Located just across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon, and only 12 miles from the Portland International Airport, beautiful Vancouver, Washington, has been the center of commerce and gatherings since The Hudson’s Bay Company established its headquarters at Fort Vancouver in 1825. Today, this metropolitan city with its central location, rich heritage and world-class scenery provides the perfect place to hold conventions and meetings.

Anchored in the heart of downtown Vancouver is the Hilton Vancouver, Washington, and Vancouver Convention Center. The facility has 30,000 square feet of function space in two ballrooms and nine additional meeting rooms. The 14,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom seats 1,100 for dinner and 660 classroom style, and holds 70 exhibits. The 7,700-square-foot Junior Ballroom seats 650 theater style and divides into five sections for a variety of flexible meeting space. Eight of the additional meeting rooms range in size from 500 to 1,200 square feet for break-outs or smaller events, and a board room houses a permanent conference table with 16 leather armchairs. The facility has a complete catering staff, conference services staff and an audiovisual team, along with high-speed Internet access in each meeting room.

The hotel offers 226 rooms, convenient underground parking, a full-service 24-hour business center and an indoor swimming pool and fitness center with Nautilus exercise equipment. The hotel’s restaurant, Gray’s At the Park, offers Northwest cuisine.

The facility sits across the street from Esther Short Park, the bustling town square that hosts the Vancouver Farmers’ Market. It’s also near boutiques, restaurants, galleries and attractions.

Vancouver also boasts two additional full-service properties. The Heathman Lodge, with the warmth and comfort of a mountain retreat and world-class dining, has recently expanded its offerings to 182 rooms plus 10,000 square feet of meeting space for 400 people. The Red Lion Hotel at the Quay, located on the edge of the Columbia River, offers views of Mt. Hood and Mount St. Helens and has 160 rooms and space for up to 900.

While in Vancouver, visitors can enjoy the historic attractions of Fort Vancouver, Officers Row or Pearson Air Museum. Nearby are the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and the Pacific Coastline.

For more information, call the CVB at (360) 750-1553 or (877) 600-0800, or visit www.SouthwestWashington.com.