Save the date for ALTA49!
Location
Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront
The ALTA49 Conference will be held at the Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront in Portland, Oregon from October 21-24, 2026. The Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront is located on the west side of the Willamette River, between Downtown Portland and the Portland State University campus.
Phone: 503-226-7600
ALTA has secured a block of rooms at the discounted rate of $199/night in the Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront for conference attendees. Our block closes to the public on September 30, 2026, so book early!
NOTE: You can access our discounted rate for three days before and after conference dates! Anyone wishing to extend their stay should email Program Director Kelsi Vanada [kelsi@literarytranslators.org] AFTER booking the dates you’d like in our block. You will need to share your confirmation number in order to extend your stay.
Hotel Info
Please consider booking your stay at the conference hotel!
ALTA is proud to be programming our 49th annual meeting in person. Financially, we are able to do this by reserving a large block of rooms with a hotel. In exchange, the hotel offers our attendees the guaranteed lowest group rate for rooms and provides us with complimentary meeting space.
If we are unable to meet our guaranteed minimum number of registered guests, ALTA incurs a penalty and has to pay for the unused rooms, as well as room rental for the meeting space. This is why we request your support if you are able by booking within our reserved block. When you book your room through our link, you not only get a great deal on your room ($199), but you also support ALTA, because the Marriott gives a portion of that room rate to our organization!
Once you click the booking link, you can select accessible room options after choosing a room.
The Proof•Reader Whiskey + Craft + Kitchen is open Monday-Friday from 6:30-10:30am and 4:00-11:00pm, Saturday & Sunday 7:00-11:00am and 4:00-11:00pm.
Press Release Coffee + Food is open from 6:00am-3:00pm daily.
Proof•Reader Bar is open from 4:00-11:00pm daily.
Many other dining options are just steps away from the hotel. See below for suggestions (coming soon!).
Address: 1401 SW Naito Parkway, Portland, Oregon, USA, 97201
Phone: 503-226-7600
Check-in: Check-in time at the Marriott is 4:00pm. The check-out time is 12:00pm, after which time guests will incur an additional night’s charge.
Parking: Parking is limited.
- Valet parking is $54/car per night; $78 for oversized vehicles. An electric car charging station is available.
- View the area parking map for self parking here.
Wireless Internet:
- High Speed: $14.95 per day; Enhanced High Speed: $17.95 per day.
- Marriott Rewards Members receive free internet during their stay, and it is free to join. Join Today.
Pets: Pets are not allowed. Service animals only.
Accessibility: Please visit our Accessibility web page for more information about hotel accessibility features (coming soon!).
Cancellation Policy: 48 hours prior to the arrival date, by 4:00pm PST, to avoid a late cancel charge.
Travel Info
Flying to Portland: Portland International Airport, 7000 NE Airport Way, Portland, OR 97218
- Website: https://www.flypdx.com/
- Airport code: PDX
- Phone: 503-460-4234
- Location: 12 miles northeast of the Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront
Train to Portland: The Amtrak Station is the Portland Union Station, located at 800 NW 6th Ave, Portland, OR 97209. It is 1.4 miles from the conference hotel. Read more here.
Bus to Portland: Greyhound no longer operates a traditional, full-service terminal in downtown Portland. Service has transitioned to a curbside pickup model, with the main stop currently located at 1090 NW Station Way, north of Union Station. Read more here.
From PDX airport to the Conference Hotel: The conference hotel does not provide shuttle service to and from the airport, but there are many options for getting to the hotel from the PDX airport without a car. Read more about ground and local transportation, including options from the airport to the hotel, below.
- Ride Share: Arriving travelers at PDX have a new pick-up spot for rideshares and taxis. With more dedicated space, Lyft and Uber will now safely connect with passengers inside Level 1 of the Short-Term Parking garage instead of the main roadway. Once travelers deplane, they’ll be guided to the new location via the rideshare apps and airport signage to the “Transportation Plaza.” The parking garage columns are labeled with the pick-up location for each service provider (Uber, Lyft, or Wingz). You can also pre-book your rideshare. Read more here.
