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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.

Event Planner Job Posting: Associate Event Coordinator, Location: Portland, Oregon

Posted on by Emee Pumarega

Updated July 29, 2025

We have an event planner job posting for you!

A conference staffer hands a yellow t-shirt to a conference attendee at a conference registration table.

Job Posting: Associate Event Coordinator (Part or Full Time)
Location: Portland, OR
Company: EJP Events LLC

About Us:
EJP Events LLC is a boutique event planning company based in Portland, Oregon, with a core value of True Hospitality Welcomes Everyone. We plan and execute milestone events for individuals and organizations across the U.S. and internationally. Our team is dedicated to delivering excellence.

Position Overview:
We are seeking a part-time/full-time Associate Event Coordinator (AEC) to join our distributed team. This role offers a mix of both administrative, office-based (computer) work and on-site event support. This person will be responsible for adding overall administrative and supportive capacity to our team, supporting our current Lead and Event Coordinators to pursue business opportunities, close sales, and service events. After a successful 6-month training period, this position has the potential to be partially remote, though it is not fully remote. On-site event support will involve travel and specific mandatory work hours.

Responsibilities:

  • Assist with venue monitoring at a private garden venue, opening and closing gates on event days, being present during events, including giving tours and preparing booking documents
  • Follow up with clients and vendors
  • Develop and maintain vendor relationships
  • Prepare and send sales brochures and proposals
  • Document events and transcribe notes from client/vendor meetings
  • Conduct internet research
  • Provide on-site event support and coordination (12-20 events annually, some multi-day, some outside Portland)
  • Perform various tasks like staffing registration desks, retrieving and moving event materials (up to 50 lbs with assistance), and providing guest support
  • A mix of indoor and outdoor work
  • Attend one in-person staff meeting per week (minimum) and additional meetings
  • Be in-office 2-3 times per week during training

Key Requirements:

  • Strong interpersonal skills; team-oriented and client-focused
  • Calm under pressure with excellent problem-solving skills
  • Detail-oriented and organized
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills
  • Able to lift and move 25 lbs; walk/stand for extended periods
  • Familiar with Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace
  • Valid driver’s license and insurable driving record
  • Minimum 1-5 years of relevant work experience
  • High School Diploma or GED required
  • Professional appearance and demeanor

Preferred Skills & Experience:

  • Familiarity with event planning software (Honeybook, Asana, Prismm, Timeline Genius)
  • Experience in customer service, hospitality, or event planning
  • Bachelor’s degree preferred
  • Work experience in travel, tourism, catering, or hotels
  • Spanish proficiency or fluency is a plus

Compensation & Benefits:

  • Starting Pay: $20/hr (DOE), with opportunities for overtime
  • Commission: Up to 15% of net sales for sales-trained employees after the 6-month probationary period
  • Benefits: PTO accrues from day one, Employee Convenience Reimbursement (for health care premiums, commuting costs, device usage), coverage under Workers’ Comp, Oregon Paid Leave, and Family Leave
  • Weekends and Federal holidays off unless assigned to an event
  • Potential for promotion to Lead Event Coordinator and project-based bonuses

How to Apply to this Event Planner Job Posting:
Submit a cover letter (in the body of the email) and your resume (PDF attachment) to emee@ejpevents.com with the subject line: AEC [Year of Application] Applicant: [Your Last Name]. Example: “AEC 2025 Applicant: Smith”.

We encourage applications from women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ individuals. If you require accommodations, please include details in your cover letter.
Note: EJP Events is a 100% non-smoking company.

Learn more about us at EJP Events.

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.

San Francisco Bay Area Meetings and Events

Posted on by Shawn Granton
An ariel scene looking down at the dimly-lit rotunda. Tables with party food and people standing around, talking. Two stiltwalkers dressed flamboyantly with lit-up butterfly wings dominate the scene.
A grand afterparty in the Rotunda at San Francisco City Hall

The San Francisco Bay Area has a lot going for it when it comes to meetings and events. The northern California metropolis hums with excitement and energy, a diverse mix of different cultures, vital urban areas, and beautiful natural landscapes. Where else can you go in the US and have a super dense city and a remote feeling hilly coastline less than ten miles apart? Through its numerous airports (SFO, Oakland, San Jose), one can catch a flight to and from most of the important destinations in the world. Today we take stock of three different venues representing different areas of this region. We hope this helps you make the most of planning your San Francisco Bay Area meetings and events.

