Organizing exhilarating meetings comes naturally in the Pacific Northwest, where dramatic scenery and inspiring venues pair with a welcoming and energetic vibe. The bounty of the region is experienced everywhere, from Seattle’s famed Pike Place Market to a multitude of wineries in both states.
It’s all a boon for planners who want to offer meeting attendees a true taste and experience of the flourishing Pacific Northwest.
Seattle & Northwest Washington: Personal and Provocative
Scenic Seattle, with its iconic attractions and seaport setting, continues to appeal to visiting groups. Many return year after year because of all the city’s perks. “Seattle remains a highly competitive destination for the association meetings market,” said Bob Hampton, senior vice-president of convention sales and services at Visit Seattle. “More than 72 percent of groups booked for future years are repeat clients.”
For hosting large functions, Seattle’s downtown boasts two dedicated facilities. The Bell Harbor International Conference Center offers 100,000 square feet of space, and less than two miles away, the Washington State Convention Center (WSCC) has 414,722 square feet of space. The WSCC is planning an expansion project that would more than double its existing size. Construction is planned to begin in early 2017.
Also planned for downtown are more than 10 new hotels with an estimated 3,000 guest rooms, expected to open over the next three years. In February, the 97-room Palladian Hotel opened with a 1,150-square-foot event space and is within walking distance of the Pike Place Market. Also nearby is the new Motif Seattle, with a 10,000-square-foot executive conference floor. And at Hotel Ändra, Seattle restaurateur Tom Douglas opened a cooking school last summer that offers team-building opportunities and a private, 72-seat dining room.
Several landmark attractions extend a welcome to special events. These include Pike Place Market, the iconic Space Needle, Chihuly Garden & Glass, and the Museum of History & Innovation.
Seattle Southside, a tourism organization that represents the cities located around Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, continues to help organizations find options for area meetings. The Air Force Security Forces Association recently held its annual meeting at the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton/Seattle Airport–Southcenter, and Lucille Bullock, the group’s executive secretary, said the hotel’s staff and facilities were “outstanding.” Other organizations that have held events in the Seattle Southside of late include the Washington State Bowling Proprietors Association, Mount Hood Corvettes and the National Center for Housing Management.
In local hotel news, what was formerly the Holiday Inn/Seattle Airport has been re-branded the Crowne Plaza/Seattle Airport following a remodel of guest rooms and public areas and a technology upgrade. Also in the area is the Cedarbrook Lodge, which added a new guest wing and a new spa.
Destination Bremerton Waterfront promotes the cities of the Kitsap Peninsula (west of Seattle, reached by a ferry ride). Groups can utilize the Kitsap Conference Center at Bremerton Harborside, which last year added a 5,100-square-foot, third-floor space.
In Bellevue, the Meydenbauer Center offers 54,000 square feet of space. Lodging options include the Hyatt Regency/Bellevue, which has completed a $5.2 million renovation of its Cascade Tower, meeting spaces and lobby.
To the southeast, in Snoqualmie, the Salish Lodge & Spa completed a $1 million renovation of its meeting rooms last year, including the addition of a terrace that overlooks Snoqualmie River.
North of Seattle in Snohomish County, Edmonds is home to the 10,000-square-foot Edmonds Conference Center. In Lynnwood, the Lynnwood Convention Center features 34,000 flexible square feet of meeting space. While there, groups may choose to stay at the new, Homewood Suites by Hilton/Seattle-Lynnwood or at the Courtyard/Seattle North-Lynnwood-Everett, which recently renovated its guest rooms.
In Everett, up to 800 can meet at the Edward D. Hansen Conference Center at XFINITY Arena, which features an 11,385-square-foot ballroom and 57,000 square feet of exhibit space. Local hotels with meeting space include the new Hampton Inn/Seattle-Everett, which opened last year. The hotel is part of the Potala Market Place development, which is scheduled to open this summer. A new Courtyard by Marriott is also expected to begin construction this year.
