Pacific Northwest

PORTLAND, ORE.
Local Update
• Construction has begun on the 600-room Hyatt Regency Portland, which is expected to be LEED-certified and will feature 32,000 square feet of meeting space, a restaurant and a bar. The hotel will be steps from the Oregon Convention Center, across a plaza that will undergo a $35 million renovation starting next year, creating outdoor event space.

• Marriott International's Autograph Collection Hotels has added the 120-room Hi-Lo Hotel, with 3,347 square feet of meeting space. 

• The 205-room Dossier, a Provenance Hotel, debuted in August with a 1,252-square-foot ballroom, Slim Aarons photography on the walls and
Omertà, a 50-seat restaurant from chef Mark Barnett.

• Renovations are underway at the 782-room Hilton Portland, with plans for completion set for next spring. The project will add 6,500 square feet of meeting space, upgrade the rooms, reconfigure the lobby, and add a new restaurant and bar.

Meeting Hotels: Properties include the 782-room Hilton Portland Downtown, 506-room Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront and 477-room DoubleTree by Hilton Portland. 

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. (503) 235-7575

Airport Transit: Portland International Airport, nine miles from downtown; transfer cost by taxi, $35; by shuttle, $14; by MAX light rail, $2.50

Taxes: Total tax on hotel rooms, 11.5%

Group Venue: At Pips & Bounce, ping-pong is serious business. The venue's Garage, with four tables and a private bar, hosts up to 60, and the Club, with 10 tables and two bars, welcomes 225. (503) 928-4664

Contact: Travel Portland, (877) 678-5263

BELLEVUE, WASH.
Local Update

• Newly opened as of last month is the 220-room W Bellevue Hotel, with a homey décor that strives to impart a lakeside-cabin feel. The Lakehouse restaurant comes from James Beard Award-winning chef Jason Wilson. The property has about 10,000 square feet of meeting space.

• Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants is  building the 120-room Bellevue Kimpton, part of a mixed-use development. Groundbreaking should take place before the end of this year. 

Meeting Hotels: Properties include the 732-room Hyatt Regency Bellevue, 384-room Seattle Marriott Bellevue, 353-room Hilton Bellevue, 337-room Westin Bellevue and 220-room W Bellevue. 

To find and compare hotels, and send RFPs, visit mcvenues.com.

Convention Center: Meydenbauer Center; exhibit space, 54,000 square feet; number of 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 Venues: Enjoy an escape-room adventure or other reality-show-tyle fun at Serial Mysteries. Parties of up to 20 are ideal, but the venue welcomes up to 50 for private events. (425) 233-8053

Gather 40 people at Needle & Thread, a speakeasy-style nook that's part of Seattle's Tavern Law cocktail bar. Groups of 100 can take over the entire bar. (206) 322-9734

Contact: Visit Bellevue Washington, (425) 450-3777 

BOISE, IDAHO
Local Update

• A $47.5 million expansion has opened at the Boise Centre, resulting in 92,000 square feet of total convention space. A new 13,000-square-foot ballroom was added, and the venue now has 29 meeting rooms. A new concourse connects to the 252-room Grove Hotel and the 5,000-seat CenturyLink Arena.

• American Airlines has added nonstop flights between Boise and Chicago O'Hare, joining United Airlines in the service. Southwest Airlines began service from Boise to San Diego in June.

• The 110-room Inn at 500 Capitol has debuted a few blocks from the convention center. The hotel's restaurant, Richard's, serves contemporary Italian fare; a fitness center and 2,300 square feet of meeting space round out the amenities.

Meeting Hotels: Properties include the 303-room Riverside Hotel, 252-room Grove Hotel and 195-room Boise Hotel & Conference Center. 
To find and compare hotels, and send RFPs, visit mcvenues.com.

Convention Center: Boise Centre; exhibit space, 25,000 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 29. (208) 336-8900; boisecentre.com

Airport Transit: Boise Airport, approximately six miles from the city's 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 Boise River winds its picturesque way through four city parks, including Boise Whitewater Park and Quinn's Pond. Idaho River Sports brings groups to the water to learn about stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking and more right in the middle of town. 

Contact: Boise Convention and Visitors Bureau, (208) 344-7777 or (800) 635-5240


TACOMA, WASH.
Local Update

• Ground was broken in August on the 303-room Marriott Tacoma Convention Center Hotel, adjacent to the Greater Tacoma Convention Cen­ter.
The property will feature a ballroom spanning 10,000 square feet, in addition to seven breakout rooms and a sixth-floor garden terrace.

Meeting Hotels: Group properties include the 320-room Hotel Murano and 166-room Best Western Plus Tacoma Dome.

To find and compare hotels, and send RFPs, visit mcvenues.com.

Convention Center:Greater Tacoma Convention Center; exhibit space, approximately 50,000 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 13. (253) 830-6601

Airport Transit: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, 18 miles from downtown; transfer cost by taxi, $68; Uber rides start at $45

Taxes: Room tax, 7.53%; sales tax, 6%; total tax on hotel rooms, 13.53%

Group Venue: Built in 1907 to house horse-drawn fire trucks, this venerable red-brick structure has been transformed into the Engine House Number 9 Tavern. An upstairs area can host up to 65 people; hold a group tasting of premium suds from ENine Brewery, such as Nefelibata Flanders-style red ale or Verre Violet, fermented in wine barrels with black currants. (253) 272-3435

Contact: Travel Tacoma, (800) 272-2662