- Taxi: Arriving travelers at PDX have a new pick-up spot for rideshares and taxis. You may opt to pre-book with Lynette Yetter’s favorite driver-owned taxi company, Radio Cab, which is about $50, depending on weather and traffic (telephone 503-227-1212). Have your airline flight number and arrival time handy, when you pre-book a will-call stand-by ride. The dispatcher will explain what that means when you call to make your reservation. Or take whichever cab is next in line at the airport. Ride costs and quality can vary widely from company to company.
- Car Rental: There are over 10 rental car compaies serving PDX. To pick up your car, follow signs to Rental Car Center from baggage claim. To drop-off your car, follow signs on the lower roadway for Rental Car Return. Read more here.
- Public Transportation: The MAX red line light rail departs from PDX roughly every 15 minutes, and comes within half a mile of the conference hotel (Morrison/SW 3rd Ave stop). Price: $2.80 one way, $5.60 all day (Adult fare). The trip takes about 45-50 minutes. Read more here. Read about fares here.
- MAX (Metropolitan Area Express) Light Rail connects Portland City Center with Beaverton, Clackamas, Gresham, Hillsboro, Milwaukie, North/Northeast Portland and Portland International Airport.
- MAX Light Rail runs every 15 minutes or less most of the day, every day.
- The Yamhill District stop is on the red line (from the PDX airport) and is 0.4 miles from the conference hotel.
- Serving Portland’s central city with zero-emission transit every day.
- The closest stops to the conference hotel are the SW Harrison St stop and the SW 3rd & Harrison stop.
- Loop through downtown and inner SE Portland (goes right past Literary Arts and Mother Foucault’s Bookshop, and a lot of other possibilities in that neighborhood for smaller evening readings, good dining options, nightlife, etc).
Bus:
- With 79 lines, including one FX line, buses serve much of the Portland metro area.
- Many bus lines connect with MAX Light Rail, WES Commuter Rail, Portland Streetcar and the Portland Aerial Tram.
- The 6 bus takes you to Literary Arts Cafe and Bookstore. Get on at SW Madison & 1st (a few blocks from the conference hotel) and get off at SE Grand & Belmont Northbound (4 stops).
- TriMet’s farecard is called Hop Fastpass® (or Hop for short). To pay, just tap the green Hop reader when you board. You can tap with your phone or contactless credit card to pay the $2.80 Adult fare. Or, if you qualify for reduced fare, get a Hop card.
- The fare is the same for TriMet buses, MAX Light Rail and WES Commuter Rail.
- Reduced fares offered for seniors, youth, people with disabilities, people who qualify based on income, veterans and active-duty military.
- With your TriMet fare, you can also ride Portland Streetcar (opens in new tab) and C-TRAN Local/Regional buses (opens in new tab) at no additional charge. Transferring to certain premium services such as C-TRAN Express/C-VAN or TriMet LIFT may require an upgrade charge.
- Adult Fare (For ages 18–64): $2.80 for 2½ hours. Ride free after spending $5.60 in a day
- Honored Citizen Fare and Youth Fare (Reduced fare, save up to 72%): For seniors age 65+, people on Medicare, people with disabilities, people who qualify based on income, and veterans and active-duty military. $1.40 for 2½ hours. Ride free after spending $2.80 in a day
Maps and more information are available at: https://trimet.org/schedules/index.htm
About Portland
Portland, Oregon, is located at the northern terminus of the fertile Willamette Valley, on land that has been inhabited by various Chinookan peoples for over 13,000 years. First referred to in English as “The Clearing,” what came to be called “Portland” was originally a stopover point on the two-day canoe trip from Willamette Falls to the Columbia River. Transit and indeed translation have been part of Portland’s Anglophone story from its very beginning, as has arbitrariness—the choice for a city name, which was between “Portland” and “Boston,” came down to a coin flip. In the late 1800s, Portland grew into a bustling mercantile center where ship captains could reliably depend on departing the city with a full crew, thanks in large part to the practice of crimpling, also known as “shanghaiing,” in which vulnerable men and women were impressed into labor and prostitution, often while drunken or drugged. Remnants of the underground tunnel system that was used to transport shanghaied individuals through downtown Portland still exist, particularly in the area known through various eras as Old Town, Chinatown, Japantown, and the Skidmore/Old Town Historic District.
