Sure, Boise has inspired meeting spaces for all kinds of events, large and small. But unlike other cities, you’ll also find award-winning restaurants, a scenic river, mountain trails and vibrant culture just steps from your venue.
Start planning today at Visitboise.com/meetings
» WHEN IT COMES TO picking the city in which to host an event, it’s commonplace to select the major metropolitan area of a state with its abundant venues, accessible airports, and lively social scene—such as Seattle, Washington; Portland, Oregon; or Vancouver, British Columbia. And while there is no shortage of opportunity in the big cities to gather, maybe it’s time to go beyond the city center and explore some of the midsize cities dotting the surrounding counties and regions—you might be surprised by what you’ll find.
meetingsmags.com/northwest meetingsmags
In April, I took a trip to Hood River, Oregon—a city of 8,000 people along the Columbia River, just east of Portland—and I could have stayed there forever. There were ample shops and locally owned eateries in the quaint downtown, the river itself was lined with rolling hills and bike paths for miles in either direction, wineries and vineyards (which make perfect sites for groups, as you’ll read in this issue) offer stunning views of both Mount Hood and Mount Adams, and the numerous hotels and event venues provide endless opportunities to assemble and connect. And when my trip came to an end, it became apparent that small and midsize cities like Hood River across the region—from Tacoma, Washington, and Juneau, Alaska, to Twin Falls, Idaho—shouldn’t be overlooked when it comes to choosing a destination for your group.
Explore the incredible views of the Snake River and Perrine Bridge when gathering in Twin Falls, Idaho, or sip wine with colleagues under the sun in Kelowna, situated in southern British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley. Although it is the capital of Alaska and a major cruise port, Juneau is home to just over 30,000 people and is rich in stunning landscapes for the outdoor enthusiasts in your group. Whichever state or province you choose, smaller locales have everything a planner and attendee will need, along with an approachability one might expect to find in their hometowns.
And who knows? You might just discover a destination you’ll find yourself returning to again and again—whether alone or with your group. Choosing a city that might strike surprise in attendees will only encourage curiosity and open the door for new experiences in a place they didn’t expect to explore. I know Hood River is on my list for a return trip, so where will you go next?
meetingsmags.com/northwest
PRESIDENT TAMMY GALVIN
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER – NATIONAL SALES AIMEE SMITH
717-668-2720 | AIMEE@GREENSPRING.COM
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR ALESHA TAYLOR
GROUP EDITOR KATELYN BLOOMQUIST
SENIOR EDITOR TODD R. BERGER
MANAGING EDITOR AMANDA CHRISTENSEN
ASSOCIATE EDITOR MADELINE FUERSTENBERG
CREATIVE DIRECTOR TONYA SUTFIN
ART DIRECTORS MICAH EDEL, TRACI ZELLMANN
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR DEIDRA ANDERSON
SENIOR ADVERTISING COORDINATOR MIKAYLA SNYDER
ADVERTISING COORDINATOR ELLIANNA RADOVICH
JUNIOR ADVERTISING COORDINATOR SYDNEY KELL
SALES + MARKETING SPECIALIST TAUSHA MARTINSON-BRIGHT
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER + DIRECTOR OF MARKETING, EVENTS + PARTNERSHIPS ARTHUR MORRISSEY
EVENT + OFFICE MANAGER RICK KRUEGER
MARKETING + EVENTS COORDINATOR JORDYN TAYLOE
COMMUNICATIONS + EVENTS COORDINATOR JOSEPH SCHMIDT
DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS KATHIE GORECKI
ACCOUNTING ASSOCIATE AUSTIN SCHMELZLE
AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR GERI WILSON
AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER CINDY FISH
REPRINTS
For high-quality reprints of 500 or more, call 612-371-5849 or email danderson@greenspring.com.
For address changes, ordering single copies, cancellations, or general questions about your subscription please contact customer service at 866-660-6247. 9401 James Ave. S., Suite 152, Bloomington, MN 55431 Phone 612-371-5800 Fax 612-371-5801
HOUR MEDIA CEO STEFAN WANCZYK
PRESIDENT JOHN BALARDO
AMANDA CHRISTENSEN Managing Editor achristensen@greenspring.com
The pages between the covers of this magazine (except for any inserted material) are made from wood fiber that was procured from forests that are sustainably managed to remain healthy, productive, and biologically diverse.
Northwest Meetings + Events is published triannually. © 2023 Greenspring Media. All rights reserved. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.
Seattle Convention Center now offers two buildings in the heart of downtown Seattle. Customize our highly configurable space to fit your unique gatherings of all sizes.
Learn more about hosting your event at Arch, our original building, or Summit, the recently-opened addition.
seattleconventioncenter.com
The 30,000-acre Brush Creek Ranch in Saratoga, Wyoming, added Teppanyaki Garden to its portfolio of on-site farm-to-table culinary concepts, which includes the weekly Creekside dinner, Trailhead Lodge, Cheyenne Club at The Farm at Brush Creek, and Pioneer Kitchen. The Teppanyaki Garden sits above the ranch’s Wedding Garden and feature two tables for up to eight guests each. Dine on Japanese cuisine with a Western flair like Wagyu tartare, fried rice with greenhouse vegetables, sake, seafood, and more.
“Each trip to Brush Creek Ranch is tailored to a group’s unique interests,” says Niels Vuijsters, vice president of hospitality for the ranch. “From corporate retreats to incentive escapes, Brush Creek Ranch’s seasoned team will passionately create a bespoke itinerary of exclusive events, adventures, and world-class meals to reflect your hardworking company culture.”
