Salem is the beating heart of Oregon’s Willamette Valley.
Over the course of four days in June, seven meeting planner readers of Small Market Meetings explored Oregon’s capital city to discover what delights await attendees who meet there. The town of just over 170,000 is located about an hour’s drive south of Portland International Airport and is surrounded by the bounty of the Willamette Valley. The region’s abundance of orchards and vineyards supply Salem with stunning off-site venues as well as fresh, farm-to-table fare at every meal. Its proximity to lush forests filled with towering Douglas firs, rushing waterfalls and bright wildflowers gives attendees plenty of ways to sample the Pacific Northwest’s active lifestyle.
With its walkable and friendly downtown right on the Willamette River, Salem offers a combination of capable, cultivated venues for great programs and charming small businesses to entertain attendees after hours. The Salem Convention Center, attached to The Grand Hotel, is a modern space filled with natural light and warm wood tones. The Holman, a recently opened boutique hotel with chic meeting spaces for smaller meetings, is just across the street.
Outside of Salem’s downtown corridor, planners will find abundant community spaces, meeting hotels, historic venues and neighboring communities that provide even more flexibility to bring an element of surprise to their meetings. That’s in addition to the delicious cuisine and wine waiting for foodies and oenophiles around every corner.
Read about other hidden gems our site-inspection group uncovered in Salem and start gathering ideas for future meetings in this Willamette Valley jewel.
Salem Convention Center
With a total of 30,000 square feet of meeting space, the Salem Convention Center is downtown’s largest venue. Its contemporary design incorporates floor-to-ceiling windows boasting views of downtown Salem, and its two levels can accommodate events for up to 1,500. The venue prioritizes sustainability and is LEED-EB Silver Certified.
Meeting Spaces: On the ground floor, the 8,750-square-foot Santiam Ballroom can be divided into six spaces and many other configurations. It can seat up to 500 attendees at rounds. Pre-function space on the first floor totals 3,600 square feet in the Santiam Gallery.
On the second floor, the Willamette Ballroom is 11,400 square feet, divisible by four sections. It can seat a total of 900 people banquet-style. The adjacent Willamette Foyer, one of the center’s most architecturally iconic spaces, offers 3,000 square feet of reception space surrounded by panoramic, floor-to-ceiling windows.
Across from the Willamette Ballroom is the Croisan Creek Room, which can be separated into three spaces and is perfect for smaller events of up to 260 with theater-style seating. The Pringle Creek Room next door totals 900 square feet and can seat up to 50 banquet-style.
Dining: The exclusive in-house catering team led by executive chef Tory Knaus provides customizable menus featuring meals made with local and seasonal ingredients. From tapas and hors d’oeuvres to fresh salads, tasty mains and luscious desserts, any program’s culinary needs can be addressed.
Audiovisual Services: With plasma screens at the entrance of each meeting room and high-speed Wi-Fi available throughout the facility, the convention center’s tech offerings are enough to cover any program. On-site A/V technicians can provide any necessary support to meetings.
Nearby Accommodations: The Salem Convention Center is attached to The Grand Hotel, with 193 guest rooms and a full-service restaurant. Diagonally across the street is The Holman, with 127 guest rooms and meeting space of its own.
Oregon State Fair and Expo Center
The largest event venue in Salem is the Oregon State Fair and Expo Center, located on a sprawling 185-acre campus just outside of downtown. Its variety of indoor and outdoor spaces can accommodate everything from crowded concerts and expos to livestock or car shows. It’s also the site of the annual Oregon State Fair.
Meeting Spaces: Ten distinct spaces are available at the facility. The Pavilion, its newest venue, boasts a 30,500-square-foot arena floor and 5,000 fixed seats. The Jackman-Long Building features a 46,000-square-foot main hall with a concrete floor and additional meeting space. Smaller venues include the historic Poultry Building, a Spanish Colonial Revival style building, and the Floral Building, with space for up to 240 in its main hall.
The Salvation Army Kroc Center
For a unique, family-friendly venue in Salem, planners should look no further than The Salvation Army Kroc Center. With a fitness center, aquatic center, rock climbing wall, chapel, classrooms and much more, this community center is beloved by locals. Its varied event spaces and welcoming philosophy make it a wonderful, nontraditional locale for small meetings, classes and community-oriented or voluntourism events.
