How to sell: Portland
The hipster capital of the USA will be firmly in the sights of travelling Brits this year, with Delta Air Lines reinstating seasonal flights between London and the Oregon city, says Laura Gelder
Why sell it now?
Delta’s non-stop flight between London Heathrow and Portland International Airport resumes on May 4, operating four times a week until October 26 2018 – and the trade should expect a rush of enquiries on the back of some creative marketing around the new route.
A three-week pop-up event, You Can, In Portland, will take over London's The Old Truman Brewery April 19-May 7, showcasing some of the city's inspired products, and the people who create them, to potential travellers.
Who to sell to
This friendly and funky city, the gateway to the USA's Pacific Northwest region and the wild coast, lakes and mountains which characterise Oregon, has something for every client.
Portland is a city which takes its food and drink seriously: it is home to over 700 innovative street food carts as well as farm-to-table fine dining, mostly using top-notch fresh produce that is grown and sourced from the city’s own soil.
There's a huge number of craft breweries, cideries and wineries to satisfy even the most demanding epicureans and it's also one of the most vegan-friendly cities in the world, with a host of 'clean eating' options.
The creative capital of the region, Portland is proud of its open-minded and independent spirit and is a city where boutique usually beats big brand. Portland will appeal to anyone drawn by creativity and culture, (particularly counterculture), as well as health and fitness devotees.
What to sell
Portland - known as America's bicycle capital - is a cyclist's dream, home to over 350 miles of bike lanes. The Springwater Corridor is the southeast segment of a 40-mile cycle loop, excellently maintained and offering a mix of city sight-seeing routes and forest trails, with chances to see wildlife in the parks it passes.
There are numerous green spaces throughout the city, notably Lan Su Chinese Garden, the International Rose Test Garden and Portland Japanese Garden.
Culture vultures can visit museums such as the interactive Oregon Museum of Science and Industry or Portland Art Museum.
Portland's shopping options are eclectic and unique and include the vast Powell’s Books, the world’s largest independent bookstore that covers an entire city block. Open every weekend from March to December, Portland Saturday Market is the largest arts-and-crafts fair in the U.S. and the Pearl District's converted warehouses host art galleries, local boutiques and international brands.
The city puts on numerous festivals ranging from Portland Spring Beer and Wine Fest to the Waterfront Blues Festival with many quirky events in-between - McMinnville’s long-running UFO Festival includes Alien-themed parades, and pet costume contests for those who want to believe.
What's new?
Opening this spring is a Hilton Curio Collection addition, The Porter, featuring a library, indoor pool, meditation spa and a Neapolitan pizza window.
Jupiter NEXT opens in the summer, an expansion to the original Jupiter Hotel next door, with 67 rooms, a restaurant, jungle-themed cocktail bar and a focus on art and design, with a Pure Fix Cycles rental hub onsite.
Hip brand The Hoxton opens in October with 113 bedrooms, a rooftop restaurant and basement bar. Interiors and menus will be collaboratively designed with local talent.
The Hyatt Regency Portland at the Oregon Convention Center will open in 2019.