Keep your group active after a full meal at the ranch with a ropes course, paintball, yoga hikes, and square dancing.
–Amanda Christensen
brushcreekranch.com
» JUST NORTHEAST of Bend, Oregon, Brasada Ranch boasts 12,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space, as well as an extensive menu of energetic team-building activities. Situated on nearly 2,000 acres of land, the opportunities to get outside and build bonds with co-workers are endless—from hiking, biking, golfing, and fishing to white water rafting on the Deschutes River and horseback riding.
Favorite customizable group experiences include options like miniature golf course challenges and a “Taste of the Pacific Northwest” experience where “guests will taste the whiskeys that are produced specifically in the Pacific Northwest, and they talk about [them] and rate [them],” explains Sara Miller, director of sales for Brasada. Another tried-and-true activity is the cardboard boat regatta challenge, she adds. “Teams are divided up, and they are provided with the materials to create a boat that somebody can actually sit in and paddle.” Groups build for an hour, present their creation for 30 minutes, and then compete to see whose watercraft stays afloat the longest. brasada.com
–Amanda Christensen» HARBOUR AIR BEGAN as a two-seaplane airline servicing the forestry industry along British Columbia’s coast in 1982. Today, the company is one of the largest allseaplane airlines in the world and is a global leader in electrifying and testing zeroemission aircraft. Harbour Air’s ePlane project first began in 2019, and after 80 hours of successful flight time, the plane made its inaugural flight to downtown Vancouver for Earth Day on April 22, 2023. The flight marked a milestone in the testing and approval process for electric flying in Canada, as well as the start of Harbour Air’s ePlane Tour to showcase the future of sustainable flight throughout British Columbia. In May, the aircraft completed its first scheduled multipoint flight route from Richmond South to Salt Spring Island and Victoria Harbour.
Get attendees involved with Harbour Air through its must-do seaplane tours— available in Vancouver, Victoria, Whistler, Nanaimo, Richmond, Salt Spring Island, and Sechelt. The airline also offers shuttle services to and from airports in Richmond, Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo, and Whistler for easy transportation on the ground.
–Amanda Christensen
harbourair.com
Big Wall Decor challenges the notion that owning large, beautiful artwork is only for the wealthy art connoisseur. With more than 20 years of experience printing for luxury brands, the Big Wall Decor team uncovered a new print and framing solution that makes it easy and affordable to display large-scale, on-trend artwork in trade-show booths, at events, in the office, and at home.
Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Spring Lake, Michigan, the company works with emerging artists who feature their Instagram handles and signatures at the bottom corner of the fabric prints and are paid based on each piece sold. A big bonus for the meetings and events industry is that the wall art is portable and can be quickly assembled or dismantled. Custom designs can be printed on durable, fade-resistant ArtFab fabric to stay in step with rapidly changing marketing campaigns. bigwalldecor.com
Beth Buehler
BY MARY SUBIALKA
» WATER DRAWS US IN. It inspired Leonardo da Vinci to say, “Water is the driving force of all nature.” And while being on the water galvanizes spiritual wonderment, it can also lend an unmistakable energy and excitement—plus unique venues and activities—to meetings
and events held at water’s edge, such as those along Seattle’s Puget Sound.
“One of Seattle’s greatest assets is the natural beauty from nearly every spot in the city, especially the sweeping vistas of Elliott Bay,” says Kelly Saling, senior vice president and chief sales officer at Visit Seattle.
“The views are just stunning and give you a distinctive sense of place. We want visitors to know they’ve experienced Seattle when they travel here for a business event—[and] one of the best ways to accomplish this is by integrating a venue, activity, or dinner along the waterfront.”
A classic waterfront venue—and the city’s only over-the-water hotel—is The Edgewater Hotel. The property sits directly on Puget Sound with the city behind it and the Olympic Mountains to the west. Originally built for the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, the luxury hotel features dining at its signature eatery, Six Seven Restaurant, perched atop Pier 67; 223 waterfront and city-view guest rooms and suites; and a storied history of hosting legendary musicians including The Beatles, Neil Young, and the Foo Fighters. The hotel has nearly 10,000 square feet of flexible event space across 10 rooms to accommodate both small- and large-scale meetings. The largest is the 3,563-square-foot Olympic Ballroom, which can host up to 220 people and features floor-to-ceiling windows that afford panoramic views of Elliott Bay, the Olympic Peninsula, and the islands of Puget Sound. Attendees will enjoy even more views of the city skyline, including the Space Needle, in the 600-square-foot Terrace Room, and the hotel dishes up a variety of food options from breakfast to dessert.
Adjacent to The Edgewater, Bell Harbor International Conference Center offers nearly 100,000 square feet of waterfront conference, meeting, and special event space for groups from 10 to 5,000. The 300-seat Bay Auditorium features over 5,000 square feet of space, and the Rooftop Plaza’s amenities include views of Seattle, the Olympic Mountains, and Mount Rainier. Breakthrough Energy, the Bill Gates-led effort to spark climate technology innovation, held its inaugural summit here last fall.
For more intimate events, check out Seattle’s first neighborhood, Pioneer Square, established in 1852. This trendy area is home to historic architecture, a thriving arts community, standout shops, toprated restaurants, and lively nightlife—
The Museum of Flight is Seattle’s best—and most unique—venue for your next event. From small intimate dinners to company-wide holiday parties, the Museum can provide a memorable experience for every guest.
all within a square mile. In one of the neighborhood’s historic buildings is Feast Pioneer Square, an intimate event venue that can host seated dinners for 54 guests or standing receptions for 80—and all event-planning services from catering to tables and music are handled in-house. The space’s original hardwood floors complement the white walls with warm red accents for a charming setting.
