Meeting Planners
Portland-area Transportation Guides
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Flying into Portland, you're likely to get an eyeful of majestic Mount Hood welcoming you to the Pacific Northwest. What you can't see from up there is the area's vast network of transportation options that can carry delegates to, from and around the city quickly.
Getting Here
Portland International Airport (PDX) is currently served by 14 international and domestic airlines offering more than 444 daily flights, with nonstop service to 48 cities, including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Denver, Detroit, Atlanta, Dallas, Toronto, Amsterdam and Tokyo. PDX served 13.2 million passengers in 2010.
Travelers have named PDX the best airport in the United States four out of the last five years in the Condé Nast Traveler Business Travel Awards.
In 2010, PDX earned the top scores in the nation for:
- Ease of connections
- Customs/baggage
- Food/shops/amenities
- Comfort/design
- Perceived safety/security
Portland's excellent air service results in very competitive rates and official carrier designation for larger convention groups. PDX is an easy 20-minute drive from the Oregon Convention Center/Memorial Coliseum site and downtown. The airport is served by light rail; the train ride from PDX to downtown costs $2.40 for adults and takes about 38 minutes.
PDX Amenities and Customer Service
Portland International Airport (PDX) is a national leader in airport amenities and customer services. Here are some of the offerings:
- "Street priced" shops and restaurants
- Consolidated business and conference center
- Services for international visitors
- Services for travelers with special needs
Getting Around
Thanks to the MAX — Portland's award-winning light rail system — your delegates can go from airport to hotel to convention center for the price of a famous Stumptown latte. All in the time it takes to slurp that last little bit of foam. Or they may leisurely explore the city via the sleek Portland Streetcar. Both are free within a 330-square block area known as the "Free Rail Zone" and are sure to put delegates in the zone come meeting time.
Fast Facts
- The MAX light rail system includes 52 miles of rail extending both east and west from downtown Portland and the Oregon Convention Center. The eastern link includes a convenient spur to Portland International Airport, while the western route can whisk passengers from downtown to the many attractions of Washington Park in just 10 minutes.
- The sleek Portland Streetcar connects downtown Portland's Cultural District to Portland State University, the art gallery-filled Pearl District and the Northwest/Nob Hill neighborhood, known for its outstanding restaurants and upscale shopping.
- All MAX and streetcar rides are free in the central city's Free Rail Zone, which includes the downtown hotel core, the Oregon Convention Center and the Pearl District, a favorite dining and shopping destination.
Of course, we can also speed delegates around the city in a fleet of charter buses. Regardless of the mode of transport, however, most visitors are struck by how compact and manageable Portland is. We may be a big city, but your feet will never know it.
For more information about transportation in the Portland area, visit the main "Maps & Transportation" section.
