Steve Faulstick has been named interim general manager of visitor venues for Portland Metro, the regional government. In this role, announced less than two weeks after Broadway shows returned to area theaters and conference attendees gathered again for the first time since the onset of the pandemic, Faulstick will oversee the region’s portfolio of venues, including the Oregon Convention Center, Portland’5 Centers for the Arts and Portland Expo Center. He has agreed to serve until a permanent general manager of visitor venues is in place.
A veteran of Oregon’s travel industry, Faulstick served as general manager of several Portland-area hotels before becoming the chief sales officer for Travel Portland in 2016, a position he held for four years.
“Steve brings the creativity and experience to build back tourism at our beloved Portland Metro area venues,” says Metro chief operating officer Marissa Madrigal. “To compete for tourism, demands the industry relationships and sales knowledge that have made Steve a household name in Oregon tourism. We can’t wait to see people filling our venues once again as we rise out of the pandemic economy.”
Faulstick is ready for the challenge. “Portland has often been an underdog when competing for business. Today’s moment is no different,” he says. “Our world-class venues, exceptional hotels, natural beauty, and welcoming spirit of hospitality has found a way to compete before, and I am happy to be part of the team that will get us there once again,” says Faulstick.
Metro’s visitor venues are all currently open and welcoming visitors with recent multi-million- dollar upgrades, popular national touring acts, and new nearby hotels. Highlights include:
· The Oregon Convention Center recently underwent a $40 million renovation with flexible, state-of-the-art meeting space technology upgrades, a new outdoor pavilion and increased accessibility.
· The Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, part of the Portland’5 Centers for the Arts, unveiled $5 million in acoustical upgrades for the home of the Oregon Symphony this September.
· The Portland Expo Center – home to regional favorites like the Portland Bridal Show and international shows like Cirque de Soleil – is undergoing a study aimed to maximize the venue’s ability to attract high-attendance events and expand its regional impact.
For more information about these and other venues, visit oregonmetro.gov
