MEETING PLANNER MEDIA KIT

Being green comes naturally in Portland. Home to the LEED-EB (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design for Existing Buildings) Silver certified Oregon Convention Center, Green Seal hotels and abundant parks, Portland helps planners implement eco-friendly strategies that support organizational goals, boost attendance and save money.

Ringed by natural beauty — Mount Hood, the Columbia River Gorge and the Willamette Valley wine country — Portland prides itself on protecting its environs. Sustainable practices are part of Portland's DNA. As a result, meetings and conventions held here are naturally greener. In 2004, the Oregon Convention Center (OCC) became the first convention center in the country to attain LEED-EB certification; its 2008 LEED-EB Silver ranking made it the first to achieve recertification at a higher level. The OCC's numerous green features include large windows that wash hallways and lobbies in natural light, a dedicated sustainability manager and an innovative "rain garden" that captures and filters rainwater runoff. The OCC was the nation's first convention center to be certified Salmon-Safe, in part due to its innovative efforts to prevent contaminants from reaching the nearby Willamette River.

In addition to major convention hotels with Green Seal certifications, numerous Portland venues — such as the historic Gerding Theater at the Armory — boast LEED certifications or other green distinctions. Restaurants emphasize fresh, local cuisine, emphasizing the farm-to-table connection while minimizing waste and pollution. And "Fareless Square" encourages the use of public transportation — all light rail, bus and streetcar travel within the downtown core is free.

Portland also offers "green appeal" of the monetary variety. Since Oregon has no sales tax, Portland's hotels and convention spaces offer competitive prices, and designer boutiques and department stores are a shopper's dream.

The region's natural splendor, bustling urban scene, seasonally focused dining and welcoming accommodations — many of which can be accessed via the convenient and eco-friendly light rail system — await your next meeting. Indeed, this is where nature and culture meet — and Portland is where your group should meet, too.

For additional information on hosting your event in Portland, please contact the convention sales team at convsales@travelportland.com or 1.800.962.3700.