Pioneer Square is also home to Damn The Weather bar and restaurant, which Bon Appétit described as having “unfussy cocktails and unbelievably good bar food.” Attendees can stop in for craft cocktails, wine, and beer, and order from a menu of delicacies ranging from local oysters served with a house hot sauce to steak frites and grass-fed beef burgers.
Just west of the Ballard neighborhood, about 14 minutes from downtown Seattle, is the Golden Gardens Bathhouse in the
iconic Golden Gardens Park. Built in the 1930s, its waterfront location offers a memorable backdrop for meetings, events, seminars, or parties with Puget Sound’s sandy beaches and the Olympic Mountains in the distance. The Main Hall features a cathedral ceiling with skylights that flood the room with natural light, and can accommodate up to 140 seated meetinggoers and up to 295 standing. Attendees can enjoy a game of volleyball on the beach, stroll along the coastline, hike forest trails, or fish from the pier. There is also a boat launch at the south end of the park.
The Alki Beach Park Bathhouse, located along Alki Beach in West Seattle, also provides beachy ambience for events. The building affords views of the water and mountains, and the outdoor lawn space provides opportunity for a variety of activities. The Main Hall accommodates up to 84 people for a seated dinner and
100 standing, and the painting room can be included for additional space. The venue is also within walking distance of the many shops, restaurants, and activities along Alki Beach.
Bordering Olympic National Park and a little under a two-hour drive (or a shorter ferry ride) from Seattle, The Resort at Port Ludlow is a retreat from the ordinary. “When meeting and event planners are searching for the perfect off-site venue, The Resort at Port Ludlow stands out for its scenic location at the gateway to the Olympic Peninsula,” says Jessie Short, marketing coordinator with the resort. The property features a 37-room boutique waterfront inn, inspired by New England’s classic coastal summer homes, and meeting spaces and room accommodations for groups up to 50. There is a 300-slip marina
and an 18-hole championship golf course with rolling fairways and views of the Hood Canal, Ludlow Bay, and mountains. The Fireside Restaurant looks out on Ludlow Bay, and its daily menu features local farm-to-table Pacific Northwest cuisine. For team-building activities, gather your group for cooking classes, including pasta making and an “Iron Chef”-style cook off. Adventure seekers can explore the bay and twin islands in a kayak or a stand-up paddleboard. On terra firma, play lawn games, hike or bike more than 30 miles of trails, or tour a nearby cidery or winery. Of course, guests can also simply relax in a chair on the beach, soak in the mesmerizing views, and enjoy the water’s energy to recharge.
With its workforce solely remote, Tune, a partner marketing company, brought together more than 40 people from all over the world to the resort in October 2022 for
its annual retreat. Employees embraced their experience with kayaking, biking, golf, and a cidery tour.
“One takeaway is that there is no substitute for the time spent in between presentations, team meetings, and one-on-ones,” says Cameron Stewart, Tune general manager. “Relationships are built in the margins of what we do every day, and we were able to set aside time to allow those relationships to form and prosper.”
bellharbor.com
damntheweather.com
edgewaterhotel.com
feastpioneersquare.com
pioneersquare.org
portludlowresort.com
seattle.gov
tune.com
visitseattle.org
Gather at one of the region’s lush vineyards and refined wineries for good conversation and flavorful vino
BY AMANDA CHRISTENSEN
» WITH ENDLESS stunning landscapes of rolling hills, mountain ranges, major rivers, and the Great Plains of Wyoming and Montana, uniquely diverse opportunities for wine growing are abundant in the Northwest. Environmental features like these create ecosystems that lend a hand in creating a diverse array of American Viticultural Areas (AVA) in each state.
And the region’s climate—which boasts a special mix of temperate oceanic in western Washington and Oregon, and arid, high desert to the east into Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana—makes for an ecological medley of landscapes that produce varietals you won’t find anywhere else.
“We were really interested in this climate, and the drier conditions that [are] a little bit easier for organic farming,” says Kris Fade, co-founder of Analemma Wines in Mosier, Oregon, just east of Hood River in the Columbia River Gorge. “It adds a lot of interest to what we do by having this sort of agriculture [in the area],” she says.
Fade first got involved in the wine industry while working with her college professor on contract projects he had with local vineyards. “It really opened my eyes to how wine and winegrowing can be a lens to see the world—the geology, the climate, the cultural aspects of farming, and making a land-based product, [were all] really exciting to me.” Alongside its 17-acre vineyard, Analemma has an 8-acre cherry tree orchard, all naturally pollinated by three species of bees raised on-site.
With a goal of leaving the land better than they found it, Fade and co-founder Steven Thompson prioritize eco-friendly initiatives through their farming practices, from composting to making their own fertilizer. The vineyards were Biodynamic certified by Demeter in 2017— recognizing its substantial organic
farming techniques—and offer ample opportunities for visitors to get involved in their regenerative agriculture process with activities like planting native species, laying out compost tea on the vineyards (a solution of “brewed” compost with microorganisms that boost vine growth), and more.
Analemma can comfortably host groups of 12 to 25 and can customize events and other group activities to a planner’s agenda. Take a walk out to the vineyards and have a conversation about the site’s farming practices, or arrange a lecture session on topics like sustainability or diversity, equity, and inclusion—all while sipping on some of its biodynamically grown wines, including a crisp albariño, a fruity blanco, or a fresh rosé.
