Frequently Asked Questions about the Portland Meeting

Q: Do I need to rent a car for the meeting?

A: Definitely not. TriMet ( Portland’s regional transit agency) provides light rail service to the airport, directly to the airport terminal. The light rail service operates from 5 a.m. to shortly after midnight and operates every 15 minutes throughout the day. Taking light rail will be faster than driving during the peak times and only costs $1.70 for a one-way ticket and drops you off a block from the hotel. Most of the activities will provide transportation or will use transit, so consider this an opportunity to expand your use of the transportation options that Portland is well known for. If you’re technically savvy you can use Google Transit or TriMet’s Trip Planner for more detailed itineraries. Having grown up in Portland using transit, I personally feel strongly that TriMet is one of the reasons that makes our City so livable and encourage all visitors to use it.

Q: I have heard it rains a lot in Portland, what can I expect for weather while I am there?

The summer months are usually dry, but we can’t deny that Portland is known for its rain showers. We’re typically very pleasant during the summer (in the mid eighties), but can sometimes reach 100 degrees. Temperatures should be comfortable, but this is Portland.

Q: Can I rent a bicycle during the day?

The Tuesday bike tour will offer an opportunity to see the City by bike, but there are other opportunities for renting a bicycle in downtown. Many of the City bike shops provide access as does Waterfront Bicycles, which is a short walk from the hotel.

Q: What can kids do at the conference?

There are numerous activities for children and teenagers associated with the meeting. The Guest Tours would be a great start and we’ve tried to keep the prices low to encourage participation. The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry is a great location to visit with older children and it’s just across the river over the Hawthorne Bridge (you can take or bus or walk to it). For younger children, the Portland Children’s Museum is fantastic for those wanting a diversion that’s indoors (accessible by light rail) On a personal note, I have taken my three year old on the Aerial Tram and she really enjoyed the ride, so that also could be a day’s outing.

Q: Is Portland really the Microbrewery capital of the world?

Unofficially, Portland has more brewpubs per capita then anywhere in the world and there are several within easy walking distance of the hotel. Sunday night will feature a multimodal tour of several that are on or near the light rail and streetcar lines. The unofficial guided tours will include visits to Widmer Brothers, Bridgeport Brewing, and McMenamins Brothers Pubs. For those wanting to venture out beyond the rail alternatives, there are several more including: Roots Organic Brewing, Lucky Labrador, and the Old Lompoc.

Q: Are the candidates for International Vice President speaking during the meeting?

Yes, we’re excited to have both candidates at our meeting and we’re busy trying to arrange voting on-site during the meeting. Both candidates will be available for you to talk to and ask questions. This will be a unique chance to get to know the candidates first hand and vote at the same time.

Q: Will the hotel honor the conference rate outside of the meeting dates?

Portland is a popular summer time destination and hotel rooms will be going fast at the conference rate of $138. For those who are coming early (particularly Saturday night) rooms are in short supply so please make your reservations early. You may find that the conference rate of $138 will not be available on Saturday night, so please call the Hilton Hotel and speak with Susan Hemberry at 503-499-4231 if you have any questions or needs. After June 15 the room block will be released and few rooms will be available so register now!

Q: What is Flexcar?

Flexcar is a carsharing company that started in Portland and offers members an opportunity to reserve a car and drive to a meeting. It is one of the tools that transportation agencies can use to support transportation options other than the private automobile. We’re working to get Flexcar as a sponsor of the meeting and they have cars that are available by the hour in the downtown area around the hotel.