Smart Meetings

It’s got vibrant towns, verdant rainforests, jutting mountain ranges and a coastline so inarguably magnificent that it’s played muse to countless writers and artists. In short, if you can’t inspire someone here, you probably won’t be able to inspire that person anywhere.

The four-season scenery alone, from water to snow, should provide reason enough to plan in the Pacific Northwest, but there are plenty of others—access for one. A plethora of nonstop flights are available at SeaTac and Portland International airports. Plus, much of the region is along the I-5 and 101 corridors, making the area easily accessible for those in the drive market.

If your event will be at all food-and-drink-oriented, Oregon and Washington are also ideal environs. Both states hold fast to a penchant for well-prepared food; Pacific Northwest cuisine is a genre all its own, emphasizing local, organic ingredients and responsibly sourced seafood. As for beverage, specialty-coffee lovers won’t be disappointed. Neither will fans of famous microbreweries or boutique vintners—they’re all here.
    
WASHINGTON STATE
Washington is blessed with some of America’s most striking natural beauty—it’s got six national parks and recreation areas—but is also home to bustling urban centers, a lively economy and rich cultural assets. The state, which began as Native American tribal land, eventually became Spanish, then British, then Bostonian. Through each transformation, it managed to retain the spirits of its past. Today, Washington’s many cul-tions for one low price—the average user saves $34.

One of the city’s most recognizable gathering places is the Washington State Convention and Trade Center. In its 200,000 sq. ft. of space, it can hold up to 10,000. Highly trained chefs cater to a minimum of 300, while a brigade of event specialists provides support.

Seattle’s defining landmark, the Space Needle, was built in 1962 for the World’s Fair, and not many planners know that it’s available for events. You can book up to 360 in SkyLine, the Needle’s sky-high fine-dining restaurant, or up to 1,000 at the 520-foot-high observation deck to marvel at Seattle’s best view.

Another innovative venue is the Frank O. Gehry-designed Experience Music Project, an impressive collection of exhibits devoted to the history of popular music. The building’s architecture is a sight to see, to say nothing of the 80,000 music-related paraphernalia on display. Up to 2,000 can convene here, the same number of people as can enjoy a live concert, or dinner on EMP’s outdoor plaza.

However, keep in mind that the greater Seattle area—and much of the Pacific Northwest—is notorious for its rainfall, so be sure to check weather reports when planning outdoor events and have good backup plans in case of rain.

In terms of hotels, The Fairmont is the grande dame, as well as Washington’s only AAA Five-Diamond property. For those who have a smaller budget but still want access to the same district, Hotel Monaco (monaco-seattle.com) is also mere blocks from the waterfront. As a Kimpton property, it offers the company’s signature meetings. For smaller meetings, book the Tokyo board room; its table is made of a reclaimed  oak tree.

Hipsters will be more interested in the W Seattle, where up to 475 can mingle amid modern decor and pulsing music. Each technologically equipped (plasma screens, Wi-Fi, state-of-the-art audiovisuals) meeting room lets in natural light, as does the hotel’s ballroom. Like all W Hotels, this one offers the Sensory Set-up, an expertly developed way to motivate and inspire attendees. To boot, planners get a free customizable website that lets attendees book rooms and find relevant information.

GREATER SEATTLE AREA
Bellevue, just a few miles due east of Seattle across Lake Washington, has become a city synonymous with growth. Along with a plethora of real estate projects, both residential and commercial (an estimated 3.3 million sq. ft. in office space alone), the city is pumping up its meetings infrastructure. The main events venue, the Meydenbauer Center, recently completed a major redesign that increased its flexibility and added a high-tech sound system. Hotel properties are stepping up as well; for instance, the Hyatt Regency Bellevue, which completed a $20-million renovation in 2006, is currently adding a 383-room tower and meeting space, for a total of 733 guest rooms and 60,000 sq. ft. of function space. The expansion, which will have the third-largest ballroom in the Pacific Northwest, is expected to be completed in 2009.
In Kirkland, 11 miles from downtown Seattle, the Heathman Hotel’s meetings often center around food; all functions here, up to 200 people, take place in private dining rooms or in the on-site restaurant, Trellis, led by accomplished chef Brian Scheehser. His innovative culinary team is adept at creating customized menus featuring fresh, organic ingredients from his large, eco-friendly garden.

