Alderbrook Inn & Crista Conference Center
7101 E. Hwy. 106, Union, WA 98592
(800) 622-9370
Number of Rooms: 78, including 14 cottages
Floors: 3
Credit Cards: All major credit cards are accepted.
Date Built: Early 1900s; it became a resort in 1913
Date Remodeled: Began in 1998

The Alderbrook Inn is located in Union Washington about 13 miles from Belfair. It has a distinguished history. There were

Clara Eastwood and Eloise Flagg, known as The Alderbrook Girls to their guests and area residents, purchased the Alderbrook in 1927 from Union hotelman Henry Strumer. Ownership changed hands several times before it was purchased by CRISTA Ministries in 1998 from the estate of the late Wes Johnson, who owned it for a number of years. Johnson also developed the Alderbrook Golf Course as well as the housing development surrounding it..

Despite of the perception that it is strictly a Christian retreat since being purchased by CRISTA Ministries, the Alderbrook Inn and its facilities are open to the public. The inn features a saltwater pool, hot tub, nature trail, golf course, live jazz and more.

Alderbrook’s CRISTA Conference Center has several meeting rooms. Fax, phone and copiers are available for use, as are VCR/monitor, slide projectors and other presentation equipment. Conference catering is available through the restaurant. Contact Ms. Terri Jeffreys, Account Executive Manager, for information on conference room rates and availability.

Best Western Bremerton Inn
4303 Kitsap Way, Bremerton, WA 98312-2445
(360) 405-1111
Number of Rooms: 103
Floors: 2
Credit Cards: All major credit cards are accepted.

The Best Western Bremerton Inn is managed by Jim and Sandy McKenzie. They offer a small conference room suitable for 45 people that rents for $80.00 per day. Restaurant and catering services can be arranged through the VIPs Restaurant next to the inn. “We have a good extended continental breakfast that includes muffins, waffles, tea and coffee,” said McKenzie. Other features include two Jacuzzi-equipped suites — one for smokers and one for non-smokers, a hot tub and heated outdoor pool, and a small exercise room. McKenzie said The Best Western Bremerton Inn is centrally located and is on Bremerton’s main bus route. Corporate, group, and extended-stay per diem rates are available.

Holiday Inn Express Poulsbo
19801 7th Ave NE, Poulsbo, WA 98370-7570
(360) 697-4400
Number of Rooms: 63
Floors: 2
Credit Cards: All major credit cards are accepted including JCB.
Date Built: 1987
Date Remodeled: 1995

The 63-room Holiday Inn Express in Poulsbo is owned by Chang Choe, former owner of the Seattle Travel Lodge. He purchased the Poulsbo Holiday Inn Express in February of this year. According to Assistant General Manager, Kathy Sloan, plans are in the works to add 40 suites, an exercise room, and a conference facility capable of seating up to 150 people. If all goes according to plan, they expect to break ground on by early in 2001. Poulsbo’s Holiday Inn Express offers corporate and group rates. Characterizing their service, Sloan said “We treat you like family.”

Holiday Inn Express Port Orchard
1121 Bay St., Port Orchard, WA 98366-5211
(360) 895-2666
Number of Rooms: 63
Floors: 3
Credit Cards: All major credit cards
Date Built: 1995

The 63-room Holiday Inn Express in Port Orchard was built in 1995 and is managed by Sharon Pierce. Smoking and nonsmoking rooms are available, as well

Port Orchard’s Holiday Inn Express has a 25-person meeting room available for a nominal fee. Meals are catered by Port Orchard’s Le Garmache Catering & Cafe. Fax and copy machine business support is available at the front desk.

Corporate and group rates are available, and all major credit cards are accepted. Aside from Port Orchard’s small town ambiance and Le Garmache’s superb victuals, Pierce said “We have a view to die for.”

Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel
5640 Kitsap Way, Bremerton, WA 98312-2236
(360) 373-9900, fax (360) 377-8529
http://www.the.hojo.com/bremerton10947
Number of Rooms: 145
Floors: 5
Credit Cards: All major credit cards are accepted.

The Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel is a five-floor, 145-room facility custom made for business conferencing. Conference packages are tailored to the client. Costs are negotiable and vary according to the type of support requested.

The large conference room is capable of seating up to 650 persons, depending on configuration. And the Dome can seat up to 450. The Dome is a retractable glass-walled structure. Catering is available through the hotel restaurant, and the hotel will gladly make arrangements for necessary rental equipment.

According to General Manager, Wendy Nash, her employees receive the training and authority necessary, “to get the job done,” adding, “We are not just reservation takers, we are meeting planners. We are very customer-oriented because they are our most important asset.” According to their web site, a 15 percent discount off regular rates is available by requesting plan code LPAX and paying for your stay with a Visa card.

