REGIONAL NEWS

CRUISES»

We’re Going to Need a Bigger Boat

Phillips Cruises & Tours, operating in Alaska’s Prince William Sound, has added a new vessel to its fleet. In 2019, the M/V Bravest, hailing from New York, will be used on the 26 Glacier Cruise and available for charter service. phillipscruises.com

TOURS»

Sky Lights

Crossing “see the northern lights in Alaska” off your group’s bucket list has just become easier.

The new Aurora Pointe Activity Center, located 15 minutes from downtown Fairbanks, Alaska, was completed last summer and offers guided aurora-viewing tours. In addition to tours, the center also offers dog-mushing experiences on-site with the crew from Paws for Adventure. aurorapointe.net

Borealis Basecamp, located 25 miles from Fairbanks, installed a new, full-size lodge with a commercial kitchen and an expanded lounge space. The property is set on nearly 100 acres of private land. Thanks to its remote location free of light pollution, it offers approximately 250 nights of swirling green, red and purple lights each year. Guests stay in comfortable fiberglass domes with bathrooms and kitchenettes. The domes are designed to maximize aurora viewing with 16-foot curved windows that allow guests to watch the lights from the comfort of their beds. The new lodge will enable guests to relax together with friends or other guests. borealisbasecamp.net

Aurora Pointe EXPANSION»

Room for More

Seward Windsong Lodge by Pursuit in Seward, Alaska, is expanding for summer 2019. The expansion will include 36 new guest rooms and six suites, bringing the total to 216. The lodge also has two banquet rooms and space for outdoor events. alaskacollection.com McKinley Chalet Resort outside of Denali National Park and Preserve has expanded its lodging options with new junior suites. The suites feature balconies, larger living areas and greater amenities for guests. hollandamerica.com

Valley River Inn

Downtown Views. Uptown Service.

Centrally located in vibrant downtown Boise, the newly expanded Boise Centre has a variety of customizable meeting spaces, modern amenities, exceptional culinary services and a warm and hospitable staff ready to make your next meeting an unforgettable experience. LEARN MORE: boisecentre.com

The Grove Hotel

RENOVATIONS» New Meeting Space at The Grove Hotel

In addition to adding the new restaurant Trillium—which focuses on locally sourced ingredients—Boise’s The Grove Hotel has renovated its lobby with a modern Idaho aesthetic and is adding a glass-enclosed lobby library room to host meetings. The Grove also expanded its lobby bar and added a fireplace nook to seat more guests comfortably. grovehotelboise.com

UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT»

Valley River Inn Has New Owners/Management

The 45-year-old Valley River Inn in Eugene, Oregon, was purchased by affiliates of New York–based AVR Realty Company and will be managed by Aimbridge Hospitality. Valley River Inn features the restaurant SweetWaters on the River, three ballrooms, an outdoor courtyard that can be reserved for events, and 257 guest rooms and suites with garden or Willamette River views. valleyriverinn.com

WALTERS CULTURAL ARTS CENTER

Weddings | Graduations | Anniversaries | Fundraisers | Luncheons

Classic architecture, picturesque stained glass, red stone walls, custom woodwork ceiling arches, pristine landscaping and a concert quality sound system is what you’ll find at this premier site for receptions, parties, fundraisers, meetings and other special events. The theater, gallery, terrace and lawn provide a variety of options that are both beautiful and affordable. Event space capable of hosting 20-200 guests..

Walters Cultural Arts Center 527 East Main Street Hillsboro, Oregon 97123 503.615.3485 Hillsboro-Oregon.gov/WaltersRentals

EVENT SPACE»

Groups Welcome

For the first time, the historic Walla Walla, Washington, farmstead Abeja is accepting wedding and event bookings for groups. The 38-acre estate is home to the acclaimed wines of Abeja, as well as the accommodations of The Inn at Abeja. Once a century-old farmstead, the property’s original outbuildings have been restored to combine rustic country charm with modern amenities.

Abeja offers five distinct indoor and outdoor venues, which can host groups of up to 250. The five spaces include The Abeja Barn and Patio, The Winery and Great Lawn, The Farmhouse, Lawn and Syrah Vineyard, The Carriage House Foyer, and The Vineyard Garden. A limited number of dates are available for event rentals and include the option for full buy-outs of the property with lodging at The Inn at Abeja. Accommodations includes standalone cottages and rooms in the main farmhouse. abeja.net

ACCOLADES» Best Destination in Canada

Vancouver was named “Best Destination in Canada” for the 16th consecutive year at the 2018 Travel Weekly Readers Choice Awards. The award winners, one each for the 78 categories, represent the best of the best in the travel industry. The nominees and award recipients were chosen in two rounds of voting by Travel Weekly’s audience of travel professionals.

NEW DINING» Let’s Eat

The State Hotel, on track to open in downtown Seattle this spring, has officially named its ground-floor restaurant and bar Ben Paris. The hotel is being reconstructed in the landmark Eitel Building, and the restaurant is named after one of the building’s original occupants. Paris owned and operated a restaurant and bar in the basement called Paris Cigars, Lunch & Cards.

