Hiya. Sasquatch here. Squatch for short.
I like to a) avoid people and b) write about Hood River, the bustling town at the base of my Mount Hood lair.
Recently, Hood River has become Portland, Oregon’s most desirable location for company off-site meetings, when employees bond, strategize, build their teams and set goals. It’s close to Portland (1 hour away) and Portland International Airport (45 minutes) and it’s also a foodie’s delight. With over 30 local wineries and 7 breweries, Hood River is a quaint little hip town people love to visit. When you consider the location, scenery and eateries, it checks all the right boxes.
There’s even a company in town dedicated off-site planning, or “getting teams out of the office to build relationships.” It’s called Global Sessions and they are a team of professionals transforming corporate events into jaw-droppingly extraordinary experiences — two phrases rarely used in the same sentence.
That’s right.
Another outstanding Global Sessions Off-Site.
From November to April each year, Hood River tourism slows, lodging opens up and prices drop significantly. Win.Win.Win.
Here are my top 3 recommendations for off-site meeting accommodations:
Each of the 40 guest rooms have a Victorian flare. The hotel boasts conference rooms, two restaurants and a spa. It’s a five minute drive to downtown and the meeting rooms have sweeping views of the river.
Columbia Gorge Meeting Facilities
Newly built and right on the water, this Best Western offers an outdoor pool and complimentary breakfasts. They even have pet-friendly suites. This is a viable option for a medium sized group (15+) at an economical price point.
For smaller groups (up to 18 people), Lodge 902 is a unique off-site option. It has six quirky Pacific NW styled bedrooms, each with ensuite bathrooms, plus two available king bedroom apartments on the ground floor. It’s walkable to everything downtown, including restaurants. When you’d like to dine in, there’s a long list of chefs and catering companies to choose from.
Doug Ryan, a senior executive at Siemens Corporation, brought his team of 35 people into town from all over the world last year. He and his core executives stayed at Lodge 902. Everyone else stayed at Columbia Gorge Hotel, where they conferenced during the day.
“Lodge 902 is a secret little gem, and it blew the standard corporate accommodation out of the water,” said Doug.
Whether you’re organizing 5 or 100 employees for an off-site meeting, Hood River can easily accommodate your group with lodging and entertainment.
Not looking forward to meeting you,
Squatch