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When winter comes, no one feels the urge to hibernate in Eugene, Oregon.
Instead, they plunge into hot springs, watch Gray whales migrate, ski the slopes or take in the symphony. There’s much to do in this slice of Oregon, where a temperate climate makes winter a perfect time for meetings.
The Great Outdoors
With the Oregon Coast an hour west, the Cascade Mountains an hour east and reliable public transportation going in either direction, groups can easily spend a free afternoon whale watching, tax-free shopping and dining on the coast in Florence or skiing and tubing at a ski resort in the Cascades. Those who don’t ski or shop might prefer a soak in one of the hot springs near Eugene, like the six pools at Terwilliger Hot Springs or the hot springs at Belknap Hot Springs Resort.
Out and About Downtown
Being outside is pleasant most winter days so instead of gathering at the hotel bar, groups can hop from one downtown wine tasting room to another — Eugene Wine Cellars, J. Scott Cellars, and Oregon Wine LAB to name a few. With 700 performances and events at the Hult Center each year, odds are good that there will be something to see — perhaps the Eugene Ballet, a Broadway series show or the Eugene Symphony. The Hult’s striking theaters are also available for meetings and events. Another bright spot, the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, is known not only for its Asian and Middle Eastern collections but for a building that is a piece of architectural art.
Tuck in at Personable Hotels
The city’s two conference hotels brim with personality any time of year and are especially warm and bright in the winter. The Graduate by Hilton Eugene’s décor celebrates the home team with University of Oregon memorabilia and school colors throughout its 275 guest rooms and 35,000 square feet of meeting space. An enormous wooden duck pull toy, a salute to the UO Mighty Ducks, greets guests in the lobby. The hotel’s Topgolf Swing Suite makes for an energizing evening of virtual golf, baseball or Zombie dodgeball.
The Valley River Inn, long a local favorite, is even more admired after a major renovation. The inn’s location on the Willamette River is used to advantage, with water views from much of its 15,000 square feet of meeting space, its restaurant and many of its 250 guest rooms and suites. Meetings and receptions can spill onto riverfront patios; when the weather is cool, a lobby fireplace adds warmth. Like the Graduate, Valley River Inn celebrates local ties. Beautiful wood used throughout reminds of the logging industry; vibrant rugs and colorful art reflect Native American culture.
Travel Lane County has long offered incentives to meetings and conventions. Now, for qualified meetings booked November to March, it is offering an added incentive. Planners are encouraged to contact Travel Lane County to learn more about having a meeting in what is, in Eugene, an invigorating time of year.
For more information, please contact:
Eugene, Cascades & Coast
Heidi Albertson
541-743-8761
541-484-5307 (Main)