This month Suncadia, a new 6,400-acre resort community in the wine region of Roslyn (80 miles east of Seattle), is debuting its green-conscious Lodge at Suncadia, a hotel with an upscale, woodsy feel. This will be a popular venue—before its doors are even open, there are already 100 groups booked for 2008. Cuisine here will be overseen by Andrew Wilson, formerly Bill Gates’ chef. There will also be a 9,600-square-foot destination spa and recreational opportunities such as golf, rafting, horseback riding, biking and skiing.

SPOKANE
Spokane is so far east in Washington that it’s almost in Idaho. The state’s second-largest city is named after the Native American tribe of the same name; it means “children of the sun.” And, in fact, Spokane does get more sun than some of Washington’s other cities.

The Spokane Convention Center, located on the Spokane River, includes a 2,700-seat opera house, more than 100,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space and 23 meeting rooms. The Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena, meanwhile, sports 30,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space and is often used for big-name concerts and sporting events. It’s available for groups as large as 12,600.

The city’s Italian-inspired Hotel Lusso offers only 36 accommodations, but its welcoming service makes it a good option for smaller groups seeking a luxe villa retreat. A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, the property has facilities available for celebrations and special events. Complimentary wine receptions and classy Fugazzi Restaurant provide finishing touches.

THE OLYMPIC PENINSULA AND SAN JUANS
In Olympic National Forest, one of the world’s three temperate rainforests, is Lake Quinault Lodge. Now operated by Aramark, it was built in 1926 on the shores of Lake Quinault; the rustic property can host 100. Boat tours, the best way to take in the breathtaking lake scenery, are available.

Victoria Clipper, while based in Canada, takes excursions and charters into the San Juan Islands, including themed itineraries such as whale watching and visits to harbors and towns. The company also takes groups to Portland and Seattle, and if you’re planning for 15 or more, you’ll have access to their discounted rates and customized packages.

SNOHOMISH COUNTY
Snohomish County, in northwestern Washington between Puget Sound and the Cascades, is just 12 miles north of downtown Seattle—but its hotel rates are 40 percent lower. This upscale region has several viable venues for meetings, including Comcast Arena at Everett Events Center, which seats 10,000 and has 57,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space, and the $31-million Lynnwood Convention Center, which holds 1,200.

The county is also home to the Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour, where visitors can see the Boeing 777 and 787 being assembled.

The Snohomish County Tourist Bureau can help planners find group lodging; consider Hilton Garden Inn in Mukilteo, which is adjacent to the Future of Flight, and Best Western Cascadia Inn in Everett.

Almost straddling the border of Snohomish and King counties is Woodinville, home of Willows Lodge, a rustic property accommodating up to 170 people. It has a team-building challenge course on its campus, including a ropes course designed to teach teammates how to navigate through obstacles together. After all that teamwork, head to the adjacent Redhook Brewery to collectively throw back a cold one or relax at the Lodge's 2,000-square-foot spa.

OREGON
If there was ever a 21st-century example of an up-and-coming state, Oregon would be it. Led by the burgeoning cultural scene in Portland, and backed by the entire state’s positive progressivism, Oregon—and especially downtown Portland—are enjoying an increased amount of national attention. But, from a planner’s perspective, why book your meeting here? As it turns out, Oregon is affordable, there’s no sales tax, recreational activities abound and the state is centrally located on the West Coast with air access from all major carriers.

PORTLAND
Jennifer Hardy, a meetings manager for Kellen Meetings, was searching for a destination for this year’s annual retreat for the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers. “Portland was the obvious choice,” she says, “because it’s a beautiful city that provides a variety of hotel and conference options. Most importantly, it’s an easy destination to get to and has user-friendly ground transportation options. Our attendees require that our retreats and meetings be in cities that are pedestrian-friendly and culturally diverse, while providing a culinary adventure. With its light-rail system, interesting shopping and exciting nightlife options, Portland exceeds those standards.”

