Fewer greenbacks, greater sustainability, plenty of options

By Gary Diedrichs

Oregon is mythic for its towering redwoods, raging rivers and rugged coastline; its renowned wine country and central high desert with outdoor adventure in the air and mountain peaks on the horizon; its famous food scene and sustainability-minded cities. Whatever chapter of this heroic Oregon saga you choose, it will enthrall and entertain.

 

Reasons Why Meeting Planners Love Oregon

Person sitting on boulder at beach
Cannon Beach in Oregon, photo by Wollertz / Shutterstock.com
  • You save; so do your participants. With absolutely no state or local sales tax, planners save up to 10% compared to other major West Coast destinations on catering, AV setups, venue fees and more. Everyone saves on retail therapy, dining out and entertainment.
  • Eco-friendliness is in the state’s DNA. It’s easier to host zero-waste or low-carbon gatherings when, to cite one example, Portland’s Oregon Convention Center is one of the few in the nation to hold LEED Platinum certification. Curbside composting pickup and rooftop gardens are common in its municipalities.

Read More: Oregon: Nature Central

  • Several Oregons, your choice. Portland and Eugene, along the I-5 corridor, abound in hotel rooms and meeting space. Central Oregon, in the high desert, is perfect for outdoor team building during executive retreats, corporate offsites and incentives. The Willamette Valley, centered in Salem, is made for intimate events enhanced by wine and culinary experiences.
  • “Come-as-you-are” appeal. All are welcome, and local tourism boards actively help planners source BIPOC- and underrepresented-group-owned vendors, caterers and makers to meet supplier diversity goals.

 

 Places to Meet & Stay

Aerial shot of people walking inside convention center

Oregon Convention Center, in addition to its distinguished LEED status, has the only Platinum rating in the U.S. from Events Industry Council’s Sustainable Events Standards. Solar panels provide 25% of its power needs.

500,000 sq. ft. of total event space, including 255,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space

Two people sitting in front of fire

Sunriver Resort in Bend has been satisfying every taste with outdoor activities since 1965. This year-round playground segues between award-winning golf, river and biking excursions, snowshoeing and skiing.

More than 44,000 sq. ft. of meeting space; 200+ hotel rooms and hundreds of private rental homes

People sitting inside of convention center ballroom

Salem Convention Center, built from local recycled materials, is LEED EB-Silver certified. It adjoins The Grand Hotel in Salem (193 guest rooms) and offers free parking.

30,000 sq. ft. of meeting space

Aerial shot of restaurant outdoor space

Riverhouse Lodge sits along the Deschutes River in Bend; its convention center is the largest standalone facility of its kind outside of the Portland metro area.

36,000 sq. ft. of meeting space; 221 guest rooms

This article appears in the September/October 2026 issue. You can subscribe to the magazine here.