In the early 2000s, Portland gained a national reputation as a bastion of indie food, music, and arts culture, leading eventually to the sketch comedy series Portlandia, which was both about Portland and all cities going through similar cycles of recognition, gentrification and displacement. Today, Portland is perhaps best summed up by the rallying cry and renewal campaign, “Portland Is What We Make It.” The city is nothing at all like how it’s often demonized in the national media, nor does it aspire to recapture the early-aughts glory that was neither equitable nor sustainable. Most tellingly, the city’s intermediate size and rich interconnectedness inspires residents and visitors alike to imprint their own values and visions onto the city, just as the city imprints its rich history and unique identity onto them.
Portland is comprised of 95 distinct neighborhoods, bisected by the Willamette River. The highest point on the west side of the river is Council Crest Park which, at 1,071 feet above sea level, offers stunning views on clear days of Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams, and Mt. Rainer. The highest point on the east side of the river is Mount Tabor Park, a dormant volcano; at 636 feet, it features forested walking trails, geologically unique basketball and tennis courts, and picturesque reservoirs. The vast majority of Portland’s neighborhoods and parks are accessible from downtown Portland on bus, bike and foot.
Portland is or has been home to a wide range of authors, including Mathew and Michael Dickman, Katherine Dunn, Mitchell S. Jackson, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Vanessa Veselka. The Portland State University and Pacific University MFA programs are both based out of Portland, and institutions such as Literary Arts, Powell’s Books, and Tin House all contribute to the literary life of the city.
Read more at Travel Portland.
Time: Portland is in the Pacific Time Zone, and it observes Daylight Savings Time. This means that during the in-person conference, Portland will be in Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), which is UTC-7, or three hours behind New York.
Weather: Portland’s weather, once reliably rainy for nine monts out of the year, is now anyone’s guess, at no time in the calendar more so than in late October. While still temperate, it could be sunny and in the high 60s during the day, or it could be cold and wet. Best to be prepared for rain and temperatures ranging from the low 40s to high 50s—though you may be surprised and encounter some dry days and midday warmth. Umbrellas used to be a shibboleth of sorts, marking out-of-towners, but an influx of transplants in recent years has convinced Portlanders that umbrellas can actually be quite handy.
Whether you’re a fan of craft beer, food carts, or fine dining, Portland has something for you. Please enjoy this list of recommendations, most of which come directly from the members of the Portland Local Organizing Committee! This list was compiled in early 2026; please check current open hours for locations.
Near the Portland Marriott Dowtown Waterfront:
5-minute walk or less:
- Portland Kettle, 1344 SW 3rd Ave
Soup restaurant with daily specials - Murata Restaurant, 200 SW Market St
Japanese restaurant with lunch specials and sushi à la carte - Roseline Coffee, 222 SW Columbia St #1400
Coffee shop with seasonal specialty drinks
10- to 15-minute walk:
- University Station Food Cart Pods, 616 SW College St.
A good variety of different types of cuisine. - Duck House Chinese Restaurant (Szechuan Cuisine), 1968 SW 5th Ave.
Busy restaurant with great Chinese food, near Portland State University - Al-Amir Restaurant, 223 SW Harvey Milk St
Lebanese restaurant, good food, very friendly service - Departure Restaurant + Lounge, 525 SW Morrison St, 15th Floor
This is the top floor of the Nines Hotel and is in the middle of downtown near Pioneer Square. I recommend the lounge (rooftop patio) in particular. You sit in the midst of all the downtown rooftops with an amazing view. - Wild Rose Coffee, 1909 SW 6th Ave
A funky little cafe on the PSU campus. - Spella Caffe, 608 SW Alder St.
