Category: Event Planning

Why Your Association Should Host Its Next Conference in Portland, Oregon

Posted on by Shawn Granton
Portland as viewed from Pittock Mansion

As an internationally-focused event planning company, EJP Events has extensive knowledge about destinations worldwide. But we have even deeper expertise in our hometown: Portland, Oregon. This Pacific Northwestern metropolis, located about 70 miles/115 km from the Pacific Ocean and 180 miles/300 km south of Seattle, offers abundant natural beauty, decent weather year-round (if you don’t mind a little rain), and exceptional venues for association and corporate events, conferences, and meetings. Here’s your primer on what The Rose City has to offer.

Top Portland Event Venues: Hotels & Meeting Spaces

Oregon Convention Center: Where Sustainability Meets Scale

View of Oregon Convention Center prefunction area from above. A large hall with a pendulum sculpture suspended above, with a group of people gathering and mingling in the hall.
Oregon Convention Center prefunction area. Courtesy Travel Portland.

The Oregon Convention Center isn’t just LEED Platinum certified—it’s a sustainability pioneer. As the first convention center in the world to earn LEED certification (2004) and one of only two in the U.S. with Platinum status, OCC proves that large-scale events can be environmentally responsible. Solar panels generate over 25% of the building’s electricity, waste diversion programs keep materials out of landfills, and the recent Platinum certification from the Events Industry Council for Sustainable Event Standards confirms OCC’s position as a global leader. With 255,000 square feet of exhibit space, 52 meeting rooms, and direct MAX light rail access, this venue makes it easy for purpose-driven organizations to practice what they preach. EJP Events has planned many events at the OCC, and it’s one of our favorite large-scale venues that brings sustainability, affordability, and active transportation all together. 

Ideal for: Sustainability conferences, mission-driven associations, environmental organizations, and nonprofits seeking venues that align with their values.

A woman (Oregon Governor Tina Kotek) in a grey pantsuit stands on a stage in a hotel ballroom. The room is full of attendees and two screens on either side of the stage show the logo for "Celebrate PACCO", an annual business networking event in Portland Oregon.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek addresses the group at Celebrate PACCO at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Portland, Oregon, on December 15, 2023. Business meeting planning by EJP Events.

The Ritz-Carlton Portland: Luxury Downtown Event Space

Brand new to the scene and housed in the ultra-sleek Block 216 Building (Portland’s fifth-tallest building), the “Ritz” brings a touch of modern class to downtown Portland. This 251-room five-star hotel with spa features:

  • 17,883 square feet (1,661.4 m²) of meeting space over nine rooms
  • Ballroom that can hold 800 guests
  • Bellpine restaurant and bar on the twentieth floor offering panoramic views of the city and lands beyond, including Mounts Hood and Saint Helens on clear days

Ideal for: Corporate conferences, galas, and upscale business meetings

The Hotel Zags. ©Evrim Icoz Photography

The Hotel Zags: Boutique Portland Meeting Venue

Located on the south side of downtown, The Zags has a hip vibe, billing itself “the perfect Portland portal.” The young and young-at-heart will appreciate The Zags’s loaner bicycles, skate boards and other gear available. This distinctive venue provides:

  • The Colosseum Room with capacity for ninety attendees
  • Two smaller board/breakout rooms
  • Perfect spot for a smaller meeting, or a special “add-on” to another big event

Ideal for: Executive retreats, creative workshops, and intimate corporate gatherings

The Allison Inn: Oregon Wine Country Event Destination

Located approximately forty-five minutes from downtown, The Allison is snugly ensconced in Oregon’s Wine Country, a region rich with vineyards and tasting rooms. The Allison’s 77 guest rooms and 8 suites make a great “home base” for viticultural explorations. This premier venue bills itself as “Oregon’s premier event venue and meeting space” with:

  • 25,000 square feet (2,323 m²) of overall space
  • Private outdoor terraces for receptions
  • On-site spa and restaurant
  • Wine tasting experiences nearby

Ideal for: Multi-day conferences, executive offsites, social events, and incentive programs

Portland Team-Building Activities & Outdoor Experiences

The breadth of outdoor activities within a one-hour radius from Portland’s Pioneer Courthouse is staggering. Here’s a sample of what’s available:

Multnomah Falls: Columbia River Gorge Excursion

Nestled in the mighty Columbia River Gorge east of Portland, Oregon’s highest waterfall drops 620 ft (189 m) from plateau to valley floor. Multnomah Falls is a natural photo-op (many an engagement photo has been taken here). And it’s just one of many falls along the Historic Columbia River Highway, a road built over 100 years ago linking our city to the east and offering numerous vistas and scenes of beauty for the traveler willing to get off of busy I-84. And the Columbia Gorge Express allows easy car-free access to the Falls and other destinations in the Gorge.

