Smart Meetings

Bring your umbrella, don your khakis and get out your coffee mug (or beer stein) because you are in the Pacific Northwest. Be prepared to explore lush evergreen forests, indulge in smoked salmon and experience misty days that make you want to curl up with a cup of coffee or glass of wine in front of the fireplace.

Distinguished (albeit unfairly) by their temperate and frequently damp weather, the states of Oregon and Washington occupy a shared space under the Pacific Northwest’s green umbrella, with the largest population centers occupying the Portland-Seattle I-5 corridor in the region’s western third. And while diverse, these two neighbors have an awful lot in common.

Tucked in their own corner of the country, the people of the Pacific Northwest are not afraid to do things a little differently. In fact, as a haven for progressive thinking and open-mindedness, the Northwest has carved a niche for creativity that has helped foster the explosion of indie music, gourmet coffee and microbrews, as well as its own distinct cuisine, distinguished by sustainable, organic and locally grown ingredients.

Even in the cosmopolitan cities, you’ll also find that those who live here are very connected to the natural environment. Outdoor activities like skiing, hiking, rock climbing and boating are a way of life, served by renowned Northwest outfitters like Nike, Adidas, Columbia Sportswear and Eddie Bauer. And with good reason—drive outside any cosmopolitan city for 30 minutes, and you will invariably find yourself in the midst of jagged peaks, and vast forests, or along the rugged Coast, or arriving in one of the Northwest’s treasures like Oregon’s Crater Lake National Park or Washington’s Mount Rainier National Forest.

It should also come as no surprise, then, that Oregonians and Washingtonians (really, that’s what they’re called) are fiercely committed to protecting their natural resources and their surrounding environment. It’s evident in everything from comprehensive recycling policies and innovative environmental protection laws to their abundance of protected parks, wildlife preserves and wildernesses.

You’ll find that the Pacific Northwest’s love for the environment and tolerance for new ideas translates into a genuine love for living and an easygoing, “everything’s cool” outlook. It’s not uncommon to see motorists waving pedestrians across the street in the middle of a city block.

For you, that means you’re almost guaranteed to be treated to a healthy dose of Pacific Northwest friendliness. And for your meeting, you’ll have room to come up with inspired, cutting-edge ideas that your attendees will likely remember for a while. So don’t be afraid to push the envelope and take a risk—it’s not only welcomed, it’s encouraged.

OREGON
PORTLAND
Portland exemplifies just about every innovative and progressive Pacific Northwest value imaginable. While known as the City of Roses—and it certainly has those in abundance—the city is green through and through, both literally and figuratively, with an award-winning public transportation program, an abundance of excellent restaurants, 10,000 acres of open park space and more LEED-certified buildings per capita than other city in the country.

Take a journey downtown, easily accessible by bus or the city’s light rail system, and you’ll find a community that serves as a model of city planning, thanks in part, to a city ordinance requiring all businesses and streets to be “pedestrian friendly.” The end result is a community that maintains clean, brick-paved streets lined with trees, as well as unique and historic architecture, fountains, art and sculpture placed artistically throughout the streets.

These same values extend to almost every facet of the city, even, or perhaps especially, to its meetings market. The city is proud of its one-million-square-foot Oregon Convention Center, distinguished by its two soaring glass spires that sparkle on the Willamette River at night. Featuring more than 455,000 sq. ft. of meeting space that includes 255,000 sq. ft. of contiguous exhibit space, 50 meeting rooms and two grand ballrooms, the center is one of the few convention facilities in the country that has received the elite LEED certification.

You will also have no problem finding plenty of unique venues that double as exciting points of interest when you have some free time. On the heels of a $125-million renovation and expansion, the Portland Art Museum transformed the former Masonic Building into the elegantly restored Mark Building. Hold your meeting in the building’s boardroom or the 376-seat theater—then transfer your reception that follows to one of the museum’s two elegant ballrooms, restored to their original 1920s grandeur. On nice days, throw a party in the museum’s Roberts Sculpture Courtyard amid a collection of world-class sculpture.

