Our Guide for Meeting Along the Northwest Coast

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The roar of the waves and spray of the surf await your group gathering on and near the beaches of southwest Washington and Oregon. Come for the wild backdrop, stay for the genius it inspires. Here is our guide to meeting on the coast. 

Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa 

Deep in the heart of the mighty Columbia River is Astoria’s Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa. The boutique property provides a front-row view of the world’s largest cargo ships and pilot boats—almost close enough to touch and feel the ripples of the river. The hotel sits atop a 123-year-old durable pier that was once the Union Fisherman’s Cooperative Packing Company, giving meeting attendees an authentic river experience that is distinctively Astoria.

“Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa is the perfect backdrop to hold business meetings and retreats in our classic meeting rooms, and where every guest room has an amazing view of the Columbia River to stimulate creativity and soothe daily stresses. The difference is the team’s attention to detail to personalize services for each event. Planning a business meeting or event in Astoria is ideal, because it’s a unique little town with so much charm and provides numerous dining options and a host of arts and culture activities year-round,†says Linh DePledge, director of sales and marketing for Cannery Pier.

Number of guest rooms: 46
The majority of the rooms are king with double-queen and suites also available. Pet-friendly rooms are available, as well.

Meeting space:
Union Fish, 782 square feet

» Flexible table set-up: rounds, open-U, closed rectangles, theater, classroom, boardroom styles

» Maximum capacity is 60

Chinook Board Room, 276 square feet

» Classic boardroom arrangement

» Maximum capacity is 14–16 people

Amenities:

» Business center with computers and printer

» A/V equipment

» Electric power strips available for all tables

» Digital video projector with HDMI adapter

» Polyphone

» 60-inch TV screen with HDMI input and satellite DirectTV

» 120-inch ceiling-mounted projector screen with remote control

» Podium with wireless microphone

» Complimentary breakfast

» Social hour with regional wine and hors d’oeuvres

» Mineral hot tub

» Finnish sauna

» Exercise room

» Nightly fresh-baked cookies

» Distinctive chauffeur vintage car service

Special group meeting amenities: Catering arrangements available in-house or directly through the hotel’s catering connections.

Visit Long Beach Peninsula 

Situated in the southwestern-most corner of Washington State—a few hours south of Seattle and north of Portland—the Long Beach Peninsula and greater Pacific County are comprised of a string of communities located along a 28-mile beach, Willapa Bay and the Columbia River. The coastal, rural atmosphere is a prime destination for hosting small and executive-level meetings, particularly strategy and planning sessions.

“Our miles of windswept beach and temperate rainforests translate to a relaxed atmosphere, one that is conducive to hosting a successful meeting. Within a few hours of the Seattle and Portland metropolitan areas, we cater to executive retreats and mid-size meetings, mostly from within the Northwest. Team-building opportunities here are big: from grilled oysters and bonfires on the beach to golf, tennis and beach volleyball. If the season is right, executives often work early- morning charter fishing into the program,†says Carol Zahorsky, spokesperson for Visit Long Beach Peninsula.

Lodging: 800-plus hotel rooms, as well as vacation rentals, bed and breakfasts, and cabins

Meeting Space: Approximately 30,000 square feet of meeting space across 42 venues

Post-meeting group activities: Activities include bike rides or walks on the paved 8.5-mile-long Discovery Trail; golf on two, nine-hole courses; beach volleyball; indoor tennis courts; craft brewery and distillery tours; beach bonfires; oyster barbecues and clam bakes. Charter fishing derbies, razor clam digging competitions, picking oysters and catching Dungeness crab can also be a fun option on a seasonal basis.

Communities include: Long Beach, Ilwaco, Seaview, Klipsan, Ocean Park, Oysterville, Nahcotta, Surfside, South Bend, Raymond, Tokeland, Chinook, Naselle

Chinook Winds Casino Resort 

Chinook Winds Casino Resort offers a convenient beachfront location, flexible meeting and convention space, upscale dining and banquet facilities.

Number of guest rooms: 243

Meeting space: 31,000 square feet

Meeting space includes a 20,000-square-foot ballroom, plus in-house catering for events with up to 2,000 guests.