Over in Hood River, the boutique Phelps Creek Vineyards also has a thing for going green and encourages groups to sit back and relax at its tasting room along the Columbia River. The property is salmon-safe certified, as well as Live certified. Live is a Pacific Northwest nonprofit that certifies vineyards in the region for sustainable farming and production practices. The venue offers an on-site Wine Library Room that works
well for educational sessions, tastings, and lunches for groups of up to 14. With vineyards on both the Washington and Oregon sides of the Columbia River, Phelps Creek is best known for its cool-climate varietals of pinot noir, chardonnay, and Riesling.
“We’re so fortunate because we can get grapes from the Washington side [of the Columbia River] without any implications of taxes or laws because of the bi-state AVA,” says Lynette Barss-Morus, general manager of the property, referring to the Columbia Gorge AVA that straddles the river and encompasses areas in both states. The property offers catering from its on-site kitchen, with light menu items like French baguettes and Irish butter, marinated olives, and cheese plates.
“The nice thing about being a boutique winery is you kind of just rock ’n’ roll with it, go with the flow, and you learn from every vintage,” Barss-Morus adds. And if you want a more casual get-together with colleagues, join the Phelps Creek team for its Thursday night jazz performances and Taco Tuesdays every week.
Over to the west in the Willamette Valley is Lemelson Vineyards in Carlton, Oregon, a gravity-flow facility that opened in 1999. The property is favored for its Thea’s
Selection Pinot Noir, a blend of grapes from all five of its vineyards managed throughout the Willamette Valley AVA.
“We are all organic-certified out in our vineyards,” explains Josie Hubbard, hospitality manager for Lemelson. “Organic is the trend in Oregon in general, but that definitely helps us to stand out.” While she notes the vineyard is ideal for hosting small groups of around 12, there is flexibility to organize larger groups and meetings in coordination with the Lemelson team. The venue has three separate patios onsite and offers seated tastings and behindthe-scenes tours where guests can dine on a cheese plate with paired wines and explore the winery and its cellars.
“It’s a really beautiful space. We back right up to some beautifully forested areas [that] guests can enjoy and have a picnic if they choose,” she adds. “It’s just a very Oregon-type setting. … It’s very one with the land.”
To the east, just north of the WashingtonOregon border in Walla Walla, Washington, sits Abeja Winery & Inn, a 38-acre site that is home to an active winery, eight-suite inn, tasting room, and estate vineyard. Abeja offers several options for planners to arrange a relaxing gathering for groups on the property, including The Small Barn & Patio, composed of a dining room and tasting room and best suited for tastings or receptions of up to 120; The Big Barn, which can host up to 150, and the Great Lawn, which can host up to 300; the Vineyard Garden, an elegant outdoor space for cocktail receptions and small dinners of up to 36; and the Carriage House Foyer, well-suited for a reception of up to 40. The inn can sleep up to 28, and the Abeja team can arrange custom incentive packages for memorable events.
Abeja was founded by Ken and Ginger Harrison, who came to the Walla Walla Valley in the late 1990s in search of suitable land to plant some cabernet sauvignon, purchasing the property in 2000.
“Having the inn and the winery makes us special,” says Ana Smolinsky, event manager for the property. “We really kept a lot of the historic aspects of the farm and turned it into something great. … We have an inn suite called the Chicken Coop, which was originally the old chicken coop that we’ve converted.”
With a goal of maintaining the property’s rich past, the Abeja team also values being eco-friendly and ensuring each
visitor feels at home during their visit. The name Abeja is Spanish for “bee,” and was chosen to honor a deep-rooted respect for the environment. “I think we also have a big family feel on property, so [when] you come in, our staff makes you feel like you’re part of the family,” Smolinsky adds.
Situated between the high desert of southeastern Oregon and the Salmon River Mountains of central Idaho, Telaya Wine Co. is a family-owned winery in
Garden City, Idaho, established by Earl and Carrie Sullivan in 2008. “Earl and Carrie had previously been embarking on independent careers when they turned to wine as a way to converge their career paths,” explains Emily Balluff, Telaya’s private event coordinator. “With a strong focus on family, hospitality, and producing oldworld style Idaho and Washington wines, Telaya has continued to grow ever since.”
Telaya sources about 60% of its grapes from Idaho’s Snake River Valley AVA and about 40% from Washington’s Yakima Valley and Red Mountain AVAs. “We’re best known for big, bold reds like shiraz [also known as ‘syrah’] and cabernet sauvignon,” says Balluff. “Our shiraz-based red blend, Turas (meaning ‘journey’ in Irish Gaelic), is our flagship wine.” The venue is located next to the Riverside Hotel just minutes from downtown Boise. It can be rented in various configurations to accommodate up to 150 guests with options including the second-floor Teton Room for up to 50 standing; the 1,600-square-foot outdoor deck for up to 75;
and the tasting room and patio, which can host up to 150 on a seasonal basis.
“We love to customize wine experiences based on the group’s interests and schedule,” says Balluff. “We can offer anything from a quick introduction to the winery, to a more in-depth and educational tasting and tour experience—we’ve even created blind-tasting team-building activities in the past.” And the options don’t end at just wine—Balluff notes that groups should get creative when it comes to using the different spaces on-site alongside nearby amenities, like yoga in the Teton Room or an afternoon spent paddleboarding on the nearby pond.
In northern Wyoming, the 18-acre Mustang Mountain Vineyard offers a warm, welcoming environment as a family-owned and -operated venue in Lovell, about an hour and a half south of Billings, Montana. “We have an absolutely stunning view of the Big Horn Mountains, and it’s just a very quiet and relaxing place,” describes Nicolle Laffin, managing partner of Mustang, alongside her parents,
Nancey and Larry Blair. The property was originally an abandoned apple orchard, and the Blairs planted their first round of vineyard grapes in 2010 after retiring from their jobs in Seattle, Washington, and moving to Wyoming.