Good espresso in a very cozy space. On the “bus mall” downtown, and also within 15min walk of conference hotel - DarSalam Restaurant & Catering, 320 SW Alder St.
Beautifully decorated Iraqi restaurant with delicious food; a 10–15 walk of the conference hotel. - Queen Mama’s Kitchen, 406 SW Oak St
Popular Saudi restaurant - Higgins Restaurant, 1239 SW Broadway
A Portland original that brought local, regional food onto the Portland dining scene. Very pricy but excellent fine dining experience
20-minute walk or more:
- Escape From New York Pizza, 622 NW 23rd Ave. | Tel: (503) 22-SLICE
Portland’s first by-the-slice pizzeria—translator friendly! On #15 Tri-Met bus and also Portland streetcar. - Voodoo Doughnut, 22 SW 3rd Avenue
Obviously! Note: Voodoo Doughnut hosted a free, weekly Swahili class from 2004 to 2007. - Dante’s, 350 W. Burnside St.
Note: Dante’s hosts the Karaoke From Hell Band, a uniquely Portland live-band karaoke experience, every Monday night. - Roste Chocolate House, 475 NW 14th Ave
A cozy spot for decadent hot chocolate and pastries. About a 30-min walk from the hotel, or accessible by bus. - Blue Star Donuts, 1701 SW Jefferson St
Brioche-dough doughnuts that many Portlanders consider far superior to the hype around the more famous Voodoo Doughnuts. - Cowbell Cheese, 231 SE Alder St
Insider tip: a wholesale fine cheesemonger that opened to the public in 2020, Cowbell sells sandwiches on weekdays starting at noon. They make a set number and offer a meat and a veggie version and, once they sell out, that’s it! But you can also buy incredible cheese and bread there. The Portland Beef & Cheese Company right next door sells great hotdogs and sausages if you need a backup (but no vegetarian options). - Bold Coffee & Books, 1755 SW Jefferson St
- Portland Aerial Tram
- Portland Comedy Theater
Enjoy some belly laughs! 27-35 minutes by foot or with public transit (Red line or Blue line MAX train for part of the route) from the conference hotel. - Portland Art Museum
Small, but always has beautiful exhibitions, and it’s a short, maybe ten-minute walk away from the hotel. - Oregon Historical Society
Enjoy this beautiful museum, where you can learn a lot about Portland and Oregon. - Walking tours of the Shanghai tunnels underneath Portland’s Old Town
- Japanese Garden
A public-transit ride away from the conference hotel. Wear good walking shoes. Lots of trails up and down. - Lan Su Chinese Garden
Intimate garden and tea room, sometimes with live traditional music. Said to be the most authentic Chinese garden outside of China. Peaceful enclave in the midst of downtown Portland. - Mt. Tabor Park
- Canon Beach, Oregon coast
- Astoria
Where the Columbia River meets the Pacific - Multnomah Falls | Columbia Gorge Scenic Hwy | Vista House
Breath-taking scenery, waterfalls, hiking trails
Some options:
– Half day, whole day or 3-hour tours: RESERVATIONS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, they fill up quickly.
Trip Advisor: Includes pick-up, it says. Verify once you know where you’ll be staying.
– Gray Line Tours: (Departs 9 a.m. from the Corner of SW Alder and SW Broadway, Portland, a 15-20 min walk from the conference hotel.)
– Rent a car (warning, the parking lot at Multnomah Falls sometimes is full, which is a bummer)
Directions: Drive via I-84 east for about 45 minutes to Corbett, exit 22. In Corbett, take the Historic (Hwy 30) Columbia River Hwy east for a gorgeous 11-mile winding drive through the Columbia Gorge with dramatic vistas and many waterfalls. There are many small (and free, last I checked) parking areas along the route so you can get out, walk around, take pictures, take a hike. At Multnomah Falls, the most spectacular of the falls, there is a hundred-year-old two-story stone lodge with a restaurant, bar, gift shop, ample restrooms, and snacks; but their parking lot often fills up.