For the food and wine lovers in your group (and there’s bound to be at least one) Portland offers plenty of options and opportunities to experience some fantastic wines and straight-off-the-farm fresh cuisine. When you’re not at your meeting, take a leisurely, or not-so-leisurely, excursion through the rolling hills of Oregon’s wine country with Grape Escape Winery Tours. And the truly dedicated wine aficionados in your group, who don’t want to make the drive to the country, can indulge in a wine-blending class in the city at Urban Wineworks. You’ll have fun experimenting with a variety of red and white wines that you can blend any way you want.

“There’s no wrong answer,” says Deborah Wakefield, director of communications and public relations for the Portland Oregon Visitors Association. “Whatever you like is the way it can be.”

ASHLAND
Travel south on the I-5 corridor and seven miles before you hit the California border, you’ll enter Ashland, “a magical-looking, fairyland of a town set in the foothills of the mountains,” describes Mary Pat Parker, director of public relations and marketing for the Ashland Oregon Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau.

And she’d be right. Progressive and artistic-minded, Ashland is to Oregon what Laguna Beach is to SoCal, with a distinct element of whimsy. European in nature, the city features cobblestone streets, and Tudor-style buildings that house imaginative boutiques and bistros. On warm days (and there are more than you think) treat yourself to an ice cream cone and sit out on the city’s airy plazas. Then relax and be entertained by musicians, jugglers and magicians. Or go for a stroll or jog in Ashland’s centrally located Lithia Park.

And don’t be surprised if you see Queen Elizabeth I or William Shakespeare look-alikes meandering through the city’s charming streets. Ashland sets the stage for imagination—literally—with four local theaters. One of the attractions that put this Southern Oregon community on the map is the internationally renowned Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Founded in 1935, the OSF has been the longest running festival in the country.  And the festival showcases a lot more than Romeo and Juliet. Running February through October, the OSF features 11 plays, five by Shakespeare, in a revolving repertory that ranges from traditional to cutting edge.

If your group is looking for some laugh-out-loud fun, the Oregon Cabaret Theatre offers first-rate musical comedies and revues, along with gourmet cuisine and a great selection of wines and beers. The shows are housed in a former Baptist Church elegantly restored as a nightclub-style dinner-theater.

Ashland’s artistic flair doesn’t just stop with theater. Voted No. 2 in John Villani’s book The 100 Best Art Towns in America, the city supports more than 20 galleries and a flourishing music scene. You’ll certainly get a feel for the thriving art during the monthly First Friday Art Walk where you’ll experience the works of local artisans while sipping on wine and sampling fresh hors d’oeuvres.

For a community renowned for being unique, you’ll have no problem finding some of the most memorable venues for your meeting. One that certainly falls under this umbrella is the Hannon Library, located on the Southern Oregon University campus, with several private meeting rooms illuminated by soaring floor-to-ceiling windows and ornamented by elaborate tilework designed to emulate a flowing river.

Then, after your meeting, get your group together for a chauffeured tour through Southern Oregon Wine Country with Ashland Wine Tours. As you drive through the gentle rolling hills, knowledgeable guides will take you from winery to winery, where you’ll taste an assortment of fine vintages.

Or take a day-trip 90 miles from Ashland to the stunningly beautiful Crater Lake National Park —the deepest freshwater lake in the country—for hundreds of miles of hiking, horseback riding and some keeper photographs.

The Oregon Coast
Few meeting destinations can compare to the absolute unspoiled beauty of the Oregon Coast. From Astoria to the north all the way down to Brookings at the southern tip, the stretch of coastline that runs the length of the state possesses some of the most spectacular landscape in the region, with rugged basalt cliffs, tidepools teeming with sea creatures and historic lighthouses. Plus, with an array of venues found nowhere else in the world, it’s a fascinating area for your group to explore.

The Oregon Coast claims several independent conference centers. Located just an hour and a half from Portland in Seaside, the Seaside Civic & Convention Center features state-of-the-art technology, 22,000 sq. ft. of space and 14 breakout rooms in two main halls. You also be minutes from historic Old Town Florence and lovely, expansive ocean beaches.

Go south to the Central Coast to Florence, where you’ll find the Florence Events Center, featuring 21,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and a 457-seat theater, for just about any meeting or event imaginable. You’ll also be minutes from historic Old Town Florence and lovely, expansive Pacific Ocean beaches. 