“We get a lot of that apple [flavor] that comes through our wine grapes, and we really appreciate that,” Laffin says. The winery can host groups of 15 to 20 for tastings with either light bites or full catering to pair. When it comes to what makes a small-town vineyard like Mustang stand out, Laffin says it’s twofold. “I do love that it’s family [owned]; we seem to all be on the same page … [and] have the same vision for the vineyard and winery. [And] the best part about this [job] is when people come in and we get to visit with them. We love talking with people.”
Whichever vineyard you choose to explore with your group, the region is flourishing with eco-friendly wineries and locally owned venues that’ll keep the wine flowing and encourage engaging conversation among attendees.
ost Northwest meetings professionals have been to conferences in the region’s biggest cities. But it might be time to go beyond the urban downtown and explore what some of the region’s smaller, midsize cities have to offer—what you find just might surprise you.
“When you meet in a midsize city like Tacoma, you really own the city,” says Lynsey Norton, director of convention sales and regional services for Travel Tacoma—Mt. Rainier Tourism and Sports. “The [staff at the] restaurants, hotels, and attractions here know you’re coming. They understand the value meetings and conventions bring. They see your badge, and they welcome you.” And if your meeting is the only one in town, you’ll also have the full attention of the conference services team, from the chef to the audiovisual crew to the visitor and convention bureau.
While each midsize town has its own personality, you’ll notice some recurring themes here in the Northwest, including excellent restaurants and wines along with easy access to the region’s beautiful outdoors. These are the kinds of places where attendees will want to spend an additional vacation day—or three—and explore pre- or post-meeting.
Do you want your attendees to bond while gazing at the aurora borealis or walking with a herd of docile reindeer? Then Fairbanks is the place to meet. “We embrace the fact that we are a bit ‘off the beaten path’ by offering attendees a chance to complete their business in a bucket-list destination,” says Jesse Pfeffer, meetings and conventions sales and services manager for Explore Fairbanks Alaska.
With over 175,000 square feet of meeting and event space and 2,900 guest rooms, this interior Alaskan city can accommodate sizable conferences. Your group can hold a reception surrounded by pristine old cars at the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum or learn about Alaskan aboriginal culture while mingling in the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitor Center. It’s easy for attendees to get a taste of authentic Alaskan life during a meeting in Fairbanks.
While in Juneau, look up and you’ll probably see a bald eagle, and you don’t have to venture far from downtown Juneau to encounter a brown bear. “The small, safe, welcoming community is full of Alaskan adventures just steps from hotels and meeting spaces,” says Heather Collins,
event and group sales manager for Travel Juneau. And it’s only a two-hour flight from Seattle. Two of Juneau’s newly renovated venues are Centennial Hall Convention Center, with 17,000 square feet of meeting space, and the smaller Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall in downtown Juneau.
Since Juneau is a major cruise port, local outfitters are pros at offering group activities, such as whale watching in summer, skiing in winter, and visiting Mendenhall Glacier year-round. “Because it is just 15 minutes from downtown, the glacier is the most accessible in the state and offers wildlife viewing and spectacular scenery,” says Collins.
Victoria’s waterfront location, British tea house vibe, and hanging flower baskets lining the streets make it popular with meeting-goers. It also boasts some of the best meeting facilities around. The Victoria Conference Centre incorporates diverse elements of the city’s history, including a First Nations totem pole and historic Crystal Garden—once the site of the British Empire’s largest indoor heated saltwater pool. “When your group
is hosting their meeting in Victoria and the Victoria Conference Centre, there is a sense of exclusivity for the delegates,” says Miranda Ji, Destination Greater Victoria’s executive vice president of sales and business development. For a fun, smaller venue, meet at Craigdarroch Castle, a turreted Victorian mansion made of stone.
When not in meetings, your group can go whale watching, e-bike touring, or taste fresh-cut basil, berries, fireweed honey, and local wines while touring Greater Victoria’s Flavour Trail.
Just northwest of Vancouver and located in southern British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, Kelowna is known for wine and sunshine. In addition to solid meeting options like the Hampton Inn & Suites and Hotel Kelowna and Conference Center, summertime meetings can rent the budget-friendly University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus. The city is currently abuzz about the new KF Aerospace Centre for Excellence, a 60,000-square-foot aviation museum and conference facility shaped like the fuselage and wings of an aircraft.
Kelowna has more than 70 wineries, breweries, distilleries, and cideries, as well as 19 golf courses in the area. “From
group wine tours and dinners showcasing the region’s exceptional produce to cruises along Okanagan Lake and ample outdoor activities including skiing, golfing, and hiking, Kelowna and the central Okanagan [Valley] will deliver an experience your delegates won’t soon forget,” says Nikki Robinson, Tourism Kelowna’s director of business development.
The Greater Tacoma Convention Center has 119,000 flexible square feet of space, including 50,000 square feet of column-free exhibition-hall space, 24,000 square feet of pre-function space, and a 13,650-squarefoot ballroom. “But it’s the sweeping views of downtown Tacoma and Mount Rainier, with massive windows and glass-enclosed entries, lobbies, and a suspended stairway for natural lighting that attendees will remember most,” says Norton.