Farther north, the Tulalip Resort Casino in Tulalip offers 30,000 square feet of event space and a range of on-site recreation and entertainment options. Three miles south, the 23,000-square-foot Hibulb Cultural Center also welcomes groups.
The Roche Harbor Resort on San Juan Island has new guest homes and updated event space for up to 300.
Several communities just north of Bellingham also offer entertainment and meeting spaces for groups. Options include the Silver Reef Hotel Casino Spa in Ferndale, the Northwest Washington Fair & Event Center in Lynden, and the Semiahmoo Golf Resort & Spa in Blaine, which is undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation but remains open.
Greater Tacoma: Crafting New Concepts
The popular event venues of Tacoma, south of Seattle, inspire innovation and creativity. Attractions include the Tacoma Art Museum, which recently opened a new wing housing Western American art, and the LeMay–America’s Car Museum, which recently hosted events for the National Car Club. The 277,000-square-foot Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center is expected to benefit from an adjacent, 300-room hotel that will begin construction next year. About 10 miles northwest of town, in Gig Harbor, the Inn at Gig Harbor offers remodeled guest rooms.
The Washington State Fair is held in nearby Puyallup at the Puyallup Fairgrounds, a venue with 122,000 square feet of space that welcomes group events. Last July, the Model A Ford Club of America held a week-long convention at the fairgrounds with 1,000 attendees. Bob Rezba, the group’s co-chair, credited the success of the event to the staff at Travel Tacoma, which helped secure not only hotel rooms but also organized excursions in both Tacoma and Seattle.
The Cascades & Southern Washington: Productive Possibilities
In Wenatchee, the “Apple Capital of the World,” the Wenatchee Convention Center and attached Coast Hotel offer 50,000 square feet of event space. Other city venues include the Town Toyota Center, Wenatchee Valley College, the Numerica Performing Arts Center and the Confluence Technology Center.
The Yakima Valley, home to more than 80 wineries as well as breweries and distilleries, is a great destination for convivial events. Yakima, in particular, can support large gatherings thanks to the 74,000-square-foot Yakima Convention Center and the 120-acre State Fair Park.
Other venues in town include the Seasons Performance Hall, with a 420-seat space and a 200-seat space; the Yakima Valley Museum, with four event rooms; the Yakima Area Arboretum, with indoor space for up to 99 and a courtyard for up to 50; and the Apple Tree Resort, with space for up to 300 people.
The fact that the Washington State Veterinary Medical Association has held its annual meeting in Yakima for most of the last 20 years speaks volumes. “The thing we like the most about Yakima is the people we get to work with,” said Candace Joy, its executive vice-president. “The folks at the Yakima Valley Visitor Center and the Yakima Convention Center are super to work with—we feel like we’re practically family. They really understand the needs of our group.”
Another returning group is the Washington Association for Pupil Transportation, which has again scheduled its annual state conference and trade show in Yakima. “It is a fun and rewarding day that we would not be able to do without the support of the city,” said Cindy Steigerwald, the group’s western region representative.
Other options in the greater area set include Gilbert Cellars at the Hackett Ranch in West Valley and the Canyon River Ranch Lodge in Ellensburg. InNaches, Running Springs Ranch is a historic winery with event space available from May 1 to September 30.
In Toppenish, the Legends Casino complex is undergoing a $90 million expansion; plans include a 200-room hotel with conference space and a spa, both expected to open in 2016. Farther south, in Sunnyside, the Snipes Mountain Brewery & Restaurant has a banquet room for up to 100 and a second room for up to 50. In Prosser, the new Walter Clore Wine & Culinary Center has a Vineyard Pavilion that can accommodate up to 250 people. Twenty miles east, near Benton City, the Col Solare’s Red Mountain Estate Vineyard & Winery has a 20-person conference room.
The Tri-Cities area—composed of Richland, Pasco and Kennewick—is about 75 miles from Yakima down Interstate 82. This is also wine country, with an accompanying number of wineries ready to welcome groups for tours and tastings or to host an event.