The rest of the Oregon Coast prides itself on its unique venues that pop up like hidden treasures on the sand. In Newport, you’ll definitely want to explore the Oregon Coast Aquarium, one of the finest aquariums in the country and former home of Free Willy’s Keiko the Whale. Hold a daytime meeting and then enjoy a reception afterward with a group of 30 to 500 people. For one unforgettable event, throw a party in the Passages of the Deep exhibit, where an acrylic tunnel literally gives you an up-close look at sharks, bat rays, rock fish and hundreds of other sea creatures.

Or for an actual ocean adventure, charter a boat and take your attendees on a whale watching expedition with Marine Discovery Tours out of Newport. Chances are good December and March that you’ll spot a pod of gray whales migrating to and from Alaska to their Baja mating grounds.

Additionally, you can gather your group together for a dune buggy adventure and explore the enormous sand dunes at Siuslaw National Dunes. Then, to get a true sense of place, take a tour down Highway 101 and tour of the coast’s 11 lighthouses, most of which are still operating. Be sure to find a little time to explore the beach—then end your day by getting your group together for a beach bonfire in designated areas.

“Beachcombing—it’s a fun thing to do and it’s free,” says Rebecah Morris, executive director of Oregon Coast Visitors Association. “Depending on the time of year, you’re going to have a lot to do.”

WASHINGTON
SEATTLE
Think Pacific Northwest and its hard not to think of Seattle with its iconic Space Needle, numerous coffee shops, stunning architecture and Puget Sound’s overwhelming presence.

As the home of Eddie Bauer, Microsoft and Starbucks, the Seattle area has definitely emerged as a megalithic presence in the Pacific Northwest. But it’s not surprising that the Pacific Northwest’s most populous city does everything in a way that is larger than life. Look up when you’re in the heart of the city’s downtown and you’ll be overwhelmed with towering icons, abundant art and cutting edge architecture. You could spend days, or even weeks, exploring the city’s multitude of internationally renowned museums.

However, along with its multinational corporations and towering highrises, this city has a softer, intimate side. You’ll notice it right away when you grab a cup of coffee and walk along the peaceful Seattle Waterfront, a one-and-a-half-mile stretch of boardwalk where you’ll see fisherman, and an array of boats and trawlers, along with bistros, unique shops and nautical attractions. And while the city certainly has numerous sunny days, you might do well to bring a jacket with a hood—just in case.

Showcasing glasswork and an art gallery, Seattle’s Washington State Convention & Trade Center specializes in midsize meetings and events. The center features 205,700 sq. ft. of exhibit space that can be divided into six individual halls, as well as 45,000 sq. ft. of carpeted ballroom space and 57,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.

But in a city like Seattle, there are plenty of unique venues that range from iconic to intimate, which, with the help of the Seattle Convention and Visitors Bureau, you won’t have any trouble finding. The Space Needle, located in the Seattle Center would certainly be considered one of the former. Soaring gracefully over the city, the 605-foot structure features panoramic 360-degree views from its observation deck. And with unparalleled views of Puget Sound to the west and Lake Washington to the east, the two banquet rooms in the Needle’s SkyLine level make unforgettable venues for any event.

A less elevated venue, but one certainly as remarkable, is the Experience Music Project, an interactive music museum also located in the Seattle Center. Founded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen to pay homage to the late Jimi Hendrix, the museum redefines creativity with hands-on exhibits that actually let you stretch your imagination and become part of the experience. Put your creative skills to the test by forming a band with your colleagues and playing musical instruments in a sound lab. Or become a composer by creating music in a real recording studio.

When you’re not in a session, be sure to stroll through the historic Pike Place Market , proudly celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Nearly 200 year-round merchants, 190 craftspeople and 120 farmers, sell fresh seafood, produce, meats and gifts you can only find in the Pacific Northwest.

And if you’re dying to get out and experience some real Pacific Northwest adventure, tie up your hiking boots and make the two-hour drive to Mount Rainier National Park, the highest peak in the Northwest, where you’ll be treated to sweeping views of Washington State and some of the most gorgeous rugged landscape around.

Spokane
The largest population center between Seattle and Minneapolis is rapidly growing up and filling out its big city shoes. Yet, despite its ever-growing cosmopolitan exterior, the city still maintains a demure, small town appearance with affordable rates, friendly atmosphere and close proximity to gentle rolling farmland and rushing rivers with 260 days of sunshine a year.

