Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/16726
AREA GUIDES PORTLAND INHALE PORTLAND THE "CITY OF ROSES" BY VICTORIA HEAD In early 2000, Portland was voted the number one city in America to live in by Money Magazine. Portland’s been around since the mid 1800s and has become a modern city of great historic interest. Growing with the changing world, the "City of Roses" has devel- oped a vibrant view of the future while preserving its ties to the past. The largest city in Oregon is known for its many microbreweries, for its award winning gardens (hence the nickname), which eventually led to the annual Portland Rose Festival and for being one of only two US cities to have an extinct volcano (located in Mt. Tabor Park) within its boundaries. Featuring both the charm of a small town community and the urban vitality of a big city, Portland is a dynamic desti- nation that offers an alluring mix of nat- ural beauty, lively downtown entertain- ment and landmark historic attractions. Lovers of the outdoors enjoy hiking, mountain biking, snowboarding, down- hill skiing on Mt. Hood, as well as kayak- ing and fishing on the nearby Columbia River. There are also a myriad of muse- ums, restaurants and other cultural fare that the city has to offer. The 3D Center of Art and Photography focuses on the history and evolution of three-dimen- sional art and is just one of the area museums that draw many visitors. Portland has long been known as a clean, green and friendly metropolis and continues to live up to its reputation of being an environmentally conscious city; it offers a light rail transit system that provides inner-city transportation and accesses many of the local attractions. Nicknamed "MAX," this 38-mile net- work of rails carries passengers into downtown Portland and to the Oregon Convention Center. It also links to the conventions, industry tradeshows, meet- ings, and banquets. Be sure to Contact Roy Jay at the Oregon Convention & Visitor Services Network if you are contemplating book- ing business into Portland. He stands ready to make your event in his city the most successful meeting your organiza- tion has ever had. In the metro area, there are 20,000 Mt. Hood from a Portland city Skyline view Portland International Airport. A few years ago, Portland also added a brand new streetcar system. The sleek line con- nects downtown Portland's Cultural District to Portland State University, the art gallery-filled Pearl District and the Northwest/Nob Hill neighborhood, known for its outstanding restaurants and upscale shopping. Best of all, Portland's light rail and streetcars are free in a 330-square-block area known as the "Free Rail Zone." Happily for meet- ing planners and convention attendees, this ride-free zone includes the down- town hotel core and the Oregon Convention Center. In 2003 the Oregon Convention Center (OCC) was made bigger and bet- ter and was the first convention center in the nation to receive the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED-EB certifica- tion; through renovations it was nearly doubled in size to include a 255,000 sq. ft. exhibit hall, 50 meeting rooms, two ball- rooms, marvelous lobbies, state-of-the- art network connections, and abundant parking. Located in lively downtown Portland, the OCC is currently the largest convention center in the Pacific Northwest, making it an ideal venue for hotel rooms, 4,296 of those in the down- town area alone. One popular down- town hotel is the Crowne Plaza Portland Hotel which is conveniently located near the OCC. It has 241 recently renovated guest rooms as well as 10 meeting rooms and 9,132 sq. ft. of meeting space. Crowne Plaza is only a few miles from the Portland International Airport (PDX), the largest airport in the state. The airport is served by 17 passenger airlines with direct and nonstop service to more than 100 cities worldwide. STATS HOTEL Crowne Plaza Portland Hotel Holiday Inn Airport Hotel & Convention Center Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Jantzen Beach Staybridge Suites Portland Airport Candlewood Suites Portland Airport EXHIBITION FACILITIES oreGon Convention Center total exhibit space largest hall meeting rooms WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Oregon Convention & Visitor Services Network (503) 244-5794 www.oregoncvb.com/ African American Chambers of Commerce of Oregon (800) 909-2882 http://blackchamber.info Black Meetings & Tourism July/August 2010: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 55 255,000 sq. ft. 25,200 sq. ft. 50 ROOMS 241 284 74 106 98