Happenings - Seattle Area

• The new Hyatt at Olive 8 (206.695.1234; www.olive8.hyatt.com) opened in downtown Seattle in January of last year. The $175 million project includes 346 guest rooms, 231 condominiums and 11,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space. The property, located one block from the Grand Hyatt Hotel, earned Silver LEED certification.
• Four Seasons Hotel Seattle (206.749.7000; www.fourseasons.com/seattle) recently opened in downtown Seattle. With 134 guest rooms and 13 suites, as well as 7,500 square feet of meeting space, the luxury property also offers an outdoor pool overlooking Elliott Bay.
• The independent Maxwell Hotel (206.286.0629; www.themaxwellhotel.com) opened near Seattle Center in March. The hotel features 140 guest rooms, 1,600 square feet of meeting space, an indoor pool and a gym.
• In July, the Washington State Convention Center will open The Conference Center (206.694.5000; www.wscc.com), a new high-end meeting facility. Adjacent to the existing convention center, the new center will feature 71,000 square feet of high-end configurable space and connect to the convention center’s existing 205,000 square feet.
• Sound Transit’s Link (www.soundtransit.org) light rail line opened in late 2009, connecting Sea-Tac International Airport with downtown Seattle.

• The Hyatt Regency Bellevue (425.462.1234; www.bellevue.hyatt.com) finished a major expansion in July 2009, adding a second tower with 43,000 square feet of additional meeting space and 351 new guest rooms. In total, the hotel offers now 733 guest rooms and 60,000 square feet of meeting space.
• In July 2009, the Meydenbauer Center opened its new Executive Conference Center, (425.637.1020; www.meydenbauer.com), featuring 2,500 square feet of private conference space in three meeting rooms.

• The Emerald Queen Casino & Hotel (253.922.2000; www.emeraldqueen.com) recently opened three new meeting spaces: a 3,000-square-foot ballroom, a 1,400-square-foot foyer and two breakout rooms.
• The Tacoma Dome (253.272.3663; www.tacomadome.org) completed renovations of The Overlook, a two-level VIP club with available catering and views over the showroom floor.

• The SouthCenter-Seattle Courtyard by Marriott Hotel (206.575.2500; www.southcentercourtyard.com) recently underwent a $1 million renovation, including a high-tech interactive information board in the lobby and a communal space redesign.

Snohomish County

• A Hilton Garden Inn (425.486.0400; www.hiltongardeninn.com) is slated to open in September in the town of Bothell. It will offer 128 guest rooms and 3,500 square feet of meeting space.