ePoint :: News from the Oregon Convention Center

Oregon Convention Center Launches New Website

The new Oregon Convention Center (OCC) website (www.oregoncc.org) is now online with an updated look and easier navigation for visitors, event planners and exhibitors. The website redesign reflects OCC's commitment to excellent customer service, with improvements that were determined by the needs of its users.

"We are competing with other convention centers from all over the nation for business and the website is often our first opportunity to tell our story about why Portland is the best City for their convention," said Jeff Blosser, executive director of the Oregon Convention Center. "We want the Oregon Convention Center to be their choice destination from the very first interaction."

Visitors will find video clips throughout the site that highlight the center's many features and amenities. The site also offers an interactive virtual tour, with 360 degree imagery of all facility locations, and event planners can use the OCC Space Finder tool to find the perfect location for their event. Social media and newsfeed users will have more options to follow OCC activities according to their preferences. A new events calendar offers full event details and locations, which can be printed or saved to an Outlook calendar, along with convenient links to event websites and online ticket purchasing. More new content and features will be added in the coming months, including enhanced social media profiles, new videos and mobile offerings.

Whether you are a visitor, event planner or exhibitor, OCC strives to provide excellent customer service in every area of its operation, and the new website is no exception.

"We want every interaction with OCC to be a positive experience," said Matt Pizzuti, sales and marketing director of the Oregon Convention Center. "The new website provides all of the necessary information for events to start off on the right foot."

The website redesign project was largely driven by client feedback and requests. Development of the new site was also informed and reviewed by Corbin Ball Associates, a leading consultant in meetings technology.

The Oregon Convention Center, Portland Expo Center and Portland Center for the Performing Arts are managed by Metro. For more information, visit www.oregonmetro.gov.

Contact:
Alicia Crawford Loos
Public Relations
503.274.6591
alicia@pcpa.com

Classically Trained Chef with Sustainable Focus Incorporates International Flavor at Metro’s Visitor Venues

The Oregon Convention Center, Portland Center for the Performing Arts (PCPA) and Portland Expo Center have selected Allan Wambaa as the new executive chef for the three Metro Visitor Venues.

pacificwild catering co., the exclusive premium food and beverage brand for the venues, selected Wambaa after an extensive national search that included event menus planned with locally-sourced ingredients and “think outside the box” demonstrations such as creating gourmet concession items that would be at home on a food truck; a nod to Portland’s famous foodie culture.

“Allan’s creativity during the interview process combined with his background with international cuisine made him a natural choice for the position,” said Teri Dresler, general manager of Metro’s visitor venues. “His commitment to using sustainable ingredients along with his creativity and credentials make him a perfect fit for our venues.”

A native of Kenya, Wambaa comes to Portland after working most recently as the executive chef at the Tacoma Convention and Trade Center. Prior to that, he served as executive chef of the Bell Harbor International Conference Center & World Trade Center, Washington Hospitality and Wolfgang Puck Catering at Benaroya Hall. He also served as the Chef de Cuisine in Saudi Arabia for Prince Fahad bin Khalid al Saud.

“The challenge in the convention business is for our menus to be fresh, sustainable and in-line with local trends,” said Oregon Convention Center executive director Jeff Blosser. “Chef Wambaa is well up to the challenge and we are excited with what he is bringing to the table.”

Wambaa will be responsible for the strategic direction of all catering services and lead menu planning for venue-specific and event-related meals. He will also manage the team of food and beverage staff responsible for the in-house dining establishments in each of the venues - the Art Bar & Bistro housed in PCPA’s Antoinette Hatfield Hall, Keller Auditorium’s swanky martini bar, Keller Café, the Portland Expo Center’s brand-new West Delta Bar & Grill, and Stir cocktail lounge in the Oregon Convention Center.

The Portland Center for the Performing Arts is thrilled to be working with a chef who has a background working at a performing arts center,” said Robyn Williams, PCPA executive director. “We expect Chef Wambaa to take the ArtBar & Bistro and the Keller Café to new heights.”

“With West Delta Bar & Grill still in its infancy, I am looking forward to see what direction Chef Wambaa takes us at the Expo Center,” said Chris Bailey, director of the Portland Expo Center.

Chef Wambaa is a Pro-Chef II certified graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and is also a certified chef and member of the American Culinary Federation. Wambaa started work at the Oregon Convention Center on Thursday, August 25.

pacificwild catering co. is the exclusive premium brand created by ARAMARK specifically for the Metro Visitor Venues, with an emphasis on serving seasonal, local and sustainable food. For more information, please visit http://www.oregoncc.org/pacificwildCatering/.

The Oregon Convention Center, Portland Expo Center and Portland Center for the Performing Arts are managed by Metro. For more information, visit www.oregonmetro.gov.

Contact:
Alicia Crawford Loos
Public Relations
503.274.6591
alicia@pcpa.com

[GLUMAC NEWS] "The Convention Center that Challenges Convention"

The Oregon Convention Center (OCC) is one that stands out from the pack of convention centers across the United States. It is the largest convention center in the Pacific Northwest, with approximately a million square feet of meeting rooms, exhibit space and two large ballrooms. The OCC was the first convention center in the world to be certified in the LEED Existing Buildings 1.0 category, as well as the only to re-certify at a higher level - LEED Silver in LEED EB 2.0. The decision to continuously improve sustainability and minimize their carbon footprint is what sets the Oregon Convention Center apart the most. The facility has been recycling since its completion in 1991, long before it became "cool" to talk about being green. For the past decade, the OCC has set increasingly impressive sustainability goals to improve the building’s energy performance and operational efficiency.

READ MORE AT GLUMAC.COM»

Oregon Convention Center Named Best Convention Venue in Oregon by Northwest Meetings + Events Magazine

The Oregon Convention Center (OCC) was recently recognized by Northwest Meetings + Events Magazine as the best conference venue in Oregon. The magazine’s first ever Reader’s Choice Best of Awards tallied over 4,000 votes submitted by meeting professionals from all over the Pacific Northwest (including British Columbia and Alaska) to select the “cream of the crop” from small service providers to veritable behemoths of the industry.

“It’s always a great feeling to be recognized by your industry peers,” says Jeff Blosser, executive director of the Oregon Convention Center. “Especially when your fellow nominees are so highly regarded in the region.”

According to the magazine, OCC’s commitment to providing exceptional experiences for guests and clients has earned them a place among the best of the best. OCC was also voted runner-up for the best Green Event Venue in Oregon. According to Matt Pizzuti, director of sales and marketing, OCC’s commitment to customer service and environmental sustainability set the venue apart from the competition. “We are a very easy place to do business,” says Pizzuti. “We have some of the best staff in the country and I believe that is reflected in how we are regarded in the convention industry.”

As the largest convention center in the Pacific Northwest, OCC is also the greenest: it is LEED Silver-certified and purchases green power offsets. The center’s two grand ballrooms, 50 meeting rooms, 255,000 square feet of exhibit space and experienced staff can handle up to 10,000 guests. It leads the industry in sustainable operations and business practices as the first to earn LEED-EB (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – Existing Building) in 2004 and in 2008, the first to be recertified LEED-EB Silver. Totaling one million square feet of space, it hosts an average of 650 events and over 700,000 visitors annually.

To learn more about the OCC visit www.oregoncc.org.

The Oregon Convention Center, Portland Expo Center and Portland Center for the Performing Arts are managed by Metro. For more information, visit www.oregonmetro.gov.

Contact:
Alicia Crawford Loos
Public Relations
503.274.6591
alicia@pcpa.com