Pierce County’s more intimate venues include the sophisticated Museum of Glass, the historic 1906 Pythian Temple, and Tin Can Alley, a funky hot pink repurposed factory. For group activities, visitors can choose between mountain, city, and sea. Many meeting clients organize a tour
of nearby Mount Rainier. “Those outdoor, transformative experiences create lasting bonds and connections,” Norton says. Other team-building options include an escape room, boat tour, or ghost walk.
On the southern end of Puget Sound, Washington’s state capital of Olympia makes for a scenic meeting destination. The top venue is the Olympia Hotel at Capitol Lake, an IHG Hotel with 12 meeting rooms and 16,000 square feet of meeting space.
Jeff Bowe, vice president of sales and development for Experience Olympia & Beyond, notes the scalability of Olympia’s group activities, such as farm tours.
“One of Olympia’s most unique experiences is a coffee roastery tour, where the tour takers learn about the chemistry of a coffee bean; or they can explore a shellfish farm and end the day with a tide-totable experience paired with local wines. Of course, the visitors and convention bureau can assist with custom networking or team-building events—including golf, indoor rock climbing, or even soapmaking classes, to name a few.”
In southcentral Washington, Yakima has long been called “the fruit bowl of the nation.” Hops and apples thrive in the region’s 300-plus days of sunshine per year.
It also has Washington’s fourth-largest convention center, with more than 1,000 sleeping rooms nearby. Notable smaller venues include the Yakima Area Arboretum, the Yakima Valley Museum, and the historic 1,500-seat Capital Theatre, originally built in 1920.
Why choose Yakima over bigger cities? “Great restaurants, hotels, tourist attractions, easily accessible outdoor adventure, unique craft beer, and award-winning wines—[all] without all the crowds, heavy traffic, and expensive parking,” says Brynn Johnson, director of convention and group sales at Yakima Valley Tourism. “The city has a unique character and charm, surrounded by scenic areas, hop fields, vineyards, and outdoor recreation.”
Oregon’s state capital has several top meeting venues, from the Salem Convention Center to the chic new Holman Riverfront Park Hotel downtown. “Salem is easy to navigate, with a vibrant, walkable downtown home to restaurants, shops, and the arts,” says Debbie McCune, Travel Salem’s director of sales. “Wine country, flower gardens, and farmland are just minutes from the city center.”
For team building, you can’t get much more Northwest than ax throwing or a guided tree climb at Silver Falls State Park. Prefer something a bit slower paced? Yoga + Beer can organize a special yoga class at a brewery or winery. Additionally, event planners can coordinate with local farms and vineyards to organize farm-to-fork dinners. Or reserve The Yard Food Park, where your group will have indoor seating and a dozen food trucks to choose from.
To the southeast from Salem, Bend is known for having something that much of the Pacific Northwest doesn’t: sunshine. The high desert location sets an outdoorsy tone for your attendees to enjoy. Central Oregon’s largest meeting facility, the Riverhouse Hotel & Convention Center, has 29,000 square feet of indoor space and capacity for 1,700 attendees, as well as a beautiful setting overlooking the Deschutes River.
Partner with Wanderlust Tours for group activities. Depending on the season, you can arrange canoe tours, hikes, or a bonfire on the snow. One of the company’s most popular team-building excursions is a GPS eco-challenge, a cross between geocaching and a scavenger hunt.
Further south, Ashland is world famous for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, which offers group ticketing. Throw in wineries, rafting the Rogue River, and jetboating, and you have a town that perfectly combines culture, culinary arts, and nature. “It’s safe, family friendly, walkable, and offers great weather year-round with four distinctive seasons,” says Daniel Miller, catering and sales manager at the Neuman Hotel Group. “Located halfway between Portland and San Francisco, it offers a great midpoint for many conference attendees.”
Groups of 400 or more will find plenty of space at Ashland Hills Hotel & Suites. For groups of 200 or fewer, the Ashland Springs Hotel is a gorgeously restored 1925 property complete with a ballroom, English garden, and palm tree-filled conservatory.
Idaho Falls is the state’s second-largest city and a jumping off point for both Grand Teton National Park and the west entrance
to Yellowstone National Park. The Idaho Falls Regional Airport, just 2 miles outside of downtown, offers nonstop flights from 13 destinations. The city is an unusual mix between high-tech (it’s home to the Idaho National Laboratory, the country’s top nuclear research facility), agricultural, and outdoorsy.
Since opening its brand-new 48,000-square-foot venue, Mountain America Center, Idaho Falls is revving up for increased meetings business. The center includes Hero Arena, a 27,000-square-foot stadium, plus 11,500 square feet of meeting space that can host expos, receptions, trade shows, and conventions. The city also has several smaller event centers. Visitors love to stroll the 10-mile paved Idaho Falls River Walk, which straddles the Snake River.
Twin Falls is also in southern Idaho, about halfway between Boise and Idaho Falls. Two of Twin Falls’ most attractive meeting spaces are Canyon Crest Event Center and Elevation 486. Both have outdoor seating, high-class dining, incredible views of the Snake River and Perrine Bridge, and easy access to walking or biking the 8-mile Canyon Rim Trail.
Sarah Rohrbach, executive director for Southern Idaho Tourism, encourages meeting planners to take advantage of outdoor team-building experiences, such as the College of Southern Idaho’s outdoor challenge course, zip lining, and boat and kayak tours. “The views of the Snake River Canyon cannot be beat,” she says. “Zip liners will see stunning views of waterfalls.” Indoor team-building options include ax-throwing gyms, eating at 2nd South Market—Idaho’s first food hall—or exploring rich history with a tour of the Orpheum Theatre, which first opened in 1921.
