19 BRAND STORY That flexibility is just one of the draws of the Pendleton Convention Center, which can accommodate everything from Rotary Club lunches all the way up to conventions for 3,500 people. The center does just that, hosting more than 500 events every year for a wide range of organizations that come from around the Pacific Northwest. Beard says more organizations have chosen Pendleton for their events for a number of reasons. For starters, Pendleton’s location is about as central as can be, just three hours from Portland, Boise and Spokane and four from Seattle or Bend. While that’s an easy drive for most, a scenic flight in from Portland on Boutique Air takes just 45 minutes and offers what Beard calls “one of the most beautiful flights you’ll ever take” with Cascade Mountain views for miles. Groups are also drawn to the Pendleton Convention Center for the level and quality of service it’s become known for. “We have a team that is really committed to customer service,” Beard says, “and our AV services are second to none. We have experts in event management, sound, lighting and catering that have been on staff for several years and love the industry.” Part of that service is also connected to the convention center’s catering partner, Pendleton Catering Company. Able to cater meals for up to 600 attendees at a time, Pendleton Catering Company works from a large commercial kitchen, but Beard says the team is innovative, creative and that the food has “just skyrocketed.” The latest editions include artisan charcuterie boards and a cannoli cart that’s ideal for smaller breakout meetings. “They are really nailing it,” Beard says of Pendleton Catering Company. Value and cost also play a role when groups decide to hold their gatherings in Pendleton. “The Pendleton Convention Center is a very moderately priced conference and convention location that offers incredible catering and AV services in a safe, welcoming community,” Beard says. “We are hosting events that were formerly being held in larger communities, and once those events found that the Pendleton Convention Center offers catering, AV and local lodging at much more reasonable pricing, they have become our customers.” While the Pendleton Convention Center already has ample offerings, there’s more to come before the end of this year: a new 60,000-square-foot event center next door with an arena and spaces for food trucks. The result of a partnership between the convention center, the city of Pendleton and Blue Mountain Community College, the new arena will be able host all kinds of events, from RV shows and BMX races to rugby tournaments and large indoor equine events — which fit perfectly in with Pendleton’s wild west character. “We’re a western-themed town,” Beard says, “and we live like that every day.” That, too, is part of the draw to Pendleton — it’s unique sense of community and all it has to offer beyond the convention center. Beard emphasizes that Pendleton is a safe, friendly city without the traffic and other concerns of larger ones. It’s home to more than 40 unique restaurants, 1,000 hotel rooms and two golf courses. There’s also the Pendleton Round-Up & Happy Canyon Hall of Fame, the Pendleton Center for the Arts, the Tamastslikt Cultural Institute — a museum that tells the story of western expansion from a tribal point of view — and the Pendleton Underground, a series of tunnels and hidden rooms that, via a tour, offer a peek at the seedier side of Pendleton’s history. “It really transports you back to an interesting, wilder time in Pendleton,” Beard says. n The Convention Center can rapidly switch gears to become “Goldie’s Bar.” For more information, visit MeetInPendleton.com.
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