Washington Park & Forest Park: Easily Accessible Urban Nature Escapes

There’s no need to even leave the city limits to enjoy spectacular scenery and connections to nature. Nestled in the Tualatin Mountains, aka “West Hills,” which rise sharply just west of downtown, these parks feature:

  • Scenic vistas and miles of wooded, winding paths (including the famed Wildwood Trail)
  • Hoyt Arboretum with diverse collections
  • Pittock Mansion with historic charm and sweeping views
Hoyt Arboretum

Why Choose Portland for Your Next Event

No Sales Tax in Oregon

Oregon is one of five states to have no sales tax, and no local sales tax either. (We do have lodging tax, though.) No need to pull out a calculator when figuring out the total of your purchase! And Portland has many great shopping districts, like Downtown, the Pearl, SE Hawthorne, Sellwood, NE Alberta, and N Mississippi.

Event benefit: Your event budget goes further with predictable costs for catering, equipment rentals, and attendee purchases.

Public Transit That Gets You Places

For a mid-sized American city, Portland’s public transportation is impressive—a mix of light rail, streetcar, aerial tram, and of course buses connecting to all corners of the Metro area (including the Airport). Many lines feature frequent service, meaning waiting no longer than 15 minutes for the next conveyance. Paying your fare is easy, whether via Tri-Met’s (our local transit agency) Hop card or phone app, or paying via phone pay or credit card—no need for an app!

Event benefit: Attendees can navigate Portland independently without rental cars, reducing your transportation coordination needs and impact on the environment.

Bicycles! Portland’s Bike-Friendly Infrastructure

Like transit, our bicycle infrastructure is great for a mid-sized American city. Many destinations in inner Portland are just a half-hour or less bike ride away, and you can often get places by bike faster than on the bus or in a car. Didn’t bring a bike with you? No problem! Biketown, our ride-share system, has hundreds of community e-bikes scattered throughout the city—use it when you need to, then dock when done.

Plan Your Portland Event with Local Experts

Ready to explore Portland venues for your next corporate or association event, conference, or meeting? EJP Events brings deep local knowledge and international event planning expertise to ensure your Rose City event succeeds.

Contact us today to start planning your event.

Why You Should Consider University Event Spaces for Your Next Conference or Meeting

Posted on by Shawn Granton
Event space at University of California, Berkeley

When sourcing a venue for a conference, seminar, or corporate meeting, the event spaces available at colleges and universities are often overlooked. That’s a missed opportunity—because many higher education institutions offer affordable, well-equipped, and professional meeting spaces perfect for hosting successful events.

The Hidden Value of University Event Venues

University campuses typically feature:

  • State-of-the-art conference facilities
  • Lecture halls with AV capabilities
  • Ample breakout rooms and green spaces
  • On-site catering
  • Tech support
  • Convenient locations, often near city centers
  • Many things to do inside and around the campus

And here’s the real bonus: college and university venues are often more budget-friendly than hotels or convention centers—without sacrificing quality or service.

Many colleges and universities, like the University of Montana depicted here, have beautiful, historic campuses with a stunning natural backdrop

Addressing the Common Misconceptions about Scheduling

One reason many hesitate to consider university meeting spaces is the belief that they’re unavailable during peak academic periods like September and October. While it’s true that certain dates may be reserved for internal campus events, many institutions offer flexible scheduling, especially during weekends, holidays, and academic breaks.

Another concern is the assumption that universities come with too many restrictions. Yet, events are regularly booked in museums, historic buildings, and galleries—venues that come with their own sets of limitations and often require lots of extras in the form of rentals. In reality, colleges are often more accommodating than expected and can even offer unique perks, such as access to renowned faculty speakers or student volunteers.

Final Thoughts

Next time you’re planning a meeting or conference, don’t overlook what universities have to offer. With the right timing and coordination, university event spaces can be cost-effective, convenient, and surprisingly full-featured.