Make an impact with your next event at Boise Centre. Our versatile meeting and event spaces, modern amenities, and expert event planning team is at your service to ensure an unforgettable event experience. Located in the middle of the city’s energetic, walkable downtown Boise Centre is surrounded by local breweries, restaurants, shops, hotels and is minutes from outdoor adventures.
• Convenient downtown location
• Numerous direct flights and seven minutes from the airport
• Surrounded by restaurants, breweries, and nightlife
• Over 1,300 hotel rooms within walking distance
• Outdoor activities close by hiking, rafting, biking, and more
boisecentre.com
Be inspired by the light of the Aurora Borealis. Renew your energy under the Midnight Sun. Experience the warmth of Fairbanks–Alaska’s Golden Heart–and the basecamp to Denali, Interior and Arctic Alaska.
Call 1-907-459-3768 for a free Fairbanks Meeting Planner Guide. Explore your Alaskan meeting opportunities at
explorefairbanks.com
Expedia Group released its 2023 Traveler Value Index, which highlights permanent, temporary, and fluctuating traveler values. Last summer, Wakefield Research conducted consumer surveys of 11,000 adults across 11 countries, including the United States. The firm also surveyed 100-plus industry professionals (in each of the same countries), including hotel and vacation rental owners, airline revenue managers, destination marketers, and travel loyalty program managers. Getting an idea of what your potential attendees might value when traveling will offer insight into how to best incentivize your event and itinerary—making the most out of every minute.
The top reasons consumers cite for traveling include:
49% Good for physical and mental health
46% To reunite with friends or family
43% To experience new things
15% To use up travel credits accumulated in the last three years
What is the No. 1 deciding factor consumers cite when booking travel?
Of those who plan to travel in the next 12 months:
32%
76%
The research concludes consumers prefer to book with companies that align with personal values, including:
I NCLUSIO N
70% of consumers will choose a travel option that is more inclusive, even if it is more expensive.
78% of consumers say they have made a travel decision based on marketing they feel represents them.
SUSTA I NAB I L I TY
90% of consumers value sustainable travel options.
50% of consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable travel options.
The Hotel Indigo Vancouver Dwtn— Portland Area, a boutique hotel by IHG Hotels & Resorts, opened earlier this spring and delivers far more than just modern, Pacific Northwest-inspired suites and a mountain of pillows for attendees to rest their heads. Only 15 minutes from Portland International Airport and within walking distance of the Vancouver Convention Center, the newly opened establishment in Washington’s Vancouver Waterfront Park is also the perfect place to hold your company meeting or annual event. Notably, a grand ballroom—featuring a large terrace, sweeping views of the Columbia River, and technical amenities such as audiovisual support and wireless internet access—accommodates up to 215 attendees, while the Edgewater Ballroom on the second floor serves up to 200. Consider the hotel’s Atrium for smaller, more intimate gatherings or networking events.
After hours, longtime colleagues and new connections alike can refuel at steakhouse El Gaucho or 13 Coins Restaurant,
or unwind with a pour of whiskey or glass of pinot noir at Witness Tree Lounge—a rooftop bar flaunting views of the Portland skyline. After a good night’s rest in one of 138 luxury suites and before your attendees embark back to the office, encourage them to keep tabs on their email inbox at the business center, squeeze in a last-minute workout in the hotel gym,
» AS YOU SCHEDULE FLIGHTS for your next conference or event, planners and attendees alike will be pleased to know that airports across the Northwest are expanding their route options and making upgrades to terminals and concourses. In the Seattle area, Alaska Airlines has completed a $30 million renovation to its D Concourse Lounge at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, now open and featuring 50% more seating and improved amenities, including a barista station and additional hot food options.
Coming this fall and winter, Alaska Airlines is adding a new route just in time for the holiday event season. Service between Portland and Miami begins Nov. 17, taking off daily and available year-round with Miami becoming the fourth Florida city served nonstop from Portland.
Kenmore, Washington-based Kenmore Air has launched new daily land-based plane service to Victoria International Airport, adding to its current service portfolio of King County International Airport-Boeing Field just south of Seattle and Paine Field Airport in Snohomish County. And speaking of Paine Field, the airport has also announced new daily, direct Alaska Airlines service to Honolulu, Hawaii, beginning this November. Alaska currently flies to nine other destinations from Paine Field, including Anchorage, Alaska; Los Angeles, Orange County, Palm Springs, San Francisco, and San Diego, California; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Tucson, Arizona. –Amanda Christensen
or book an appointment at Amelie Med Spa, a woman-owned, body-positive spa.
Know you’re interested but not sure where to start? Take advantage of the hotel’s creative meeting and event concept consultations to assist in planning your Northwest event—whether it be an incentive trip, regional meeting, or national conference. ihg.com –Katelyn Bloomquist
alaskaair.com
kenmoreair.com
kingcounty.gov
painefield.com
portseattle.org
» CHOICE HOTELS INTERNATIONAL INC. continues its expansion of Cambria Hotels with two new Pacific Northwest properties slated to open in spring 2025: Cambria Hotel Pearl District—Portland and Cambria Hotel Hillsboro.
The former—a six-story, 178-room hotel—will be nestled in the heart of Portland’s Pearl District, which is known for its proximity to key transportation hubs, downtown, and popular landmarks. Meanwhile, the latter (which is a bit more intimate at four stories and 115 rooms) will break ground in a convenient locale only 20 minutes from Portland and a short drive from Portland International Airport. Both Oregon hotels are the latest addition to a fast-growing, nationwide portfolio of accommodations by Choice and Cambria that aims to provide a modern, memorable stay specifically tailored to the needs of business travelers and meeting attendees alike.
