It was February 2005. There was a chill in the evening air that was overpowered by the electric energy emitted by an enthusiastic crowd attending the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Salem Conference Center (later named the Salem Convention Center). In attendance that evening was Mike McLaran of the Chamber of Commerce, Steve Johnson, president of VIP'S Industries, Salem Mayor Janet Taylor and Salem civic leader Gerry Frank. “This is a proud day for Salem,” said Frank in his remarks during its opening ceremony. “We've been waiting a long, long time for this, and what we have here was worth the wait, in spades.” The conference center was to open on March 5, 2005 with the hope that this brand new, contemporary facility would help usher in a new age of prosperity in downtown Salem. Since that evening, 17 years ago, The Salem Convention Center has welcomed more than 1.2 million event attendees. We've hosted world class athletes, celebrities, TEDTalks, countless meetings, multi-day conventions, seminars, large weddings, small weddings, competitions, fundraisers and many other gatherings that have brought millions of dollars in revenue to our community. We've seen everything from robots and exotic animals to giant tractors and a lobby full of hot tubs! You name it, we've probably seen it. By any measure, the Salem Convention Center is a resounding success that has contributed to downtown Salem's urban growth and ongoing revitalization. “Since 2005, Downtown Salem has benefited from the Salem Convention Center's commitment to professionalism and exceptional service to its clients and guests,” says Sheri Wahrgren, Downtown Revitalization Manager, City of Salem. “More than 103,000 Convention Center attendees visit and explore Salem and its many diverse and excellent shops, restaurants, and historic and recreational attractions.” “When the Convention Center opened, it brought a new awareness to many people who'd never experienced the vibrancy of Salem's downtown,” says Debbie McCune, Director of Sales/Vice President of Travel Salem. “I still remember meeting planners saying ‘I never knew Salem's downtown has so much to offer!' Well now they do, it's one of the many reasons Salem is the ‘Most Oregon Part of Oregon'.” To celebrate our “Sweet Seventeen”, we're sharing 17 fun facts about The Salem Convention Center. #1- SCC was designed to be sustainable and energy efficient, and features radiant heat floors, a single outdoor air ventilation and heat recovery unit that preconditions all incoming air, and awnings on the building's floor-to-ceiling west-facing windows that open automatically as heat from the afternoon sun increases. Solar power and wind power purchased from Portland General Electric helps reduce energy use. #2- We are one of only a handful of convention centers in the country with an adjoining hotel! The 193-room Grand Hotel in Salem and Bentley's restaurant (reopening soon) make up the rest of the city block, which provides our customers with an all inclusive experience.#3- Since opening in March 2005, SCC has hosted more than 7,400 events. More than 120,000 local hotel room nights have been sold for SCC event attendees (as of June 2019). #4- The Salem Convention Center was originally named the Salem Conference Center. We changed our name from “Conference Center” to “Convention Center” in 2012 to better reflect our services and capabilities. #5- We're walking distance to some of Salem's top attractions, like Oregon's State Capitol, Willamette University and other attractions in Historic Downtown Salem. Visitors enjoy exploring the many refreshingly unique destinations that make this city “the most Oregon part of Oregon”.#6- Our impressive collection of sculptures and paintings is part of a carefully curated collection of public art acquired through the City of Salem's unique partnership with the Oregon Artists Series Foundation (OASF). The public is welcome to view the art collection during the Center's regular business hours. #7- SCC is among the first buildings in Salem to become EarthWISE certified and earn LEED-EB Silver Certification (one step above LEED® Certification). We are also a member of the United States Green Building Council.#8- The terrazzo floor, located in the Santiam Gallery, is made of recycled material from the building that stood here previously. The beautiful Worthwood floor in our Willamette Foyer is made from recycled plywood ends.#9- The Salem Convention Center has a long-standing partnership with Allied Video Productions (AVP) to help meet the needs of businesses and organizations that book their events in our facility. With their technology, we can now offer hybrid events, a combination of live and virtual components, to accommodate attendees who do not wish to travel or gather in person. #10- Inspired by sustainable, local farms and ingredients, our on-site chefs and catering team will bring the Northwest's freshest seasonal offerings to your table. Whether it's a selection from our extensive menu or a special menu tailored to your specific needs, our staff is here to cater for your perfect meal.#11- If you are driving an electric car in Oregon's Capitol City, you can find a charging station at The Salem Convention Center, along with other convenient public parking areas like the Salem Public Library, the Chemeketa Parkade, the Liberty Parkade, Marion Parkade, and the West Salem Library.#12- The Salem Convention Center was built on the site of the esteemed Marion Hotel, a hundred-year-old establishment that burned down in 1971. #13- The first event booked at SCC was a meeting by Saalfeld Griggs PC, a local law firm. It was immediately followed by a back to back series of meetings of local groups and state associations, as well as weddings. #14- The contemporary building was designed by LMN Architects of Seattle, who won Northwest Construction's Best Architectural Design in 2004 for their design of SCC. #15- Many of our original staff members, like Robert Maple, Director of Banquet Operations, and Chrissie Bertsch, General Manager, are still with us today, and we have added many new faces to our growing team of event professionals. #16- SCC cost $32 million to build and was funded with private and public money. The investments have paid off, as net revenue has now exceeded $51 million as of 2020. #17- We were named 2015 Best Oregon Convention/Conference Venue, in addition to Best Convention Center in Oregon 2016 and again in 2017 by Northwest Meetings & Events magazine readers. Our adjoining hotel, The Grand Hotel in Salem, has also received recognition as “Best Hotel with Meeting/Event Space in Oregon (less than 200 rooms). We've also been recognized by Oregon Business magazine, One of the 100 Best Green Companies in Oregon, Travel Salem MOPO (Most Oregon Part of Oregon) Award Travel Salem Ab Fab Award Travel Salem Green Award MPI (Meeting Professionals International) Oregon Chapter Silver Platter Award What a journey it's been! Since opening in 2005, the Salem Convention Center has evolved into one of the premier venues for meetings, multiple-day conventions, workshops, social events, and weddings in the Pacific Northwest. The attractive, contemporary design and Pacific Northwest inspired architecture elevate the event experience, with open and inviting spaces, natural lighting, a curated collection of museum-quality art, impeccable design and interior furnishings. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to serve Salem, Oregon and the surrounding region by providing event experiences like none other for 17 years. We hope to continue our commitment to excellence and dedication for many more years. Whether your event is planned for 50 or 500 guests, the professional staff at The Salem Convention Center will help create a memorable experience for all who attend. Contact us at 1-866-614-1900 or email sales@salemconventioncenter.org for more information.
