Although Portland hoteliers’ hopes for 2023 were high due to a more robust convention calendar at the Oregon Convention Center (OCC) and a positive outlook for leisure demand in the summer, the year was challenging for the metro area. The difficulties were mainly attributed to a significantly underperforming leisure demand segment during the summer months, typically a peak visitation time, following a promising first quarter. Negative media coverage regarding public safety concerns in Downtown Portland, including a front-page article in , coupled with the continued absorption of a substantial amount of new supply (roughly 1,500 hotels rooms added to the market since 2019) resulted in less performance growth for the market than anticipated.
