Forward-thinking. Progressive. Diverse. If your organization upholds any of these virtues, then Portland, Oregon, might just be the place for your next company conference, off-site, convention, or team meeting. Thanks to environment-friendly ordinances and modern urban planning, Portland presents itself as a contemporary locale for business meetings. There are lots of great hotels and nightlife, as well as more than 10,000 acres of public parks, making for much-appreciated greenspace.
Portland is also bursting with culture and cuisine. Lots of great performance venues, museums, and art galleries collide with an innovative and adventurous food scene. There’s no question Portland is the leading city of the Pacific Northwest. In between the Columbia and Willamette Rivers, this city is the consummate center on the coast.
Your organization has landed in Portland for its next big conference or off-site, but what venue will hold your crowd? Good thing Portland has tons of great choices, no matter your headcount. Take a look at The Vendry’s top selections for venues in Portland and its surrounding neighborhoods.
Neighborhood: Buckman
Private Dining Capacity: 300 standing
Your entire company can take over UNION/PINE, a space in the Buckman neighborhood of Portland that has two separate venues, flexible layouts, and the freedom to personalize the space to your business needs. The Main Venue features three areas: the sunken living room, bar area, and open back room, fitting as many as 300. Utilize The Loft on the second floor, perfect for workshops, private dinners, or breakout sessions, and can accommodate 40 people. UNION/PINE has an open catering policy, meaning they welcome all outside vendors, but will supply with you a list of people they’ve worked with in the past. Don’t feel overwhelmed to find rentals if you book here - they offer tons of furniture for your use, like tables, couches, chairs, and even a ping pong table.
Neighborhood: Foster-Powell
Private Dining Capacity: 100 seated
If you are looking for a spot where creative energy will swirl around your team from the get-go, then The Hallowed Halls is for you. So very Portland, this venue is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is housed in the stunning Arleta Carnegie Library, making it an architectural wonder inside and out. The Hallowed Halls has 1,600 square feet of workable space and is perfect for discussion seminars, art presentations, or musical performances. The acoustics are killer and their extensive list of audio equipment with on-site technicians will make sure any presentations your team has planned will go off without any issues.
Neighborhood: Downtown
Private Dining Capacity: 1000 standing, 900 seated
Founded in 1892, The Portland Art Museum (PAM) is one of the oldest museums in the country, as well as one of the most welcoming for corporate events. PAM offers up a whopping 20,000 square feet of event space in downtown Portland. Working closely with a sales coordinator, you’ll discover there are in-house audio/visual, lighting, and production services with prompt quotes, as well as help in finding caterers and vendors. Choose The Kridel Grand Ballroom for your event of up to 1000 people, featuring soaring ceilings, a stage, and built-in sound and projection systems. If you need space for a private dinner or breakout session, enjoy their sculpture mall in the warmer months, or one of PAM’s many boardrooms.
Neighborhood: Buckman
Private Dining Capacity: 550 standing, 200 seated
Finding itself on countless “Best of” lists time and time again, The Evergreen is a classic space run by an experienced group of event specialists. As the former event venue for the Portland Police, the Huffman family renovated this space in 2015 to reveal brick walls and the original 1908 maple floor. This historic spot is ideal for your presentation or off-site, as there are plenty of on-site tables and chairs, as well as a flexible floor plan with a bar and mezzanine. If your organization is planning on a presentation, do not worry one bit: there’s a state-of-the-art Void sound system, extensive noise-dampening infrastructure, and DMX lighting that is controlled from a central panel. Modern amenities come together with old-world charm in this elevated, gem of a venue space.
Neighborhood: Llyod District
Private Dining Capacity: 13,000 seated
The largest of its kind in the Pacific Northwest, hundreds of businesses descend upon the Oregon Convention Center (OCC) each year to either host or attend one of the many large-scale events held here each year. As one of the most energy-efficient conference centers in the world, the LEED Platinum OCC offers 225,000 square feet of exhibit space, as well as two ballrooms, 52 meeting rooms, three VIP Suites, and a Skyview Terrace. You’ll be working within a space that has been putting on some of the largest business events in the country for over 50 years. There are on-site and in-house production, audio/visual, technology, and ticketing services, as well as marketing opportunities and even event security.