Meeting Spaces: The Kroc Center’s meeting spaces include a 10,000-square-foot banquet hall with a conference-style A/V; a 288-seat chapel that can be converted to a theater; an amphitheater seating up to 250; and a serene prayer garden for events of up to 30.
Best Western Plus Mill Creek Inn
Just three miles from Salem’s downtown convention center, the Best Western Plus Mill Creek Inn is located off Interstate 5 and Highway 22, making it a convenient option for attendees meeting in Salem. Hotel staff provide event services.
Rooms: 109 spacious rooms and suites offering one king bed or two queen beds.
Meeting Spaces: The hotel’s function space includes a meeting room that can be halved using an air wall. It can accommodate up to 160 guests.
Dining: Guests receive a complimentary breakfast at the nearby Denny’s with a voucher.
Recreation: The Best Western Plus Mill Creek Inn has an indoor heated pool, hot tub, steam room and a fitness center.
The Holman
The Holman is part of the Tapestry Collection by Hilton, and it’s just across the street from the Salem Convention Center. This sophisticated hotel features modern meeting spaces and top-notch guest amenities in the heart of downtown Salem.
Rooms: 127 guest rooms and suites, including 37 extended stay accommodations and several accessible rooms, including hearing accessible rooms.
Meeting Spaces: The Holman offers 3,200 square feet of flexible meeting space spread across seven venues. This includes a 1,150-square-foot ballroom, a boardroom on the top floor, a drawing room and pre-function areas.
Dining: The hotel has several dining options for guests, including Gamberetti’s Italian Restaurant, which features casual-chic décor, craft cocktails and Italian cuisine. Lip Service Café is great for coffee and on-the-go breakfast. Breakfast is included for each guest. The hotel’s restaurants provide in-house catering for meetings and events.
Recreation: The hotel has a fitness center, high-speed internet access and an outdoor patio, as well as a miniature market for guests.
The Grand Hotel
Located just blocks from the Willamette River in the heart of downtown Salem, The Grand Hotel is connected to the Salem Convention Center. Opened in 2005, the property is located where the historic Marion Hotel once stood. Today, the hotel boasts underground parking, spacious guest rooms and many other amenities to satisfy meeting attendees.
Rooms: 193 rooms and suites of various configurations.
Meeting Spaces: The hotel is connected to the 30,000-square-foot convention center, so it doesn’t have much designated meeting space of its own. A small boardroom off the lobby and the breakfast room are also options for smaller meetings in the hotel.
Dining: The Grand Hotel’s on-site restaurant, Bentley’s, is a fine-dining restaurant and bar that serves fresh seafood, choice steaks and refreshing cocktails. A hot breakfast buffet is included in every guest’s room rate.
Recreation: The hotel offers a fitness center, free breakfast, free parking and free Wi-Fi.
The Independence Hotel
Located in the nearby community of Independence, Oregon, just a 20-minute drive southwest from Salem, The Independence Hotel is located on the Willamette River and is also notable for a large osprey nest right next to the property that guests can see from the rooftop deck, riverfront patio or atrium.
Rooms: 72 rooms and suites, each one containing unique designs and configurations.
Meeting Spaces: The Independence Hotel features 4,300 square feet of meeting space across two rooms. One of these rooms can be divided into three smaller breakout rooms. The total capacity is 200 guests. Catering is exclusively handled in-house.
Dining: The hotel’s restaurant, Territory, offers a diverse, locally sourced menu, ranging from fresh salads to chef’s specials, like burgers, flatbreads and pasta. The restaurant seats guests in the atrium and along the river and offers a full-service bar. Complimentary breakfast is provided for hotel guests each day.
Recreation: The hotel offers room service, free Wi-Fi and original Oregon art in every room, as well as a fitness center and a rooftop deck.
Hampton Inn & Suites/Home2 Suites by Hilton
Just off Interstate 5, the Hampton Inn & Suites Salem is a quick 10-minute drive to downtown. It’s perfect for small meetings or conferences. Across the parking lot to the Hampton Inn & Suites Salem, Home2 Suites by Hilton Salem was built in 2020 and features a contemporary design and plentiful common spaces. While the Home2 Suites doesn’t have designated meeting space, planners can use it for overflow.
Rooms: Hampton Inn has 86 guest rooms and suites in varying configurations; Home2 Suites features 82 guest rooms.
