This week, Metro's Oregon Convention Center and its destination marketing partner, Travel Portland, welcome the return of the O'Reilly Open Source Conference, or OSCON, back to Portland. This public/private partnership is credited for the success in consistently drawing national and international conventions to Portland year after year, infusing millions of dollars annually into the region's economy.
An anticipated 1,500 software and information technology professionals from around the world are in town to share information and hear from leading experts about the latest developments in open source software. More importantly, from an economic development standpoint, conference attendees will spend upwards of $1 million throughout the region as they lodge, dine, shop and recreate in Portland and the surrounding area during their stay.
The decision by conference organizers to return their annual meeting to Portland is celebrated by local hospitality, tourism, small business and community leaders. OSCON has been held in Portland since its inception in 2003 and has earned the city the industry reputation as the open source "mecca." The conference will continue meeting in Portland annually through 2013, generating an estimated economic impact of more than $1 million each year. Adding to the value of the conference, other software-related industry groups, such as Railsconf and Ubuntu Live, have chosen Portland as their meeting location as a result of OSCON.
"It is without a doubt that the seamless and collaborative effort between Travel Portland and OCC to recruit, retain, and service clients is the reason Portland remains a top convention and leisure travel destination," said Teri Dresler, General Manager of Metro's visitor venues.
Because the Oregon Convention Center leads the meeting industry in sustainability, drawing business travelers and tourists to Portland equate to creating a large carbon footprint. Conference organizers now rely on green meetings and events - from purchasing carbon offsets, to lodging in Green Seal-certified hotels, to minimizing the production of waste, reusing and recycling all materials and procuring local products – to maintain their edge in a competitive industry.