With its indie arts spirit, celebrated wine regions, charming coastal havens and adventurous mountain escapes, Oregon is a state that packs plenty of character.
Groups gathering in the destination, whether in its countryside, small towns or main metro of Portland, can create memorable meetings by infusing agendas with the distinctive ambience and activities offered by several outstanding properties.
Driftwood Shores Resort & Conference Center, Florence
Set along Oregon’s lovely coast, Driftwood Shores provides a meetings-friendly experience known for taking in all the area has to offer.
“It’s the only property on the beach where every room faces the beach,” said Juanita Metzler, convention sales manager for Eugene, Cascades & Coast–Travel Lane County. “Whales come through there twice a year, so you can see them go by spouting.”
Metzler added that meeting spaces also face the ocean, and the property takes full advantage of its location and surrounding offerings when it comes to entertaining groups.
“They really play on what you can do there, so in the evening, you will have s’mores around a bonfire, for example,” she said. “It’s also very close to Sea Lion Caves, which is unique to Florence, as well as one of the most photographed lighthouses in the U.S., where there is a great hiking trail. Horseback riding on the beach is also popular, and a few miles away, there’s dune buggy riding and sandboarding, similar to surfing but on sand.”
The property accommodates groups of up to 120 people.
Timberline Lodge, Mount Hood
Its grand exterior set the stage for the outdoor shots of the movie The Shining, and its rich interior of wood and stone has been well-preserved over the decades. Timberline Lodge is a National Historic Landmark that opened in 1937 and was one of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s projects to create jobs during the Great Depression.
“Our location at 6,000 feet up on Mount Hood creates this really unique ambience that fosters collaboration and teambuilding,” said John Burton, director of marketing at the property. “Think of being on the side of a mountain, hunkering down in a cozy ski lodge with excellent dining and wine during a raging snow storm.”
The quintessential mountain adventure retreat is famous for skiing and snowboarding up until late spring and early summer, but it is open year-round, and hiking during warmer months is a favorite group activity, Burton said.
The property has more than 10,000 square feet of meeting space and ideally accommodates groups of up to 450.
Sunriver Resort, Sunriver
Boasting one of the most majestic settings in the state, with snowcapped mountain peaks in the distance, Sunriver Resort is an ideal choice for attendees keen on adventures such as skiing, canoeing, rafting, fly-fishing, hiking and golfing.
“Sunriver Resort is a unique destination for groups because it truly immerses guests in the nature and beauty of Central Oregon,” said Libby Nations, director of sales and marketing at the property. “With 3,300 open acres winding along the eastern side of the Deschutes River, clear views of Mount Bachelor and up-close wildlife encounters, groups get an authentic Pacific Northwest experience.
Attendees have easy access to outdoor activities that complement their networking events, she added.
“We have world-class golfing, biking and teambuilding programs such as the challenge ropes course, a build-a-bike challenge, culinary-focused competitions and more,” Nations said.
Sunriver Resort features more than 44,000 square feet of meeting space, including indoor venues and outdoor lawns that take in the scenic surroundings.
Provenance Hotels, Portland
Known for pushing the boundaries on creativity and incorporating a sense of place through local history, art and culture, Provenance Hotels has two Portland options that greet visitors with an undeniably Oregonian vibe: The Sentinel, one of the city’s classic grande dames, and the chic and stylish Hotel Lucia.
The art collections in particular at both properties dovetail with the spirit of Portland, according to Kate Buska, director of public relations for Provenance Hotels.
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“Hotel Lucia is home to the world’s largest collection of black and white photography of David Hume Kennerly, who is a native Oregonian and who went on to win the Pulitzer Prize,” she said. “The Sentinel’s art story is all about visionaries, and Portland is certainly a place of visionaries.”
Meanwhile, Hotel Lucia is also devoted to Portland’s beloved craft beer scene, with a complimentary daily craft beer happy hour, and it is home to Imperial restaurant by James Beard Award-winner and Iron Chef America champion Vitaly Paley. Imperial was named the best hotel restaurant in the West by Sunset magazine in August 2016.
“The great thing about Hotel Lucia meetings is that all catering is done through Paley’s Imperial restaurant,” Buska said.
With 2,500 square feet of meeting space, Hotel Lucia, which was just renovated last December, partners with The Sentinel, featuring 22,000 square feet of ornate, meticulously restored meeting space to accommodate larger groups between the two.
The Allison Inn & Spa, Newberg
The Allison Inn & Spa, a Gold LEED-certified \property, is set in the heart of Willamette Valley about one hour by car from Portland.
“Just having a very high-quality, sustainable meeting venue in Oregon Wine Country is unique in itself,” said Lori Louis, director of sales at the property. “People are blown away when they experience the quality of everything—the service, the building materials, the environment. It’s very welcoming and intimate, and the basis of who we are is sourcing locally in every aspect, even with our art program.”
The property has an art collection of more than 500 pieces, all by Oregon artists, as well as a 1.5-acre garden and greenhouse.
“We source a lot from the garden, so the farm-to-table concept is big here, and our culinary program goes beyond that by sourcing locally with ranchers and dairies.
Partaking in the bounty of the region, including its renowned pinot noir, through excursions and on-property culinary offerings such as wine tastings and wine and food pairings is integral to the experience for groups, Louis said.
The Allison has 85 guest rooms and more than 12,000 square feet of meeting space, all with outdoor terraces to indulge in the vineyard vistas, as well as a number of other outdoor venues.
Tu Tu’ Tun Lodge, Gold Beach
For groups seeking a remote spot far from the distractions of civilization, Tu Tu’ Tun Lodge, named after the Native Americans who originally inhabited the area, is just the ticket. Located in the southwest corner of Oregon about 40 miles from the California border and seven miles from the Pacific Ocean, the lodge sits along the Rogue River.
It was originally a fly-fishing lodge and has slowly evolved over the years into an upscale property sought after by every outdoorsy type. While it doesn’t have meeting facilities, it is a popular spot for small corporate retreats, with guest rooms, river suites and houses nestled into the forest.
Group activities include fly-fishing, hiking, kayaking and canoeing, with a chance to see some of the area’s birds and other wildlife along the way. Jetboat excursions on the Rogue River are also available from the property’s dock.
During downtime, a favorite way to relax is with a spa treatment, particularly a massage in the open-air cabana along the shores of the river.