Amenities:

» Arcade

» Childcare services

» Pool

» Hot tub

» Workout facilities

» Golf course

» 1,100 slots

» Complimentary non-alcoholic beverage service

» Five different dining experiences

» Monthly headliner entertainment

» Ocean-view rooms

» Walking distance to beach

Special group meeting amenities: Discounted hotel rooms for meeting, wedding and retreat bookings. Additionally, there are discounts offered throughout the property for obtaining a winner’s circle card.

The Mill Casino Hotel & RV Park 

Located along the southern Oregon coast, The Mills Casino’s prime address allows for some particularly gorgeous views from its rooms and boardwalk. “My favorite thing about this property is the location. We’re situated on Coos Bay and our area includes the towns of Coos Bay, North Bend and Charleston. We are minutes away from amazing beaches, hiking trails and all my favorite kayaking spots. I love coming to work every day and watching our guests’ faces when they walk onto our boardwalk. It truly is a beautiful place to be,†says Suzanne Andrews, senior sales representative for The Mills Casino.

Number of guest rooms: 203

Meeting space: 14,551 square feet

The Salmon Room, the largest ballroom, offers seating for up to 500 guests and can be divided into two separate rooms. The Mill Hotel tower has five meeting rooms and two prefunction areas that can accommodate meetings for 20 or ban- quets for 120. In addition to its standard meeting facilities, The Mill Hotel offers a seventh-floor corporate suite, the Coquille Suite, equipped for those special executive retreats and idea sessions. Meeting facili- ties at The Mill include built-in audio video systems and free Wi-Fi.

“I’ve worked here for 13 years and have been lucky enough to develop a lot of amazing relationships with clients and industry peers who have now become close friends. Every day is new and exciting, whether I’m working on plans for a signature event, greeting tour buses or planning a company retreat,†says Amy Bailey, The Mills’ sales manager.

» Live entertainment

» The pub, Warehouse101

» The bayside lounge, Whitecaps

Special group meeting amenities: Expertly trained sales team, IT help team, graphic designers and a print center on property to assist with any special needs, along with 24-hour shuttle service for smaller groups.

Salishan Resort 

“Salishan is an ideal location for everything from a small board meeting to a lavish wedding,†says David Hall, Salishan’s general manager. “Our team can customize and tailor meetings and events that combine the best of the Pacific Northwest with all the services and amenities we offer at the resort.â€

Number of guest rooms: 205

Meeting space: 16,000 square feet total across 15 meeting spaces, including a 4,420-square-foot ballroom

Salishan’s Long House Ballroom is modeled after traditional coastal native tribal longhouses used for community and living space. It can accommodate a range of groups, from eight to 350 people in five rooms and can be configured in seven different ways.

One of Salishan’s newest amenities is the challenge course Aerial Park. Set within the forest canopy on the resort’s grounds with stunning views of Siletz Bay, it features 15 platforms and 21 challenge elements, including a series of obstacles, bridges, cables and ropes of varying degrees of difficulty.

Special group meeting amenities: Salishan’s team can set up anything from a pri- vate beach bonfire to forest bathing. There is also a private wine cellar that can be used for small group dinners. Other on-site team-building activities include cocktail mixology competitions and wacky putt-putt tournaments.

Seaside Civic & Convention Center 

Seaside is Oregon’s original beach resort town, serving as the city, ocean, river, mountain and forest playground for generations of visitors since the 1870s. The town is located just 90 minutes from Portland by car. Less than three blocks from the Pacific Ocean, the Seaside Civic & Convention Center offers 24,600 square feet of flexible meeting and event space and an additional 8,900 square feet of prefunction and mezzanine areas.

“We are elated to announce the completion of our $15 million expansion and renovation project. Our new contemporary design is more efficient and flexible, and the improved lobby and prefunction areas will allow our clients to be creative in utilizing this space for vendors and displays. We have also added two additional entry/ exit doors for better accessibility,†says Russell Vandenberg, general manager of the convention center. “Our customer service is second to none! For the past 12 years, we have maintained a 95% or better customer service rating that speaks volumes of our dedicated staff that includes our food and beverage division.â€

Meeting space: 24,600 square feet

Pelican Brewing–Pacific City 

“There are few better places to escape to in the Pacific Northwest than the Oregon Coast. Pacific City is the perfect setting for a meeting, retreat, party or really anything you can imagine. With views of Haystack Rock from our meeting space and the simplicity of stepping out to the beach for a break, plus the ability to expand your stay with catering and lodging accommodations at our fingertips, Pelican is bound to inspire with our unique and natural setting here on the north coast,†says Mariah Surat, events marketing manager for Pelican Brewing.