In Richland, the brand-new Anthology Event Center can host up to 300 people, and Washington State University’s 40,000-square-foot Wine Science Center is expected to open in June with classroom space. In hotel news, the 115-room Homewood Suites by Hilton opened last year with a small boardroom.
In Pasco, the major event venue is the Trade, Recreation & Agriculture Center (TRAC), with more than 120,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space and a 3,400-seat arena. It is served by a new My Place Hotel, which opened last fall.
The Washington State Hay Growers Association holds its Hay Expo each year in Kennewick at the 75,000-square-foot Three Rivers Convention Center, now connected to a 122-room SpringHill Suites, which opens this month with its own four meeting rooms. The Kennewick Hampton Inn at Southridge is scheduled to open later this year near the Southridge Sports & Events Complex. Other options include the Toyota Center/Three Rivers Campus, and the Establishment 323 Event Center.
In Walla Walla, groups can meet downtown at the historic Marcus Whitman Hotel. Or smaller groups might consider the Courtyard/Walla Walla, which opened recently with 120 guest rooms, 2,500 square feet of conference space and an exhibition kitchen.
Spokane: Growing Opportunities
Washington’s second-largest city, Spokane, offers some of the region’s greenest event centers. Topping the list is the silver LEED–certified Spokane Convention Center, which recently wrapped up a two-year, $55 million expansion that added 91,000 square feet of event space, including a ballroom and 10 meeting rooms. And a sky bridge now connects the center to two hotels: the DoubleTree/Spokane-City Center and the Davenport Grand Hotel, scheduled to open June 20 with 716 guest rooms and 62,500 square feet of event space. Cheryl Kilday, president and CEO of Visit Spokane, expects the projects to be “game changers” for the community.
Adjacent to the center, the INB Performing Arts Center has a 2,700-seat auditorium with a built-in stage. It’s steps from Riverfront Park, which has a private carousel, skating rink and IMAX theater for group events. Other downtown standbys Martin Woldson Theater, the Bing Crosby Theater, the Barrister Winery and the Magic Lantern Theatre.
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 seating for up to 5,100. West of town, in Airway Heights, is the Northern Quest Resort & Casino.
SouthwesternWashington:Setting Up For Success
Scenic Vancouver, set on the north bank of the Columbia River, enjoys a constant flow of meetings business thanks to a host of recreational activities, affordable attractions, appealing restaurants and shops and a burgeoning wine region. And over the next year, developments on the east side of the town are set to further improve group options.
One of the newest hotels to open is the 99-room Hampton Inn & Suites/Portland-Vancouver, with 1,400 square feet of meeting space. It’s just a mile from the Columbia Tech Center, a mixed-use development with an amphitheater, a 12-acre park and various restaurants.
The main meeting facility in town is the downtown Hilton/Vancouver. Another local hub is the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, which offers event space including historic artillery barracks that can now host functions of up to 150.
Just north of Vancouver, in Ridgefield, is the Clark County Event Center. A half-mile away is the 18,000-seat Amphitheater Northwest (formerly the Sleep County Amphitheater).
Portland & Surrounds: Easy Being Green
Green practices are a way of life in Portland—and have been for some time. The sensibilities of its population have changed much for the better, including the formation of the nonprofit Green Meeting Industry Council, created more than a decade ago to actively support and promote sustainability.
The downtown Oregon Convention Center, which offers 1 million square feet of space, boasts the largest such venue in the Pacific Northwest. It received LEED- platinum certification last July.
The Unitarian Universalist Association is scheduled to hold its five-day general assembly in town in June with most events at the Oregon Convention Center. Janiece Sneegas, the group’s director of general assembly and conference services, said her group was impressed by the center’s green efforts as well as the professionalism of the Travel Portland staff and local hotels and venues. Other groups who plan to meet at the center this year include the Portland Association of Health Underwriters, the Washington & Oregon Medical Group Management Association and the Western Winter Sports Reps Association.
