DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Portland
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hospitality |
| Predecessor | Sheraton-Portland Hotel, Red Lion Inn/Lloyd Center |
| Founded | September 28, 1959 in Portland, Oregon, United States |
| Headquarters | Portland , United States |
| Products | Hotel accommodation, conference center, dining |
| Parent | Hilton Hotels & Resorts |
| Website | www |
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Portland is situated in the Lloyd District of Portland, Oregon, United States. Originally inaugurated as the Sheraton-Portland Hotel in 1959, it was later renamed the Red Lion Inn/Lloyd Center in 1980.
This establishment played a pivotal role in the growth of Portland's eastside. After undergoing expansion during the 1980s, it briefly held the title of Oregon's largest hotel.
Description
As of 2020, this hotel is counted among the five largest accommodations in Portland, featuring a total of 477 guest rooms. The facility comprises dining options, an enclosed parking structure, and a conference center. The building rises fifteen stories and is equipped with several glass elevators. Its outdoor swimming pool, which is uncommon among Portland hotels, can host approximately 20 to 30 guests at a time.
History
The hotel first opened on September 28, 1959, as the Sheraton-Portland Hotel, with ownership by the Lloyd Corporation and management by Sheraton Hotels. It was the first new hotel to open in Portland since 1928. In 1963, it was renamed the Sheraton Motor Inn. In June 1980, Thunderbird–Red Lion Inns acquired the property and rebranded it as the Red Lion Inn/Lloyd Center on August 1 that year, named after the nearby Lloyd Center shopping mall. Initially constructed with nine floors and 276 rooms, a significant expansion added a 15-story tower by 1982, raising its capacity to 520 rooms and making it the largest hotel in Oregon at that time.
By 1989, with a room count of 476, it remained Oregon’s second-largest hotel following the Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront. In September 1996, Red Lion Hotels agreed to be bought by Phoenix-based Doubletree Corp., completing the acquisition in November and renaming the property Doubletree Hotel Portland. Plans for a new 300-room tower intended to serve as a headquarters hotel for the Oregon Convention Center were announced in 1998 but never realized. By late 2010 and into 2011, all Doubletree-branded hotels transitioned to the "DoubleTree by Hilton" identity.
In late 2014, a homicide took place on-site, prompting legal action against both Hilton and the hotel's ownership. A $10 million lawsuit filed in 2019 alleged racial profiling during a guest’s stay in 2018; following this incident, the hotel issued an apology and dismissed two employees involved. Hilton Hotels & Resorts reiterated its commitment to a strict "zero tolerance for racism" policy in response.
Reception
Lizzy Acker included this hotel among The Oregonian’s top outdoor pools in Portland in her 2016 roundup. The following year, Grant Butler of the same publication featured the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in his list of "38 landmark Portland hotels that offer a window into Rose City's history, growth." He highlighted that this recently updated property originally opened as the Sheraton-Portland in 1959 with an investment of $6 million and approximately 300 rooms, playing an influential role in eastside development. Its position opposite Lloyd Center helped draw shoppers to one of America’s earliest outdoor malls.
Fodor's characterizes the hotel as a lively business hub with consistent demand for meetings and events and offers amenities tailored to corporate travelers. The spacious rooms—many equipped with balconies—are well maintained; upper floors provide views of both cityscape and mountains on clear days. Deanna deBara from Fodor’s awarded the hotel four out of five stars. Additionally, a guide from Moon Publications emphasized its prime location within the Lloyd District and noted its roomy, comfortable accommodations alongside its signature warm chocolate chip cookies served at check-in.
External links
- DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Portland on Hilton.com
- DoubleTree by Hilton–Portland featured on Fodor's
- Doubletree by Hilton Portland listed at Travel Weekly