And some of those opportunities start right in the heart of the city. When you feel like taking a break, don your athletic shoes and go for a jog or a walk in Spokane’s central Riverfront Park, a beautiful 100-acre showpiece that encompasses lovely wooded groves, a mini-golf course and a historic 1909 Looff Carousel, among its many draws. If you’re not afraid of heights, you’ll enjoy views from the newly opened SkyRide, an aerial gondola that takes you on a soaring 15-minute ride over Spokane Falls, the largest urban waterfall in the U.S. And cutting through the park is the Spokane River Centennial Trail , a 37-mile paved pathway lining the Spokane River, where you’ll likely see a host of runners, dog walkers and roller bladers throughout the day.

“If you go in the center of Riverfront Park you’ll probably see the mayor on his daily jog,” says Jeanna Hofmeister, vice president and director of destination marketing for Spokane Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau. “The approachability of life is so great here, there’s space available to think.”

Located right in the middle of the park, the Spokane Convention Center complex encompasses three buildings that house more than 58,000 sq. ft. of divisible exhibit space and 14 meeting and breakout rooms, in addition to a recently opened 100,160-square-foot Group Health Exhibit Hall. As a testament to the city’s coming of age, the center is undergoing a $72-million renovation, scheduled to be completed in July. Once completed, the entire center will have 465,565 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space, which will include a new 25,310-square-foot ballroom and six additional breakout rooms, along with a comprehensive facelift of the entire facility.

To experience some of Spokane’s famed approachability firsthand, take a 20-minute drive through the rolling hills of northeast Spokane to the Green Bluff Growers . You’ll have fun perusing the family farms and foods stands that offer fresh, organic produce and an old-fashioned farm experience, along with occasional weekend music and events.

And the former home of notable local Harry “Bing” Crosby (and a Gonzaga University alum) will undoubtedly hold at least a few charming, one-of-a-kind venues. Absorb the spirit of a bygone era by holding an unforgettable event at the recently renamed Bing Crosby Theater, or the Bing Crosby Museum, where you’ll find original manuscripts, photographs, letters and early recordings amid the largest public collection of the late crooner’s memorabilia.

Snohomish County
Located along the I-15 corridor north of Seattle, Snohomish County offers a little bit of everything—big city amenities in a rural setting—all at rates that average about 40 percent less than some downtown Seattle venues.

And to further emphasize the area’s emerging big-city renaissance, two state-of-the-art conference facilities have recently changed the dynamic of the county’s meetings industry. Opened in October 2003, the Everett Events Center
features a ballroom that can accommodate up to 800 for a banquet, as well as a 10,000-seat arena that can be used for trade shows and other significant events. And with 11 flexible meeting rooms accommodating up to 1,200 people, the Lynnwood Convention Center serves as the cornerstone of the city’s redevelopment, which will soon include a new hotel, business parks and retail space.

But as the actual home of Boeing, the county also provides some pretty compelling venues—like the Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour in Everett. Designed to let visitors to truly experience the thrill of commercial jet aviation, the facility offers unique and interpretive and hands-on exhibits, as well as an original venue for receptions and events. Few will be able to rival an open-air reception held on the museum’s Strato Deck overlooking the Boeing Company Complex and a non-commercial runway used to test the new 757 jets.

And with your close proximity to the Snohomish, Skykomish, Stillaguamish and Sauk rivers, team-building can just as easily be established in a kayak as in a ballroom. For fun, take your group river rafting—along with its rafting tours, Chinook Expeditions offers additional education and outdoor experiences for groups. Or, in keeping with true Pacific Northwest style by bucking the status quo, take your attendees on the water, and conduct business on a Washington State Ferry. Food and beverages are readily available, and chances are you won’t beat the exquisite scenery on Puget Sound and the surrounding mountains.

“It’s a beautiful way to see the shore,” says Amy Spain, executive director of Snohomish County Tourism Bureau. “I’ve taken folks. We don’t even get off on the other side.” 

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Getting There

The Pacific Northwest has two large state-of-the-art international airports, as well as several smaller municipal and regional airports. Seattle Tacoma International Airport is served by 22 regional, national and international airlines.

The Portland International Airport is served by 16 international and domestic airlines with nonstop service to more than 50 cities around the world.

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