In the Rose Quarter, a campus with a half-dozen venues, meeting options include the Moda Center, the Veterans Memorial Coliseum, a 40,000-square-foot exhibit hall, and the Commons. Just down the Willamette River, the Oregon Museum of Science & Industry can host events of up to 2,500 and is within walking distance of Portland Spirit River Cruises, whose fleet can be chartered for excursions of up to 540. In the nearby Buckman neighborhood, the 850-seat Revolution Hall plans to open in April at the historic Washington High School, a 113,500-square-foot building that has been revamped as a mixed-use development and also has a rooftop deck that can be used for events.
On the west side of the river, the Portland Art Museum has outdoor space for up to 1,200 and indoor space for up to 900. Within Washington Park, the Oregon Zoo has gathering space for up to 5,000, and the park’s amphitheater can host up to 2,000. North of downtown, the Portland Expo Center has 330,000 square feet of expo space and 7,500 square feet of meeting space.
With more than 40 craft breweries within the city limits, a guided group pub crawl can be one of the highlights of a visit to Portland. Portland Walking Tours offers outings such as an “Epicurean Excursion,” which takes attendees to hot spots where they can sip and sup on the best local beverages and foods.
For overnight options, planners might consider the Hilton Portland & Executive Tower, the DoubleTree By Hilton/Portland and the Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront, all of which have recently renovated guest rooms. Late this summer, the Society Hotel is expected to open on the east side of town, and in September, a new Hilton brand called Canopy is scheduled to begin construction in the central Pearl District.
About 15 miles west of Portland, the Washington County Fair Complex in Hillsboro is available for events of up to 1,500. Two new area hotels also offer meeting space: the Embassy Suites/Portland-Hillsboro, with 165 two-room suites and 3,200 square feet of event space, and the Hampton Inn & Suites/Portland-Hillsboro-Evergreen Park, with 106 guest rooms and 600 square feet of space.
On the Pacific Coast, Seaside is just the kind of beachfront town visiting groups imagine it to be—designed with a thriving downtown, fun recreational options and a wide, sandy beach. For business, the 22,000-square-foot, upgraded Seaside Civic & Convention Center regularly hosts everything from conferences (more recently those of the Oregon Association of Water Utilities and the Oregon Association Chiefs of Police) to festivals (such as the annual Pouring at the Coast). The city beachfront is also used for major sports events, notably the finish line of the annual Hood to Coast relay, which boasts more than 12,000 participants. Seaside Aquarium and the Funland Arcade are long-time attractions, while accommodation options include the new, 48-room River Inn at Seaside and the recently renovated Holiday Inn Express & Suites and Best Western Ocean View Resort.
Oregon’s major wine region, the Willamette Valley, is also popular with visiting attendees, largely for the 200 vineyards that produce award-winning wines, including Pinot Noir. The Wellspring Conference Center in Woodburn has event space for up to 350 people, and in Silverton, the Oregon Garden Resort has a spa, a restaurant and an amphitheater that can seat up to 3,000.
Hood River, 60 miles east of Portland along Interstate 84, has become known as a mecca for windsurfing and is quite scenic as well. Groups meeting in town might opt to do so at the Best Western Plus Hood River Inn, which overlooks the Columbia River Gorge.
Central & Southern Oregon: Active Pursuits
Beckoned by snow-capped peaks, golf courses and a river, those who love recreation will love Bend, a solid choice for groups looking to intermingle work and play. In the historic Old Mill District, the Les Schwab Amphitheater can accommodate up to 8,000 people. Also popular is the Riverhouse Hotel & Convention Center, set on the Deschutes River, adjacent to a championship golf course and offering groups more than 30,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space.
North of town, the Pronghorn Resort’s new, 7,000-square foot Event Island is situated on a Tom Fazio-designed golf course can be used for special events of up to 300. Also in the works is a $20 million guest lodge slated for completion this year. Organizers looking for a large off-site space can head the short distance to Redmond, where the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center has 114,000 square feet of space. Also in the area is the Brasada Ranch Resort near Powell Butte, with four-bedroom cabins, ideal for small group retreats.