San Francisco: Fort Mason Center

The Golden Gate Bridge is arguably the most iconic thing about the Bay Area. But catching a glimpse of this technological marvel is mostly impossible in the city proper. So how about a venue that has the bridge and bay as a glorious backdrop? This former Army base in the Marina neighborhood was active during World War II. Fort Mason’s thirteen-acre campus features 12 different venue options from 500 to 50,000 square feet (75,000 total square feet), space big enough to hold a comic convention! (I attended the Small Press Expo here in the early 2000’s.) There is also a 437-seat theater, a 162-seat theater, and ample parking. In short, there’s space for pretty much any type of event you’d want to hold.

Exterior of Fort Mason, showing two three story white stucco buildings and red trim.
Interior ballroom of Fort Mason set up for dining, with people eating.
Fort Mason Center (from their website)

Marin County (north): Marin Museum of Bicycling

Located in the Marin County town of Fairfax, the Marin Museum of Bicycling houses an extraordinary collection of interesting bikes from 1868 to the present. Since Fairfax is the birthplace of mountain biking, the museum also houses The Mountain Bike Hall of Fame. The fully accessible museum can also be a great venue for your next event. The indoor section can accommodate 80-100 people seated or 160 standing, while the outdoor spaces can hold even more folks. And whatever configuration you pick, you’ll get to check out some cool bikes!

Exterior of Marin Museum of Cycling, showing the sign and bikes on the roof.
Interior of Marin Museum of Bicycling, filled with tables with people sitting at them.
From Marin Museum of Bicycling’s Website

East Bay: Claremont Hotel and Spa

Located on the border between Oakland and Berkeley, this impressive edifice of hospitality sits at the foot of the Berkeley Hills. Opened in 1915, The Claremont Hotel offers a commanding view of the bay. It has all the charm and class of the grand resort hotels completed in California around the turn of the 20th century. With 20,000 square feet of combined meeting space, both indoor and outdoor (including a secret garden!) The Claremont is also close to the commercial districts of Elmwood (Berkeley) and Rockridge (Oakland) with lots of shops and restaurants, and not too far from the Rockridge BART station.

Exterior of Claremont Hotel, a structure built in a grand early 20th Century style with ten-story tower at the center.
Claremont Hotel by David Corby, used under Creative Commons license
Conference room set up with long tables and chairs.
A conference room in the Claremont Hotel, from their website

Incorporate a ferry into your event…

The Bay Area has tons of iconic modes of transportation, from the vision-of-the-future-in-1972 subway system known as BART, a fleet of historic streetcars, and of course, the Cable Car. But the Bay Area’s biggest asset is the water itself, so getting around by ferry has a special charm. (Fun fact: Ferry service was all but gone during the mid twentieth century. While unfortunate, the Loma Prieta Earthquake of 1989 helped bring it back.) And you can book special private cruises via Blue and Gold Lines, who can pick you up and drop you off at a number of bayside ports.

…or the Ferry Building itself!

The San Francisco Ferry Building sits at the foot of Market Street downtown. Opened in 1898, this terminal was the city’s major transportation hub. It survived two large earthquakes and years of neglect brought on by bridge and freeway building. When the controversial Embarcadero Freeway was removed after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, the building was reconnected to the city. An extensive remodel was taken in the early twenty-first century, and now the Ferry Building is not just a place to catch a boat to somewhere else, but a destination in itself with lots of shops, restaurants, and offices. And you can rent out the Ferry Building for a special event! The Grand Hall can hold a grand event for up to 650 people, while the Port Hearing Room is perfect for a smaller meeting of up to 100 people. The outdoor plazas can be rented as well.

San Francisco Ferry Building’s Grand Hall, from their website

Why not think big and have your event at San Francisco City Hall?

Sometimes called “The People’s Palace”, San Francisco City Hall opened in 1915 and is a great example of a Beaux Arts building from the “City Beautiful” era. Its beautiful Rotunda can accommodate up to 660 people, plus there are multiple other spaces around the Rotunda that can be used for things like a gala or afterparty. We got to experience the gloriousness of this space at the end of Meeting Professionals International’s conference in 2022. Fun fact: City Hall was also featured in a James Bond movie!

We hope that you found this post informative and that it helps you to source for your next San Francisco Bay Area Meetings and Events. Want more info? Check out our post about Berkeley event venues. There is so much more to the Bay Area, California’s Wine Country, and beyond for meetings and events in this area of the country. If you need any help planning your next corporate meeting, event, or conference in the Bay Area, EJP Events is here to assist!