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AREA GUIDES PORTLAND ECO-FRIENDLY DESTINATION CATERS TO PLANNERS BY SOLOMON J. HERBERT II Meeting planners sing the praises of Portland, Oregon: the magnificent, LEED-certified Oregon Convention Center; the vibrant nightlife; and the easy access to the outdoors. Indeed, Portland is where nature and culture meet. Portland is where your group should meet, too. You want a unique place for a meeting and affordable accommodations to match. You want delegates to be zipped easily from the airport to the convention center while being easy on the environment too. These are all the things meeting in Portland will accomplish. Whether they know it or not, your attendees are helping the environ- ment in Portland. They’re reducing their carbon footprint at every step. Even while enjoying lattes in com- postable cups and viewing their meet- ing schedules online as a light rail train whisks them to their LEED cer- tified convention site, attendees are saving the environment as well as tak- ing care of business. The Oregon Convention Center (OCC) is the largest convention center in the Pacific Northwest, making it an ideal venue for conventions, industry tradeshows, meetings, and banquets. Located in beautiful and lively down- town Portland, Oregon, the OCC is the preferred destination for many groups because of its commitment to customer service and leadership in sustainable practices. The center’s two grand ballrooms, 50 meeting rooms, 255,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, full-service catering, and experi- enced staff can handle events of any size, from10 to 10,000. The Tiffany Center is the Crown Portland skyline with Mt. Hood on the right. Jewel ofDowntown Portland. Featuring traditional charmand elegance with two expansive ballrooms with gildedmirrors, gleaming hardwood floors and emerald green accentswill provide an elegant set- ting for any event. The Crystal Ballroom contains the centers largest sit down event space holding 400 Seated and 565 in a standing reception. High ceilings, dramatically lit mirrors, and tall cityscape windows are just a fewof the best features.An orches- tra-stage with a crystal chandelier create a unique ambiance. The Emerald Ballroom is a Classic Ballroom Style Venue with soaring ceil- ings, handcrafted detailing and a full scale Theater Stage (70‘x20’). When open and expansive, the space offers 4,000 sq. ft. of stunning ambiance. The Ballroom has accommodations for 975 with theater-style seating while the bal- cony offers seating for an additional 300. Formal dances can be held here holding up to 650. With 12 rooms and more than 5,600 sq. ft. space, theAmbridge Event Center provides the perfect space for your wed- ding, party, meeting or training session. The event center offers flexible, state-of- the-art roomswith the same types of fea- tures as a convention center or hotel,at a price that is affordable. The Ambridge Event Center is just minutes away from thePortlandMemorialColiseumand the heart of the Lloyd Center business dis- trict. Crowne Plaza Portland Downtown - Convention Center is a great place to base your next trip to Portland.With a convenient location near Portland International Airport (PDX) and the Free Rail Zone, you’ll find that getting around the city is a breeze.Within walk- ing distance are major venues like the Oregon Convention Center, Rose GardenArena andMemorial Coliseum. The hotel is fully equipped with a 24- hour business center,wireless high-speed Internet access in lobby, a well-equipped fitness center, a swimming pool and some of the finest dining the city has to offer. The Oregon Convention and Visitor Services Network is part of the dynamic marketing and promotion teaminvolved with keeping Portland and Oregon visi- ble locally, regionally and nationally. President Roy Jay has been recognized by Black Meetings &Tourism magazine for the past six years as one of the nations most influential African- Americans in the convention and tourismindustry. Working in tandem with their part- ners, POVA, the Oregon Convention Center and Oregon’s Tourism Division along with hundreds of hospitality ori- ented businesses and organizations, the OCVSN has formed a highly respected team of convention marketing profes- sionals. WHOYOUGONNACALL? Oregon Convention & Visitor Services Network (503) 244-5794 Ext 245 www.oregoncvb.com Black Meetings & Tourism July/August 2011: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 55 Photo Credit: Bruce Block