The Manor Farm Inn
26069 Big Valley Road NE, Poulsbo, WA 98370-9124
(360) 779-4628
Number of Rooms: 6
Floors: 2
Credit Cards: The Discover card is not accepted. All other major cards accepted.
Date Built: It’s been a while; formerly a family dairy farm.
Date Remodeled: 1980s

The Manor Farm Inn is owned and operated by Janet, Christopher and Suzanne Plemmons. The Inn, a converted dairy farm, has six guest rooms and two dining rooms. The dining rooms can be converted into conference space and, depending on configuration, the larger is capable of holding up to 25 persons and the smaller room can hold 15. Food is prepared on site by the Inn’s restaurant, Christopher’s at the Inn. Rates for the dining/conference rooms are negotiable. Presentation equipment is available for rent from an off site source.

The Manor Farm Inn is, “a tranquil retreat for people looking to get away,” according to owner Christopher Plemmons. “We try to keep it quiet for people.”

WestCoast Silverdale Hotel
3073 NW Bucklin Hill Road, Silverdale, WA 98383-9190
(360) 698-1000
Number of Rooms: 150
Floors: 3
Credit Cards: All major credit cards are accepted.
Date Built: 1986

The WestCoast Silverdale Hotel is a very capable conference facility. The large ballroom can hold up to 300 people when configured for meal service, or 350 without meals. For smaller groups, the ballroom can be divided three ways. The ballroom’s rate of $150 per hour is discounted with meal services. The hotel also offers boardrooms of various sizes ranging in cost from $100 to $150 per day, suitable to accommodate 12 to 50 people.

Business support includes use of the hotel’s copy and fax machines and data ports. A full complement of audio-visual equipment is available for rent. Teleconferencing is also available upon request.

Hotel amenities include a gym, tennis courts, indoor heated pool and Jacuzzi. Kevin Wojcik, General Manager, said of his WestCoast Silverdale, “We offer a very high level of service, very flexible meeting space and menus, and full support service.”

Selah Inn
NE 130 Dulalip Landing, Belfair, WA 98528
(360) 275-0916
Credit Cards: Only MasterCard and Visa are accepted.
Date Built: 1996

The Selah Inn in Belfair offers a quiet place for an organization to meet. The 50-seat room rents for $100 per day. A smaller room seats 12 to 14 people for $75 per day. Food is prepared on site. The continental breakfast costs $5, and the full breakfast goes for $8.50. Sound and other presentation equipment is available. The large room has data ports for seven computer stations. Fax and copy machines are available.

General Manager, Bonnie McCullogh said the Selah Inn, “Is only 45 minutes from Olympia or Seattle, but seems much farther. We will fit our schedule to the conference’s schedule,” adding, “We are small scale and can even adapt meals to fit the schedule.”

Other Conference Centers:

Admiral Theatre
515 Pacific Ave.
Bremerton, WA
(360) 373-6743

The Admiral Theatre in Bremerton was built in 1941. It operated until 1981 when the propagation of multiplex mall theaters put it out of the popular film business. The Admiral Theatre Board Foundation renovated the building and reopened it as a performing Arts Theatre in 1997.

Aside from theater productions, Admiral Theatre business manager, Brian Johnson, said the theater is commonly used for business meetings and conferences, banquets, proms, class reunions, and more.

The theater is capable of seating a maximum of 1000 persons — 500 on the main floor and 500 in the balcony. The floor seats 250 when configured cabaret-style. Rates vary with requirements, but base cost for use of the theater is $1500 for four hours. A contract caterer prepares food off site. The theater is equipped with a holding kitchen and cleaning facilities. The caterer can serve sit-down or buffet type meals but logistics generally limit meals to groups of 250 and fewer. According to Johnson, the theater is too large and not practical for groups smaller than 100 people.

Electronic presentation equipment, copy and fax machines are available. Hourly and daily paid parking is available in the theater’s vicinity. Free parking is available for Admiral Theatre patrons after 5 p.m. in three designated lots.

Kitsap Pavilion
1200 NW Fairgrounds, Bremerton, WA 98311-8512
(260) 692-3655

Kitsap Pavilion is part of the Kitsap County Parks and Recreation Department. It is managed by Dain Nysoe, Kitsap County Business and Marketing Manager. The facility comprises four separate rooms: the 43,000 square-foot Kitsap Pavilion, which can seat 4400; the 20,000 square-foot President’s Hall, which can seat 1350; the recently remodeled Conference Center, with seating for 150; and the 125-seat banquet room.