Post-meeting, groups can enjoy team-bonding activities, such as hiking the dune, bonfires on the beach, brewery tours and more. For lodging, Pelican recommends nearby Inn at Cape Kiwanda, Headlands Coastal Lodge & Spa, Hart’s Camp Airstream Hotel, and Open Nest Vacation Rentals.

Meeting Space: 1,150 square feet

Pelican Brewing Company’s oceanfront banquet room offers a large fireplace, outdoor patio and breathtaking views of Haystack Rock, Cape Kiwanda and ocean sunsets. The flexible space can be configured for any meeting need: classroom, auditorium, U-shape, conference, banquet-style and more. The space includes a drop-down screen for multimedia presentations.

Amenities: 

» On-site catering

» Pull-down projector screen

» Projector

» Wi-Fi

» Large gas fireplace

» Oceanfront views

» Natural lighting

Headlands Coastal Lodge & Spa 

“Headlands has so much to offer when it comes to hosting groups and events. After a long day of meetings, send your team down to our spa to relax in our saltwater hot tub with a view of Haystack Rock, or get a massage or facial. For the adventure seekers, let our adventure coaches guide your team down the Nestucca River for a unique kayak excursion. Better yet, schedule a cooking competition with our chef for the ultimate team-building experience. We’re glad to work with each group individually to create an unforgettable and customizable experience,†says Kycie McKillip, groups and events sales manager for Headlands Coastal Lodge & Spa.

Number of guest rooms: 33

In addition to the 33 king and two-queen guest rooms, Headlands has select adjoin- ing cottages. All rooms have ocean views of Cape Kiwanda and Haystack Rock and private balconies or patios to enjoy them from. Rooms include Pendleton blankets and works by regional artists, cast-iron soaking tubs and spa-inspired bathrooms, along with custom-made racks for surfboards and bikes.

Meeting space:

Longitude: 248 square feet

Latitude: 370 square feet

Fireside: 356 square feet (for group dining)

Headlands has two meeting rooms, Longitude and Latitude, which are joined by a flexible-use patio. Private meals can be enjoyed in the ocean-facing and open-air Fireside Room.

Special group meeting amenities: Headlands Coastal Lodge and Spa works with each group individually to create a personalized experience. The venue offers the services of adventure coaches to groups interested in taking an afternoon break for a hike, for example, and its spa is a great space for attendees to unwind after a full day of meetings. Group rates are available and subject to availability.

Lake Quinault Lodge 

The Olympic National Forest, west of Seattle, hugs the coast, but one of its most iconic lodging venues, Lake Quinault Lodge, is located a tad inland. Take it from us—it’s well worth the detour.

Located on the shores of scenic Lake Quinault in the Olympic National Forest lies Lake Quinault Lodge. Less than a three-hour drive from Seattle, this historic lodge is known for its legendary setting, farm-to-fork dining and 91 guest rooms with stunning views.

“From the moment you contact Lake Quinault’s team of professionals, you’ll notice the difference in our attention to detail and delivery. You see, we love and are proud of what we do. And what we do is help make your event as seamless and as successful as possible, from start to finish,†says Dane Murphy, director of sales and marketing for the lodge.

Meeting space: 1,536 square feet The historic Quillayute Ballroom, with its rustic charm, is lined from top to bottom in the native woods of the Olympic National Forest, including cedar and fir. It features a stunning 36-foot cathedral roof line, outlined with Tivoli lights.

Amenities:

» Open year-round

» On the National Register of Historic Places

» Group team-building, wine and spirit tasting

» Guided rainforest and lake tours

» Kayak, paddleboard, row boat and canoe rentals

» Minutes from hiking trails and waterfalls

» Provided setup, breakdown, tables, chairs, white table linens and tableware

» Full-service in-house farm-to- fork catering (buffet-style or plated)

» Full-service restaurant offering breakfast, lunch, dinner

» A/V available

» Complimentary Wi-Fi

Special group meeting amenities:

» 50% discount on meeting space November-April

» Two-for-one rainforest tours