Meeting Spaces: The Hampton Inn & Suites Salem features 1,215 square feet of meeting space, including the Sequoia Room, which is 851 square feet and can hold up to 56 for a reception or banquet. The other meeting space is a small boardroom for up to 14.
Dining: A free hot breakfast is provided to hotel guests.
Recreation: A spacious indoor pool and fitness center as well as free parking and Wi-Fi are all on offer at the Hampton Inn.
Holiday Inn Salem
Renovated in 2018 to include upgraded accommodations and meeting spaces, the Holiday Inn Salem is a contemporary hotel with abundant meeting space that’s only a short drive from the Oregon State Fair and Expo Center. It’s also just four miles from the convention center and Salem’s other downtown amenities.
Rooms: 150 guest rooms and suites, including nine accessible rooms.
Meeting Spaces: The Holiday Inn Salem features 10 meeting spaces totaling 10,000 square feet, including a conference center that can accommodate up to 700 guests and can be divided into three separate spaces. The Crater Lake room is 2,700 square feet and holds 450 guests. Additional spaces range from a boardroom that seats 30 to larger rooms for up to 200.
Dining: The Holiday Inn Salem features a full-service restaurant and lounge, Capitol City Grill, which serves breakfast, dinner and room service and has a bar open for dinner.
Recreation: The hotel offers a spacious indoor pool, a fitness center, Wi-Fi and free on-site parking.
Willamette Valley Vineyards
Set in Turner, Oregon, Willamette Valley Vineyards is known for producing some of the valley’s finest chardonnay, pinot noir, and pinot gris. The winery was founded in 1983 and offers tours and tastings to guests who want to know about the winemaking process, from grape to glass. The winery’s on-site restaurant prepares gourmet meals and has both indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the property’s picturesque vineyards.
Meeting Spaces: The winery’s courtyard is one of its most elegant spaces and can accommodate up to 80 for banquets. It features gorgeous views of the property. More intimate spaces include the Wine Library, the Founder’s Room, and the Orville Roth Barrel Room and Terrace, which can accommodate up to 20, 50 and 20 guests, respectively.
Willamette ESD
The Willamette Education Service District’s Marion Center is a community center dedicated to public education, but it also provides great meeting and event space to the community. The facility recently underwent a renovation to incorporate additional flexible, spacious venues and a modern design throughout. On-site event staff can assist with planning events for up to 100 people.
Meeting Spaces: The center’s first floor contains four separate meeting rooms that can be configured in different styles, including the Willamette, Marion, Polk and Yamhill rooms. The center’s second floor has two additional smaller rooms. All meeting spaces are equipped with A/V.
Willamette Heritage Center
Located at the site of a preserved 1896 woolen mill, the Willamette Heritage Center proudly showcases local history to visitors with a museum detailing the traditional wool-making process. The five-acre property has 14 historic structures and offers tours to visitors, but it’s also a distinct setting for an off-site gathering. Taproot Old Mill Café is a casual spot on the property for farm-to-table breakfast and lunch.
Meeting Spaces: The Willamette Heritage Center’s largest event venue is its Spinning Room, which offers nearly 6,400 square feet in a historic, rustic space. Another popular venue is the 2,200-square-foot Dye House, which can seat up to 80 for a banquet.
Activities
Silver Falls State Park
Just 20 miles southeast of Salem, near Silverton, abundant natural beauty makes Silver Falls State Park one of Oregon’s most acclaimed outdoor settings. Hiking trails vary in difficulty, but some of the park’s most accessible loops still provide great access to the South Falls, the 177-foot plunge waterfall. Attendees will love to explore the natural wonders, towering trees and lush flora surrounding them in the park.
Azuls Taco House/La Familia Cider
Located in downtown Salem, just a short walk from the convention center and The Grand Hotel, Azuls Taco House can give attendees a taste of authentic Mexican cuisine with street tacos bursting with flavor. The adjoining cidery, La Familia Cider, has garage doors that can open to the street. Housemade ciders celebrate local and traditional Mexican flavors, from blackberry to guava. They also offer an innovative selection of cider-containing cocktails like “cidertinis” and cider mojitos.
For more information about planning a meeting in Salem, Oregon, please contact:
Travel Salem
Greg Heinze
503-581-4325
If you are interested in hosting a FAM for readers of Small Market Meetings, call Telisa Rech at 859.356.5128.