Neighborhood: Buckman
Private Dining Capacity: 2000 standing, 1500 seated
The Redd is an Ecotrust Events development, serving as an event space designed to support local food enterprises, chefs, food service directors, and entrepreneurs all over Portland. This massive building has four unique spaces, but can all connect across one block in the historic Buckman neighborhood. This is a place for eating, cooking, experiencing, and connecting. The Main Hall can seat 500, with 8,000 square feet of space. The Redd offers tons of furniture and rentals, as well as an advanced, integrated audio/visual system with a projector and surround sound. The organizers of Noche Bella were so taken with The Redd a few years ago, that they hosted their annual gala at this flexible venue. If you need to plan for a leadership meeting, book the Bid Dawn Boardroom and Suite, a private space that seats 40 for all your high-level requirements.
Neighborhood: Llyod District
Private Dining Capacity: 500 standing, 200 seated
Combining old-world charm with new-world amenities is Leftbank Annex, deep in the heart of Portland’s Llyod District. There are two spaces here, The Greatroom and The Clubroom, totaling 14,000 square feet of usable space for your meeting or conference here in town. Just as the name implies, the Greatroom is expansive, and rental of this space includes the Nest and Greenroom, as well as The Mezzanine, an area perfect for receptions. Many love the rustic feel of The Clubroom – which is a converted machine shop – that has divisible meeting spaces. There is an assortment of furniture in the space to use, but you’ll work with one of their event managers to help make the space your own.
Neighborhood: Pearl District
Private Dining Capacity: 300 seated
Polished, urban, and modern, Everett West in the popular Pearl District is a newcomer in the Portland event space and is just right for your organization’s meeting or off-site. There’s exposed brick, reclaimed wood walls, shiny concrete floors, sparkling chandeliers, and room for 300 coworkers. Right in the heart of this popular neighborhood, Everett West is close to major hotels and restaurants, cutting down on possible travel expenses should you have overnight guests you have to lodge and feed. Grab the preferred vendor list from Everett West’s event planners to book your rentals, audio/visual, catering, or production.
Neighborhood: Kerns
Private Dining Capacity: 425 standing, 300 seated
Coming in at an impressive 6,200 square feet, The Exchange Ballroom provides memorable views over the Willamette River and the Portland skyline. Not only does this noteworthy venue provide you with a blank space in which to create your conference or meeting, you will have a trusted partner every step of the way. The Exchange Ballroom makes planning from afar easy thanks to its partnership with Vibrant Table Catering & Events, who will help you plan your room layout, service, food, and logistics. The views are truly stunning from this venue, and art lovers in your crowd will revere the original blown glass sculpture by Andy Paiko in the main entrance.
Neighborhood: Buckman
Private Dining Capacity: 800 standing, 600 seated
Bring your group together in harmony at The Melody Event Center. There are six unique event venues within this historic space, all just begging to host your next team meeting or company conference. Perhaps you can fit the whole organization in the sweeping, 6,000-square-foot ballroom, then invite leadership or breakout sessions to meet in the Portlandia or Broadway Rooms. The Melody Event Center is a place to gather, think, plan, and learn, as they are prepared with audio/visual services to make presentations run smoothly. In-house catering offers breakfast, lunch, snacks, and even appetizers and dinner. Staging, pipe and drape, lighting, vendor tables…you name it and The Melody Center is ready for your crowd.
Need help planning your Portland Event? Find the top agencies and vendors for your next event!
The good news is you’ve landed on an excellent host city for your conference, convention, off-site, or team meeting. But before you sign on the dotted line for your venue, take into consideration a few things about your needs for hosting an event in Portland:
Vibe. The tone of the venue should lean into your event’s objective. Be sure to select a place that vibes with your employees or clientele.
Budget. This is the biggest consideration, so be sure to find out everything you can regarding fees at your venue. Some Portland venues have tons of amenities, others might require you to coordinate with outside vendors. Be sure to ask your venue ahead of time so there are no surprises.
Format. Is this a one-day affair that will require a presentation? Are you planning for several days where you’ll need to shift or break up your group from time to time? The agenda for the meeting or conference should be decided upon before selecting the venue, so your venue matches your needs.
Accessibility. Make sure that the venue you select is easy to get to for your guests. Some of the Portland venues listed here are walkable to hotels and restaurants, others may require transport. Be sure to plot out where your guests are staying, compared to your venue, compared to your private dining option, and so on…
Need to find a functional, memorable venue in Portland for your next meeting, conference, or convention? Look no further than The Vendry, a venue marketplace that allows you to search by city, venue type, capacity, and more. Click to request a proposal all from your findings!
Read More:
The Best Private Dining Rooms in NYC
The Best Private Dining Rooms in Orlando
The Best Private Dining Rooms in Los Angeles