The pavilion rents for $1400 per day, the President’s Hall goes for $500 per day, the conference center for $350, and the banquet room for $65 including equipment. Copy and fax machines are available. Audio-visual equipment is available for rent in nearby Silverdale. Eagle’s Nest Catering on the fairgrounds is not Pavilion’s exclusive caterer but their location makes them the most convenient.

Except for a few mid-week dates, Nysoe said all three facilities are booked for the next year.

Kiana Lodge
(360) 598-4311
Poulsbo

Despite its name, Kiana Lodge has no overnight facilities. The Lodge’s conference spaces consist of an old log cabin capable of seating 80 persons, and the Gorden Atrium capable of seating 920. The two buildings are connected by a walkway. Room rates vary with services. Kiana’s catering staff offers meal services. Fax machines and copiers are available for conference use, and the Lodge will coordinate audio-visual equipment through nearby Flamingo Studio. Although lodging is available in the area, client groups often stay at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seattle and charter boat transportation back and forth.

Built in the late 1920’s as a beach and golf club, Kiana Lodge became privately owned in the 1950s. The Lodge occupies six acres and 1000 feet of choice waterfront on Sandy Hook. According to owner, Bob Riebe, “We were featured in Time-Life Magazine as one of the more famous gardens in the United States.” His four full-time summer gardeners keep it that way.

In terms of exclusivity, Kiana Lodge ranks near the top in the Northwest. When Baseball’s All Stars played the Kingdome in the early 1980s, then-baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn selected the site for the post-game players banquet. Three years ago Kiana Lodge hosted a luncheon attended by the Fortune 500 CEOs. High-end weddings are Riebe’s bread and butter and the Lodge is booked-up every Saturday evening through September of 2001.

Despite its attractive grounds and superb reputation, the Kiana Lodge is not open to public viewing. Riebe’s clients select the site as much for the privacy it affords as its beauty. Prospective clients are invited to contact Riebe for an appointment.

Kitsap Golf and Country Club
3885 NW Golf Club Hill Road,
Bremerton, WA
(360) 377-0166

The Kitsap Golf and Country Club is located in Chico between Silverdale and Bremerton. The ballroom is capable of seating 300 people for meals or 500 people theater-style. The dining room can comfortably seat 75. It is a private club and the ballroom cost for non-members is $500 for eight hours, $250 for members. The dining room costs $350 for non-members, $175 for members. Sound and other presentation equipment is available on site; copy and fax machines are not.

Food services are available exclusively through the restaurant on the premises. The appeal of the club, said general manager, Gary Campbell, “...is our unique setting and the quality of the food.”

McCormick Woods
5155 McCormick Woods Dr. SW,
Port Orchard
(360) 895-0142

McCormick Woods has four meeting rooms that can hold from 10 to 160 people, and up to 250 people if outside seating is used. Candice Ralston, McCormick’s banquet manager said they customize the rooms to suit each function. Room costs, therefore, are determined by services, and range from $25 to $300 for four hours. Electronic presentation equipment is available as are phone lines, fax machine and copiers. MaryMac’s Restaurant & Bar (895-0142) handles catering duties.

McCormick Land Company is in the final planning stages of what is expected to be the Kitsap Peninsula’s premier conference center. The McCormick Woods Conference Center and Inn is expected to cost between $25 and $50 million, have 200 guest rooms and 20,000 square-feet of conference space. The purpose-built facility is designed to accommodate three concurrent conferences of 30 to 50 people each. In addition to serving the needs of area businesses, they hope to attract conference and convention business from the west coast and western Canada.

McCormick Land Company spokesperson Linda Niebanck said, “We are very excited. We think it’s an excellent fit to what we already have there, and it will be a wonderful asset to the people of the Kitsap Peninsula.” McCormick Land Company expects to break ground on the facility later this year and open the doors 14 months later.

Seabeck Conference Center
www.seabeck.org
(360) 830-5010

Perhaps you belong to a non-profit organization looking for a quiet location to conduct your annual planning conference. Why not Seabeck? The Seabeck Conference Center was started by the Seattle YMCA in 1915 and, according to SCC Executive Director, Larry Hill, “It is the oldest conference center in Washington State.”

Commonly used for retreats by religious groups and for meetings by service organizations, the Seabeck Conference Center has 13 meeting rooms capable of seating from 12 to 250 people, and 100 guest rooms. Costs for overnight accommodations vary. Rates range from $35 to $70 per person per day, which includes meals and lodging. The Center has overhead projectors, TV/VCRs and newsprint charts available. Business support includes copiers, fax machines, and telephone lines.

The Seabeck Conference Center is available to organizations with IRS tax designation 501C3.