500 people and is within walking distance of Portland Spirit River Cruises, which can host excursions of up to 540 guests.
On the west side of the river, Hotel Lucia recently finished a $2.3 million renovation and technology upgrade and the former Governor Hotel has relaunched as the Sentinel. A few blocks south, the Portland Art Museum has outdoor space for up to 1,200 and indoor space for as many as 900. Within Washington Park, the Oregon Zoo has space for up to 5,000, and the park’s amphitheater can accommodate up to 2,000. North of the city, the Portland Metropolitan Exposition Center has 330,000 square feet of expo space and 7,500 square feet of meeting space.
With more than 40 craft-beer breweries within the city, groups can go on a guided pub crawl. A variety of Portland Walking Tours lets visitors experience the area’s food and wine scene.
West of Portland in Washington County, the Washington County Fair Complex in Hillsboro is available for events of up to 1,500. This year, a dual-branded hotel is expected to open that has a 165-room Hampton Inn with 3,200 square feet of event space and a 106-room Embassy Suites with 600 square feet of event space. Also new to the scene is the River Inn at Seaside, expected to open this spring.
On the Pacific Coast, Seaside is anchored by the 22,000-square-foot, upgraded Seaside Civic & Convention Center. Groups that have held an event at the center include the Oregon Festivals & Events Association and the Special Districts Association of Oregon.
Oregon’s major wine region, the Willamette Valley, is popular with visitors. The Wellspring Conference Center in Woodburn has space for up to 350. In Silverton, the Oregon Garden Resort has an amphitheater for up to 3,000.
Central & Eastern Oregon: Time for the Outdoors
Dubbed the “Outdoor Playground of the Pacific Northwest,” the friendly town of Bend offers many recreational options, nine local breweries, art exhibits and many restaurants. According to Alana Hughson, president and CEO of the Central Oregon Visitors Association, the meeting facilities in Bend and the nearby community of Sunriver exceed expectations. The Les Schwab Amphitheater, located in the historic Old Mill District, can accommodate groups of up to 8,000 people.
Situated on the Deschutes River, The Riverhouse Hotel & Convention Center features more than 30,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space. Revamped hotels include the Hilton Garden Inn and the Mount Bachelor Village Resort. Tetherow Lodges is scheduled to debut 50 guest rooms and offers event space for up to 400. In 2015, a 114-room Hampton Inn & Springs is expected to open with meeting space.
Seven miles south of Bend, the Seventh Mountain Resort offers townhouse accommodations. And 15 miles south of Bend, in Sunriver, the Sunriver Resort has 44,600 square feet of event space.
Northeast of town, in Powell Butte, the Brasada Ranch Resort has added four-bedroom Sage Canyon Cabins. For an off-site space, the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center, in Redmond, has 114,000 square feet of space.
Hood River is especially well known in windsurfing circles. The Best Western Plus Hood River Inn, with a new pool and 12,000 square feet of meeting space, overlooks the Columbia River Gorge.
From Salem to Medford: New Wave & Natural
In Salem, the capital, the 30,000-square-foot Salem Convention Center has recently been refreshed, and the Illahe Hills Country Club includes a newly renovated ballroom for up to 300.
The Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center is the city’s largest dedicated event space, featuring 200,000 square feet of exhibit space and an 8,800-seat amphitheater. Other stops include the Hallie Ford Museum of Art, with special-event space for up to 120; the Bush House Museum; and the Willamette Heritage Center at The Mill, which can host events as large as 500 guests.
In nearby Keizer, the Keizer Renaissance Inn & Conference Center is undergoing a renovation and is expected to be reflagged as a Quality Inn & Suites this spring. Associations that have chosen the Salem area for events include the Oregon Head Start Association, the Oregon Police Canine Association and the National Association of Letter Carriers.
In the beach town of Newport, the Oregon Coast Aquarium has space for up to 1,000. Inland, in Corvallis, Oregon State University has 80,000 square feet of conference space. In Albany, the Linn County Expo Center has 209,000 square feet of exhibit and meeting space.
When it comes to technology options for convention planners, Eugene is on the fast track. The Lane Events Center at the Fairgrounds offers more than 180,000 square feet of exhibit and convention space. The University of Oregon welcomes outside groups. The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art has 3,600 square feet of reception space, and the Matthew Knight Arena can seat upward of 12,000. Other local venues include the 759-seat McDonald Theatre and the John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts. A major remodel at the Hilton/Eugene has wrapped up. The Quality Inn & Suites in nearby Springfield has also undergone a renovation.
From Eugene, it’s just a one-hour drive to Florence on the coast. At the improved Driftwood Shores Resort & Conference Center, every room faces the ocean. A nearby attraction is the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area.
The arts and agriculture both thrive in southern Oregon. In Medford, delegates can tour the Harry & David kitchens or meet at the renovated Ramada Medford Hotel & Convention Center. In Central Point, the Jackson County Expo has several spaces including a 57,600-square-foot arena and a 7,381-square-foot pavilion. Farther south, in Ashland, groups can book one of the theaters used for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
For excursions, Crater Lake National Park is about a one-hour drive from Medford. From mid-May to mid-October, groups can stay overnight at the 71-room Crater Lake Lodge.
Naturally Endowed
Whether it’s Seattle or Spokane in Washington or Portland or Central Point in Oregon, associations venturing out from the bigger cities will find creative sites and diversions for attendees, while the larger metro areas continue to hold their own with culture, technologically advanced venues and entertainment.