South of Bend and closer to Mount Bachelor is the Seventh Mountain Resort, offering championship golf and riding stables. And in the town of Sunriver, the Sunriver Resort has 63 holes of championship golf, 28 tennis courts and 35 miles of paved bicycle paths. Its expanded and renovated Cove pool facility is scheduled to debut in May with lawn and deck areas and private cabanas.
The state capital of Salem is just 45 miles south of Portland and is rich in character, with galleries, wineries and cultural meeting spots. Groups who have met in town in recent years include the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America, the National Hay Association and the Information Systems Audit & Control Association.
Notable venues include the 30,000-square-foot Salem Convention Center, which is recently refreshed; the Illahe Hills Country Club, with a renovated ballroom for up to 300; and the Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center, featuring 200,000 square feet of exhibit space and an 8,800-seat amphitheater. Extracurricular stops of interest include the Hallie Ford Museum of Art, the Bush House Museum, and the Willamette Heritage Center at The Mill.
About 25 miles east, near Sublimity, is the Silver Falls Lodge & Conference Center, which underwent a makeover of all guest rooms and cabins last year and updated property Wi-Fi capabilities. And 30 miles west of Salem, in Grand Ronde, the new Chachalu Tribal Museum & Cultural Center has event space for up to 250.
In the beach town of Newport, attendees can go surfing, clamming, gallery-hopping and hiking, while events can be held at the Oregon Coast Aquarium, which has several available spaces, including an 80-seat theater. Inland, in Corvallis, Oregon State University has 80,000 square feet of conference space for up to 1,200 people. And in nearby Albany, the largest meeting space is the Linn County Expo Center, with 6,000 square feet of conference space and a 48,600-square-foot exhibit hall. It is within walking distance to a Holiday Inn Express and Comfort Suites. Other options include the Wheel House Event Center, with 5,800 square feet of meeting space, and Flinn Block Hall, with more than 3,000 square feet of space.
Associations looking for a destination that combines high-tech options and a down-to-earth, welcoming community feel will find all that and more in Eugene. To facilitate functions and assist visiting attendees, smartphone navigation tools are available on the recently updated mobile website for Eugene, Cascades & Coast (also known as Visit Lane County), while all kinds of venues are ready for host groups of all sizes. These include the Hilton Hotel, which recently hosted the Pacific Gospel Music Association.
Major functions are often organized at the Lane Events Center at the Fairgrounds, which offers more than 180,000 square feet of space. The University of Oregon also welcomes groups. Larger spaces include the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, with 3,600 square feet of space, and the Matthew Knight Arena, which can seat up to 12,000. The university’s Erb Memorial Union is undergoing a $95 million renovation and is expected to add 25,000 square feet of meeting space by next summer; the facility is also looking to become LEED-certified. West of campus, the McDonald Theatre also welcomes groups.
New hotels include the 87-room Candlewood Suites and the 124-room Hyatt Place at Oakway Center, scheduled to open in June 2016. In nearby Springfield, the Quality Inn & Suites has renovated its guest rooms and public spaces. About 60 miles west, in the coastal town of Florence, the improved Driftwood Shores Resort & Conference Center has event space for up to 150 people. Nearby attractions include the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, which can be explored via dune buggy.
The arts and agriculture both thrive in southern Oregon. In Medford, delegates can tour the kitchens of Harry & David, the fruit company’s working factory, or hold meetings at the Ramada Medford Hotel & Convention Center. In nearby 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 an interesting excursion, groups can head out to Crater Lake National Park, about an hour’s drive from Medford. The 71-room Crater Lake Lodge, celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, is open from mid-May to mid-October and has a Great Hall and restaurant that can be used for gatherings.
Made-to-measure Meetings
Narrowing down a meeting destination in the Pacific Northwest is a difficult endeavor with so many options offering competitive choices. Naturally stunning sites and cities, all kinds of eco-friendly facilities, and amenities that will appeal to active, cultural and foodie attendees are all part of the package in this region, where agendas can be constructed exactly as you wish.