Portland’s easily walkable downtown (blocks are only 200 feet long) features many attractions, including fine- and performing-arts venues, superlative restaurants, microbreweries, fountains and gardens. Also within city limits is an extinct volcano, America’s largest urban park, the world’s biggest independent bookstore and the headquarters of Nike, Adidas and Columbia Sportswear.

The 255,000-square-foot Oregon Convention Center is as equally committed to customer service as it is to sustainable practices. It can hold up to 10,000 people, and the Skyview Terrace hosts 200 for private parties. There’s also an on-campus wine-tasting room representing local vintners.

Golf aficionados will appreciate an event at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, site of the 1997 and 2003 U.S. Women’s Opens. Its 2,520 sq. ft. of meeting space can seat up to 200 in the Sunset Room or the Champions Grille.
Of Portland’s many hotels, some stand out for their group-friendliness. Among them is the Hilton Portland and Executive Tower, which is walking distance from the Oregon Convention Center, the Portland Art Museum (portlandartmuseum.org), the Rose Garden  Arena and Portland State University. It’s also a short block from the light-rail line, which goes to Portland International Airport.

The Holiday Inn, currently undergoing a renovation that will convert it into a Crowne Plaza (slated for completion this May), can host 400. In Fareless Square, four blocks from the Oregon Convention Center, the hotel provides a complimentary shuttle ride to Portland International Airport, 10 miles away.

A more distinctive property, The Benson Hotel, is a Portland landmark. It has existed since 1912 and is on the National Register of Historic Places—but its service is anything but dowdy. The AAA Four-Diamond property, a large boutique-style hotel, offers free evening wine tasting, 24-hour room service, private dining rooms in the award-winning London Grill and a lobby restaurant that features live jazz most nights. Its flexible function space, for 400, includes the newly redone Mayfair Ballroom, the Crystal Ballroom (named for its 10 Austrian-crystal chandeliers) and 12 board rooms.

At the edge of the Willamette River is the Marriott Residence Inn Portland Downtown, a newly renovated all-suite hotel in the pedestrian-friendly RiverPlace neighborhood. Overnight guests enjoy en-suite kitchens, a complimentary hot buffet breakfast each morning, free high-speed Internet access, weekly evening socials and an indoor pool. A no-cost shuttle takes attendees to locations within five miles of the hotel. Full-service catering and an on-site event manager are available, too.
The Sheraton Portland, right at the airport, just completed a multimillion-dollar revitalization—rooms, public spaces and 24-hour fitness facility are brand new. Other niceties here include free Wi-Fi and 24-hour room service.
Portland is crazy about green, and Oregon’s first hotel to earn Green Seal certification for its sustainable lodging practices is the Doubletree Lloyd Center. A few blocks from the Oregon Convention Center, it offers full-service meeting packages, including audiovisuals, sustainable food and coffee breaks, and a dedicated meeting planner.

If you’re searching for a boutique hotel, consider Hotel Fifty, which overlooks the Willamette River and Tom McCall Waterfront Park. State-of-the-art audiovisual equipment is available for events of up to 400.

Another downtown boutique property, Kimpton’s European-style Hotel Vintage Plaza, is a AAA Four-Diamond winner in a turn-of-the-century brick building. Themed around Oregon’s wine industry, each guest room here is named after a winery, and each evening there’s a hosted wine reception in the lobby. Not surprisingly, of the seven meeting spaces here (together, they can accommodate 300), two of them are in wine cellar rooms. The Heathman Hotel, another historic property, is steps from the fashionable Pearl District and has been open since 1927. A pleasant mix of old-time Portland and high-tech hospitality, there’s a reason AAA has awarded it Four Diamonds for 23 years straight.

GREATER PORTLAND AREA
Though it’s technically in Washington, Skamania Lodge is most accessible from Portland—it’s 42 miles east of the city, an all-season mountain resort and conference center in the Columbia River Gorge area. Up to 500 can convene here, then enjoy hiking, biking, golfing, rafting and, in summer, Sternwheeler river cruises. In winter, skiing and snowshoeing are the outdoor activities of choice.

