Come rain or shine, the Pacific Northwest is a destination with a sunny disposition, where planners can facilitate an event that incorporates wellness via spa-going, nature walks, yoga classes, healthy cooking classes and more.
Following is a well-balanced mix of ideas for a meeting agenda that promotes good health and sound minds.
Oregon
Being active is at the heart of any wellness routine, and for attendees meeting in Portland that routine won’t miss a beat.
“Portland is an easy place for groups to stay active,” says Alacia Lauer, regional communications and public relations manager for Travel Portland. “We’re lucky to have hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails, and our transportation system makes it easy for delegates to experience nature in the city.”
Forest Park, with over 80 miles of trails, is a short transit ride from downtown, and along the Willamette River nearby the Oregon Convention Center is Eastbank Esplanade.
“Meeting attendees love its paved trail for a quick walk or bike ride,” Lauer says. “It’s also one of the best spots to take photos of the cityscape and Portland’s famous bridges.”
Portland is also home to group-friendly spas, including Loyly, which salutes Scandinavia’s sauna culture with traditional massage and holistic skincare, and Sante Aesthetics & Wellness, where services include hydrotherapy, acupuncture and experiential add-ons for groups, including private qigong classes.
From the Lane County Farmers Market, where attendees will find fresh fruit and other goodies, to an Iron Chef-style challenge at Lane Community College, snack- and meal-time in Eugene appeals to health-conscious groups.
“They grow their own organic food on a one-acre garden, which is all part of Lane Community College’s culinary program,” says Linda Norris, convention services manager at Travel Lane County. “They tend to theme the competitions around healthy meals.”
Norris adds groups can arrange a morning yoga class via Eugene Yoga Downtown, which is located a couple blocks from the meetings-friendly Hilton Eugene.
In Salem, groups can invite yoga instructor Mikki Trowbridge to a meeting location to hold a group class or they can book one of her Yoga Plus events, which are held in unique settings.
“It’s a great way for groups to incorporate wellness activities into their meeting and experience some of the great wineries or breweries that the Salem area is known for,” says Debbie McCune, director of sales for Travel Salem.
And in Tualatin Valley, an active outdoor destination, myriad options await groups wanting to add a fitness element to an itinerary, including a fun teambuilding outing at Tree to Tree Adventure Park or bicycling along the Tualatin Valley Scenic Bikeway.
“The bikeway has several stops along the way, including wineries, farm stores, restaurants and wildlife areas, which makes it an interesting—and picturesque—ride,” says Sylke Neal-Finnegan, director of marketing and communications for the Washington County Visitors Association.
Neal-Finnegan adds the Ananda Center at Laurelwood is a spiritual retreat and conference center rolled into one.
“One of the benefits of holding a meeting at this center is that groups can participate in daily yoga and meditation classes,” she says, adding the center also offers massage, acupuncture and corporate stress-relief training that attendees can utilize when they’re back in the office.
Washington
Attendees meeting at Seattle’s Washington State Convention Center will find a healthy snack in-between meetings at the on-site Juicy Cafe, a Top 10 juice bar in the U.S. in 2015, according to Conde Nast Traveler magazine.
“Wellness is part of Seattle’s core and one of the many reasons groups find the city so refreshing,” says Kelly Saling, director, convention services at Visit Seattle.
Beyond the convention center, groups can incorporate wellness into a Seattle agenda via Run for Good Racing Company, which produces charitable running events for groups that would like to give back.
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“They can create a unique and healthy experience for conference attendees,” Saling says. “All the races benefit a local nonprofit.”
One of the best ways to break up a day of meetings in Bellevue is with a little friendly competition at Flywheel, says Sharon Linton, marketing and communications manager for Visit Bellevue Washington. The high-energy indoor cycling studio hosts private classes for all fitness levels and can cater to groups.
“For an additional fee, Flywheel can create custom Flywheel gear, like t-shirts, hats or water bottles as a great, memorable takeaway from the 45-minute sweat-fest,” Linton says.
Also located in Bellevue is Yuan Spa, where amenities such as a cold saltwater pool and eucalyptus steam room will leave attendees “feeling instantly at ease and ready to power through the remainder of the conference,” Linton says.
When in Tacoma, where miles of shoreline invite attendees to take a morning run or an afternoon stroll, groups won’t want to miss experiencing the water, according to Bennish Brown, CEO and president of Travel Tacoma and Pierce County.
“Our downtown core is bordered by the Thea Foss Waterway, where visitors can rent kayaks and explore Tacoma by sea,” he says. “It’s a great way to wind down after a full day, and the view of the city’s museum district is stunning.”
Waterborne pursuits are also popular in Snohomish County, including river rafting on the North Fork of the Skykomish River, according to Kari Jensen, group sales and events coordinator at the Snohomish County Tourism Bureau, who adds there is something called YogaMosa that’s available to groups in search of a double dose of unwinding.
“Class takes place at Bluewater Organic Distilling,” she says. “Enjoy a cocktail after your custom-designed yoga routine in a unique space with views of the Everett waterfront.”
Communing with nature is the way to wellness for groups meeting in the Puget Sound area, which, according to Kyla Cavanagh, marketing and sales director at the Olympia/Lacey/Tumwater Visitor and Convention Bureau, is known for drizzly days in the winter months.
“But that doesn’t stop anyone from donning a rain coat and boots to explore a quick trail near town,” she says, citing the trail along Tumwater Falls and McLane Inlet, an easy loop in the Capitol Forest.
Of the general vibe in San Juan Islands, Barbara Marrett, communications manager at San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau, says that the islands have a calming effect on visitors.
Here, Doe Bay Resort & Retreat, Roche Harbor Resort and Rosario Resort and Spa all facilitate kayak trips that offer groups the possibility of seeing seals, bald eagles and orca whales in their natural habitat.
“Yoga can be added in during, before or after a kayak trip,” Marrett says, adding: “Hiking on trails near Roche Harbor or Rosario resorts allows a cool, green alternative to meeting fatigue.”
There are two ways for groups to incorporate wellness into a Vancouver, Wash., itinerary, according to Rosemary Cooke, director of business development at Visit Vancouver USA, who recommends indoor rock climbing at Source Climbing Center and a walk along the Waterfront Renaissance Trail.
“Groups will appreciate the fresh air, exercise and the stunning Pacific Northwest landscape,” she says.
And when convening in Spokane, many groups arrange a 5K run.
“The 100-acre Riverfront Park is literally right outside the doors of the Spokane Convention Center,” says Peyton Scheller, communications manager at Visit Spokane. “This makes planning an organized run very easy.”