Quinton Stewart will serve as executive chef and Abigail Gullo as bar manager. The menu will offer a spin on classic American fare, and, in addition to sit-down service, will provide grab-and-go and delivery options for hotel guests and locals. statehotel.com

Good News for Boise Foodies

Base Camp Pong & Axe is a new bar and restaurant concept for Boise, Idaho. The restaurant is located near Boise State University. The veteran bar owners want their patrons to be entertained while enjoying drinks and food prepared by a Michelin-starred chef. Dining is already available, and pingpong and ax throwing will be available soon. The venue can be rented for private events and corporate groups. grabthehandle.com

Family-owned Meriwether Cider has opened a downtown Boise cider house. Located on Ninth Street, the cider house features Meriwether’s Boise-brewed ciders, as well as 20 taps of ciders from around the world and coolers of 30–40 bottled ciders. Food is not served, but local restaurants Lemon Tree and Wild Root will deliver for free, and food trucks are available on select dates. meriwethercider.com

evate Yo

Meetings, Conferences and Corporate Events Contact us! 503.232.2759 | info@themelodyeventcenter.com

e Marcus Whitman Hotel & Conference Center is Southeast Washington’s premier meeting and event venue. Imagine the possibilities with over 13,000 square feet of meeting & event space, 133 luxurious guest rooms, and a full catering and kitchen sta . For more information, please email our Director of Sales & Marketing at dosm@mwhcc.com - or call (509) 524-5107.

6 WEST ROSE STREET,WALLAWALLA,WA 99362 | 509.524.5107 marcuswhitmanhotel.com

A polished industrial oasis in the heart of Portland’s Pearl District Available for corporate meetings, social events, fundraisers and more!

Credit: D.Selback Photography

Everett West is a blank canvas with a spacious outdoor patio, perfect for designing your unique event. Just 20 minutes from PDX International, and within walking distance to multiple hotels, restaurants, and shopping.

O ering a taste of the Paci c Northwest with seasonal cra cocktails, local beers and wines, and fully customized menu to t your style.

events@everettwest.com | everettwest.com | 503.410.1461 914 NW Everett St Portland,Oregon PEOPLE NEWS» Seattle Southside Regional Tourism Authority (RTA) has announced the addition

of Donna Bennett to its marketing and communications team. Bennett will serve as the marketing and communications coordinator.

Visit Spokane has appointed

Meg Winchester, CMP, as president and CEO of the destination marketing organization. Before joining Visit Spokane, Winchester was the director at the Galveston Island Convention and Visitors Bureau in Galveston, Texas. She brings decades of convention sales and marketing experience to her role with Visit Spokane.

Portland’s The Benson Hotel has appointed George Schweitzer as managing director. Schweitzer brings more than 30 years of experience to his new position. Most recently, he served as CEO of West Coast Event Productions, Inc., where he managed operations, sales and administration for the company’s Portland headquarters, as well as branch locations in Bend, Oregon, and Las Vegas, Nevada.

Boise Convention and Visitors Bureau has wel-

comed Rhonda McCarvel to its sales team as sales manager. McCarvel has nearly 20 years of sales and merchandising experience.

Liz Johnson has joined Visit Seattle as a tourism manager in the international tourism department. She will be responsible for promoting Seattle as a world-class leisure

YOUR SUCCESS. OUR PASSION .

destination in Seattle’s top international markets. Johnson joins Visit Seattle after five years as a Seattle-based account manager in global sales at Icelandair.

Visit Seattle promoted Kelly Saling to vice president, convention sales and services last October. In this expanded role, Saling will now lead Visit Seattle’s convention services team, in addition to continued leadership of convention sales efforts.

LODGING»

NEW VENUES

Springfield, Oregon-based Mereté Hotel Management—formerly InnSight Hotel Management Group—has opened the HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS & SUITES MEDFORD in South Medford, Oregon. The 91-room, fourstory hotel features 19 suites, an indoor pool, fitness center, complimentary breakfast service, a meeting room, business center and guest laundry facilities. ihg.com

Early this summer, Anchorage will welcome the HYATT PLACE HOTEL , adding additional meeting space and 133 rooms to the city’s lodging options. hyattplace.com

A Hilton brand hotel, HOMES2SUITES, has been proposed and approved by Boise’s Planning and Zoning Committee. The Home2 brand is an allsuite hotel and will feature 134 rooms in its Boise location. It will be located on Front and Fifth streets and will include a 600-space garage. It is on track to open late 2020.

WWW.LYNNWOODCC.COM - CALL 425.778.7155

Take time to coast

CHART THE COURSE

• Located on the Pacifi c Coast, northwest of LA just one hour from LAX and Burbank • Meeting venues are varied and diverse to meet your needs • Hold meetings and events at our uncrowded beaches, picturesque parks or historic homes Plentiful, convenient, and aff ordable venues make Oxnard ideal for corporate meetings and events.

visitoxnard.com