Sixty miles east of Portland is a property that Erin Adams of Erin Adams Events has booked for five years now. It’s in Hood River, and, says Adams, “It is the nicest Best Western I have seen.” In fact, she says, “The prices are so reasonable and it’s right on the Columbia Gorge.” A half-mile away is the quaint town of Hood River; nearby are locations known for windsurfing and kayaking.

MOUNT HOOD
An hour southeast of Portland, at the base of Mt. Hood, amid the evergreens of the Huckleberry Wilderness, is the Resort at the Mountain, which was bought by the Seattle-based Coastal Hotel Group in December 2007. Now the plan is a $14-million renovation scheduled for completion in fall. Nearly every part of the resort will be enhanced, including the golf course, the fitness facilities (a spa will be added), all of the high-end guest rooms, meeting spaces (which can host 750 and offer views of the surrounding forest) and the lobby. Among the function spaces is a 7,040-square-foot ballroom, versatile options for breakout meetings and an outdoor tent area with mountain views. Off-site, at Mt. Hood, 200 ski runs open in winter.

BEND
Seventh Mountain Resort, the closest lodging to the Mt. Bachelor Ski Area, is also adjacent to the Deschutes River (a leading white-water destination) and Widgi Creek Golf Club. Completed three years ago, this lodge-like, campus-style property near the Central Oregon wilderness has newly renovated meeting space equipped with the latest audiovisual equipment. Outdoor lawns and a 5,250-square-foot outdoor tent are ideal for 1,000-person summer events.

OREGON COAST
The Oregon Coast provides an incredible getaway for attendees; most properties along the ocean are quiet, private and conducive to creative team-building and brainstorming sessions.

The Inn at Cape Kiwanda just added 18 lovely cottage units right on the beach. The selling point here is really the oceanfront location, but the presence of an on-site event manager is also encouraging.

Astoria and Warrenton, neighboring communities at the Oregon Coast’s northernmost tip, together make a popular destination for international cruises, with their historic surroundings, pleasant accommodations and opportunities for outdoor recreation. You might recognize this area from movies such as The Goonies and Free Willy. The towns also offer large meeting places (the recently restored Liberty Theater has 650 seats) and restaurants specializing in fresh Pacific Northwest cuisine.
The Columbia River Maritime Museum can host 165 people, who can peer from the observation deck or participate in hands-on activities like rope-making or pretending to pilot a naval destroyer. Its Community Room is 1,872 sq. ft., while the boardroom is 567 sq. ft.

If your group’s active, take them to the top of the 125-foot tall Astoria Column to take in the 360-degree view of the lower Columbia region. The famous column is wrapped in more than 500 feet of murals depicting the area’s history.
Where to stay here? Book your group at the Holiday Inn Express, a contemporary hotel on the banks of the Columbia, or Cannery Pier Hotel, which has a definite maritime feel.

Avital Binshtock is a writer and editor who contributes regularly to the Los Angeles Times and Smart Meetings. She is the author of Frommer’s Napa and Sonoma Day by Day, which is in bookstores now.

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Getting There

• Seattle-Tacoma Airport (Sea-Tac), as the name would imply, serves Seattle and Tacoma. It’s the landing point for many nonstop flights from all over the U.S.
• Portland International Airport (PDX ) is nine miles from downtown Portland and receives many direct flights from major American cities.

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Not To Be Missed

Meet in Wine Country

Did you know that Washington wineries are growing in popularity and acclaim? They’ve become a significant part of the state’s tourism, too, with 300 sunny days per year that offer an alternative to Seattle.
Woodinville has more than 35 vineyards, including Januik Winery, Di Stefano Winery and Fireside Cellars, each with meeting space. Willows Lodge is a great lodging option.
Walla Walla is another Washington wine destination. It’s managed to maintain a small-town atmosphere even while its wine industry booms. One of the area’s foremost attractions is Fort Walla Walla Museum, featuring historical artifacts from pioneer families and Native American tribes. For lodging with meeting facilities, consider The Marcus Whitman Hotel, which has a 450-person downtown conference center, plus an on-site restaurant. Cave B Inn, a modern winery resort, has a new Roundhouse perfect for meetings. Back to Top