Tech-friendly features (like free Wi-Fi, mobile check-in, and in-suite Bluetooth mirrors) and sophisticated, stylish guest rooms with turnkey amenities aside, both hotels will provide myriad options for memorable gatherings—from indoor and outdoor multipurpose rooms to dedicated pre-function spaces. –Katelyn Bloomquist
choicehotels.com
The Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada (PacifiCan), a branch of the Canadian government, announced the availability of nearly $3 million in PacifiCan funding through the Tourism Relief Fund for 14 projects across Vancouver, British Columbia, to enhance tourism experiences. One such experience is the Greater Vancouver International Film Festival, which is receiving $500,000 to “revitalize the organization’s annual film festival events, which include screenings, conferences, live performances, and free outdoor programming,” according to a prepared statement.
Event attendees in Vancouver can expect to see and experience just how the funding will further improve tourism in the city with the restoration of events like the Vancouver Fringe Festival and International Jazz Festival, supporting cultural events like Latincouver and the Dragon Boat Festival, revitalizing venues like the Granville Island Stage, creating new public spaces and experiences in Vancouver’s Gastown neighborhood, and more. canada.ca –Amanda Christensen
The Emerald City welcomed back vendors and visitors to its Bite of Seattle food festival, July 21-23, at the Seattle Center after a three-year hiatus. The event featured over 200 food and specialty vendors, three beer gardens, a wine garden, and over 50 live bands and solo musicians—including headliners Sir Mix-A-Lot and Polyrhythmics. The festival made its comeback under new ownership with CHEQ, an ordering and social-gifting mobile app that allowed festival-goers to skip vendor lines with remote ordering from anywhere during the event.
While the festival called the Seattle Center home this year, planners may also consider the venue as a site to host their own event or gathering. One of the most notable on-site facilities at the center for events is the Armory Food & Event Hall, ideal for large groups and located at the end of the Seattle Monorail Platform. Other spaces include the Armory Lofts, Artists at Play Plaza, Broad Street Garden, Fisher Pavilion, and more. –Amanda Christensen
biteofseattle.com
Fifty members and guests of the International Live Events Association (ILEA) Seattle Chapter gathered on May 17 at the Century Ballroom in the Capitol Hill neighborhood to celebrate Pride Month in June. The event featured an LGBTQ+ Vendor Showcase and educational sessions on making meetings and events more welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community. An elevated take on the classic Pride rainbow was spotlighted throughout the venue, with linens in bright pastels and centerpieces featuring simple greenery and Pride flags. Guests were offered a selection of pronoun pins to choose from and dined on summer picnic-inspired bites while donning Pride-themed outfits and enjoying networking and speakers.
1. Eva Morris 2. Indigo Blue 3. Jana Heinrichs 4. Miracle Sepulva and Tyler Richards 5. Alex Martin, Jake Taylor, and Alanna Francis 6. Doughnuts from Dough Joy 7. Marni Ness, Kavin Nash, and McKenzie Wilson 8. Cherub and Emma Goering 9. Zac Haines, Kay Kim, and Craig Edwards
To have your meeting or event photos featured, contact achristensen@greenspring.com
Welcome to Missoula, where ideas are inspired by nature and nurtured by top notch hospitality, technology and amenities. A place where groups gather to explore three rivers and seven wilderness areas, and indulge in art, culture, drink, food and friendly locals. Come together in Missoula—a world-class meetings destination dedicated to creating a safe and memorable experience for corporate events, retreats, conferences and conventions.
Interested in meeting in Missoula? Visit missoulameetings.com/nwme
BY TODD R. BERGER
Born and raised in the Cowichan Valley, British Columbia, Trina White embraced the wilderness. An avid outdoorsperson, she loved mountaineering and hiking into the mountains. As a young adult, inspired by the writings of environmentalist David Suzuki and her woodsy aunt Dawn, she was drawn to environmental activism, spending months at a time ponytailed and living in a tent.
“Very early in life, I knew I wanted to be an activist,” she recalls. “I knew I wanted to protect and find ways to respect the planet more.”
While attending Comosun College in Victoria, she not only fell in love with tourism, but also with business planning, accounting, and marketing. She earned a diploma in business administration and tourism management, and later completed her master’s in
tourism management with a focus on sustainable tourism at Royal Roads University in Victoria.
After graduate school, White worked her way up at Delta Hotels, Sandman Hotel Group, and Brentwood Bay Resort. In 2009, one month after the Parkside Hotel & Spa in Victoria opened as the only LEED-platinum-certified building in Canada at the time, White was named the first general manager of the Parkside—and she hasn’t left.
“I applied feeling like I would have the landscape of a building built with purpose,” White says, “and then I could take my skills in how to operate and manage people [and] manage suppliers and all of that in a sustainable way.”
Although no longer LEED-certified, the hotel has maintained a perfect Global Green Key rating of 5 since its opening, became carbon neutral in 2018, and went
carbon positive last year, meaning the hotel offset more carbon than it used. The hotel also joined Beyond Green last year, a curated portfolio of the earth’s most sustainable hotels, as the brand’s first urban and Canadian property.
White embraces a broad philosophy of sustainability in the workplace, including a commitment to intercultural competency and a drive to provide an inclusive and welcoming space. The BC Hotel Association recognized her leadership by naming White Hotelier of the Year in May, an honor that left White “shocked and honored and very humbled.”
And even with all her achievements and her steady leadership at the Parkside, White really hasn’t strayed far from her roots. She notes, “I still see myself [as] being able to do what I’m passionate about, which is being respectful of our planet and doing a job I love.”
