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48 B M & T ••• July/August 2025 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com P O R T L A N D AREA GUIDES PORTLAND WHERE PURPOSE DRIVES POSSIBILITY B Y A A L I Y A H T H O M P S O N Portland welcomes meeting planners with more than promises. It offers an urban environment where architecture, sustainability, and equity are thoughtfully integrated. This is a city where logistics are not an afterthought but a refined prac- tice. At its center stands the Oregon Convention Center (OCC), delivering 255,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space, two grand ballrooms, and over fifty meeting rooms. As the first LEED Platinum certified convention venue in the country, it harnesses solar energy and captures rainwater, hosting nearly five hundred events per year and generating more than three hundred thirty million dollars in regional economic impact. Across the street, the Hyatt Regency Portland offers six hundred upscale guest rooms and thirty-nine thousand square feet of adaptable event space, including the signature Regency Ballroom. Smaller meetings benefit from boutique proper- ties such as Hotel Eastlund and Sentinel, each offering character-rich environments and configurable floorplans. All major venues connect through MAX Light Rail and Portland Streetcar, allowing atten- dees to navigate the city with fluidity and consistency. Portland International Airport remains one of the nation's most reliable and accessible travel hubs, providing nonstop service to over twenty major U.S. cities. Its proximity to downtown shortens com- mutes and enables efficient scheduling from arrival to registration. The city's hos- pitality ecosystem includes transit systems, concierge hotels, and event coordination teams working together to support unin- terrupted programming, even for the most complex conference formats. Black heritage in Portland is not rele- gated to history. It is present, active, and honored. The Albina Soul Walk charts the evolution of jazz, gospel, and political activism in the region. Landmark venues such as the Billy Webb Elks Lodge, Mount Olivet Baptist Church, and the historic Rutherford House are available for cultural events and historical engagement. Oregon Black Pioneers offers interpretive journeys exploring early Black enterprise, the Vanport tragedy, and civil rights mile- stones unique to the Pacific Northwest. Lone Fir Cemetery's Block Fourteen adds further opportunity for deep engagement and historical context. When the meetings conclude, the city opens into a spectrum of after-hours experiences. Planners can reserve recep- tions at Pearl District galleries showcasing work by Black visual artists. Jimmy Mak's Revival delivers an atmospheric return to Portland's jazz tradition through private evening performances. Dining options such as Akadi, Kann, Everybody Eats PDX and Elda Lounge each represent Black- owned excellence with private and semi- private menus available for corporate din- ners, networking socials or executive tast- ings. For groups prioritizing restoration and reflection, Forest Park provides tranquil settings for leadership hikes and mindful- ness walks. The Willamette Riverfront extends programming with outdoor gath- ering spaces, kinetic sculptures and scenic pathways. These venues invite attendees to reconnect beyond the conference floor and support wellness-driven initiatives. Portland's Central Eastside innovation corridor invites planners to engage direct- ly with green industry leaders, social entrepreneurs and policy advocates. The Natural Capital Center offers environmen- tally certified meeting spaces ideal for forums, think tanks and summits. The Portland Expo Center and OMSI round out large-format venue options with capacity, versatility and educational infra- structure. Portland is not merely a site for coming together. It is a destination where vision gains traction, purpose finds alignment, and programs achieve staying power. All in one unique desti- nation. Make sure you ring up Travel Port- land's Chief Sales Officer James Jessie for any assistance you need in plan- ning your group event in Portland. • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS Hyatt Regency Portland 600 AC Hotel Portland Downtown 204 The Bidwell Marriott Portland 258 Hotel Eastland 200 Sentinel 100 EXHIBITION FACILITIES Qregon Convention Center Total Meeting Space 478,000 sq. ft. Largest Hall 255,000 sq. ft. Largest Ballroom 35,000 sq. ft. Meeting Rooms 52 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Choose Chicago – (312) 567-8500 www.choosechicago.com/ Oregon Convention Center (Portland) photo credit: Oregon C.C. ••••••••••••••