Need help planning a meeting or conference at a university or college? We have in-depth knowledge and experience with many schools, including the University of Oregon, University of Montana, University of California Berkeley, and Yale University. Get in touch with us if you need help or want to learn more.

A luncheon held at Yale University School of Management.

Accessible Event Transportation for the Portland metro area

Posted on by Shawn Granton
A van that can hold two wheelchairs, with a ramp on the passenger (right) side extended to the sidewalk.
Photo from MTA, used under Creative Commons license 2.0

Whether it’s a conference, meeting, or wedding, ensuring that all of your attendees can access your venue(s) seamlessly is crucial for fostering inclusivity and enhancing the overall experience of your event. As the planner, you must do your due diligence and research your options. You don’t want an attendee to feel left out because your event lacks the appropriate transportation for someone with accessibility needs. You also can’t assume that your transportation provider will just have this ready for you. We’ve found several vendors who offer accessible event transportation for the Portland metro area and beyond.

Important things to note: Most of these services require reservations AT LEAST two days in advance, some months in advance if booking a larger vehicle, to guarantee availability. Some providers have limited service hours (typically weekday business hours) which can make things tricky for night and weekend events. Those that have indicated 24/7 service are listed in bold. Many of these providers offer different vehicles depending on needs, such as wheelchair vs. walker, so make sure you let them know what you need, as price can vary depending on service. While this list is meant to inform you of possible options, we do not endorse the providers listed here, and can’t guarantee they would work in every particular situation.

Please check each provider below for more info:

Credit: Sarah Petersen for Portland Bureau of Transportation

Travel Portland also maintains its own Accessible Portland page, with tons of resources on accessible event transportation for the Portland metro area. If you’re having an event that includes biking, you can rent Adaptive Biketown accessible bike rentals too!

Man standing in front of a wheelchair accessible van with the lift extended and ready for a passenger.
Image via Willamette Valley Transport’s website.

Nonprofits can also provide useful services for accessible event transportation for the Portland metro area. We found one called Ride Connection, that may be able to provide door-to-door service as long as one is registered in advance and provides 4 days advance notice. One must start the registration process by phone. Check out their website here.

We don’t want to forget to mention our own local public transport service, TriMet. TriMet in Portland offers bus, light rail, and streetcar services, all accessible. However, it isn’t point-to-point, so you do have to plan in advance for the last few miles or blocks of travel. TriMet does offer accessible LIFT service, but from what we’ve researched, there is an application for eligibility, and some bureaucratic hoops to jump through. While there is a visitor eligibility application process, it’s only available to apply by phone. Thus it may not be the most convenient for on-demand, event transportation services.

And don’t forget that EJP Events is there for your event planning needs. Feel free to get in touch if you need assistance with your event, or with accessible event transportation for the Portland metro area.

Oregon Coast Venues near Tillamook

Posted on by Shawn Granton
A big room with tables set up for dining, overlooking a beach with ocean waves in the distance.
The Fireside Room at Headlands Coastal Lodge and Spa, courtesy of the hotel

It’s time to visit event venues on the Oregon Coast! Tillamook County’s shoreline stretches from Neahkahnie Mountain in the north to Cascade Head in the south, encompassing sandy beaches and rocky headlands. The coastal destinations in Tillamook County are within easy reach of Portland as nothing is more than two hours away by car, making it a great destination for events. There’s a variety of different options out here. So let’s explore Oregon coast venues near Tillamook, shall we?

The Winery at Manzanita

Located mere blocks from the beach on Manzanita’s main drag (Laneda Ave), this cozy tasting room would make a great place for a casual meeting or an evening engagement. There are various configurations of space (indoor and outdoor) that can be rented from two hours to all day, and a whole venue buyout is also possible. And you’ll be able to sample some of the delicious vintages this winery is known for.

An exterior scene of the Winery at Manzanita, a building with a second-story deck and outside tables with red umbrellas.
The Winery at Manzanita (from their website)

Headlands Coastal Lodge and Spa

Located on the south end of the county in Pacific City, the Headlands is a full-service hotel and spa with a five meeting rooms to suit various meetings and events. Many of these rooms (which can hold up to 15) offer sweeping views of the beach and ocean. An adjoining patio provides space to expand your gathering whether it’s a group retreat or intimate wedding.

Tillamook Creamery

The mothership of Tillamook’s dairy operation, the creamery is a must-stop for many folks traveling on US 101 along the Oregon Coast. But besides touring the plant and eating tasty ice cream, did you know that the Creamery has meeting spaces too? And of course they’ll cater your meeting.

Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad

Lastly, we’ll mention this excursion railway that we mentioned back in our 2019 “Use a train for an event” post. This heritage road that uses the former Southern Pacific/Port of Tillamook Bay trackage from the town of Garibaldi north to the mouth of the Nehalem River. (The Coastal Gale of 2007 cut off rail access over the Coast Range, leaving this railroad cut off from the North American network.) The railroad runs excursion trains generally from spring through fall. And you can rent an entire car on the train, and also charter a whole train for your next event or meeting.

A steam engine pulling a train decorated for Christmas, steam pouring from the engine.
Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad’s rentable excursion train pulled by a steam engine is ready to tour the beauty of the coast.

Transportation

While most people will get to coastal locations in Tillamook County by car, there are alternative forms of transportation! The Coastliner bus (formerly Tillamook Wave) provides daily service three times a day between Union Station in downtown Portland to Tillamook’s transit center. From there you can catch buses north or south on US 101 to get to the destinations listed above and then also connect to adjacent transit systems Sunset Empire Transit (Clatsop County) and Lincoln County Transit, all part of the NW Connector network.

We hope that you found this post informative and that it helps you to source for your next Oregon Coast Meeting or event. While this post concentrates on Oregon coast venues near Tillamook, for more information about other Oregon and SW Washington Coast destinations check out our posts on Astoria, Seaside, and the Long Beach Peninsula. If you need any help planning your next corporate meeting, event, or conference on the Oregon Coast, EJP Events is here to assist.

Technology Industry Conferences and Events: 0111 CTO Conference

Posted on by Emee Pumarega

Technology industry conferences and events provide a dynamic platform for professionals to foster networking opportunities and gain insights into emerging trends. We just returned from the annual 0111 Conference held by industry organization 7CTOs. This gathering, held near San Diego’s waterfront, was billed as a “how-to” for the CTO (Chief Technology Officer), offering opportunities to meet with their peers, learn about industry trends, and shape leadership skills.

Image of (2) women at a registration, helping plan technology industry conferences and events.
Lucy (left) and Tieara staffing the registration table at the 0111 CTO Conference 2023

The main portion of the conference was built around two days of presentations and Q&A sessions. The first day concentrated on business management and how-to, the second day on the technology topic of the moment, AI. We also planned a couple of off-site events, one held at Snapdragon Stadium, and another at Basic Bar and Pizza (New Haven-style, yum!).

We helped the client with pre-event planning and day-of operations. This included:

  • Finding the conference venue and helping the client through the contract phase
  • Setting up and supervising the registration website
  • Working with Catering to keep participants fed and hydrated
  • Setting up the extracurricular activities and making sure attendees got to the off-site events okay
  • Fine-tuning the Run of Show and stage script
  • Coordinating with the hotel and the audio-visual team to make sure everything on the day of went smoothly
  • Staffed the registration table and acted as the Help Desk for the event

This was the third 0111 CTO Conference in which we assisted. We love working on technology industry conferences and events, and we also love working with other associations and groups. Do you need assistance with a conference that you are planning? Please get in touch!

Commencement ceremony for the School of Public Health

Posted on by Shawn Granton

In June we helped with the commencement ceremony of the OHSU-PSU1 School of Public Health. Planning a convocation event for a prestigious professional school, especially one with a joint program shared across two state universities, poses several workloads, to name a few:

  1. Gathering the data from eligible graduates about whether or not they would participate in the event, as well as registering their guests
  2. Ensuring graduates’ names and pronunciations were collected in advance so University leadership could correctly recognize them from the stage
  3. Ordering regalia (caps, gowns, and hoods) for the academic staff, as well as graduates in proper colors and sizes

Add these tasks to the normal work of event planning — catering, room and stage layouts, seating charts, rehearsals, scheduling, and collecting materials from speakers — and you have a daunting pile of to-dos that would make even the most skilled Dean or Student Services Director look for outside assistance. That’s where we came in.

We were happy to help the School of Public Health on this special day so staff and students could just relax. And we would be happy to help you with your academic ceremony or educational conference, just ask!

  1. Oregon Health Sciences University-Portland State University ↩︎