If the U.S. is considered a crown made up of the many gem-like destinations planners have to choose from for their next meeting, Seattle, known as the "Emerald City," is quite literally perched and shining atop that crown in all its rain-kissed green glory.
The northernmost major metropolitan area in the continental U.S. has maintained a particular luster for groups and tourists traveling internationally to experience firsthand the land of Starbucks, Kurt Cobain, the Space Needle and Mount Rainier, among many other tastes, sounds and both manmade and naturally wonderful sights.
Major selling points among the area’s standout meetings players—namely Seattle, Bellevue, Tacoma, Seattle Southside and Snohomish County—are affordability even during tough economic times, easy accessibility via Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, plenty of outdoorsy pursuits, from golf to kayaking, and cosmopolitan bells and whistles, including meetings-friendly venues, cultural offerings and fine dining.
So when the Pacific Northwest comes up as an option for your next group gathering, consider the Seattle area and rest assured attendance will be as gleaming as the Emerald City herself.
Seattle
Seattle, meeting delegates will find, is two cities in one, according to Tom Norwalk, president and CEO of Seattle’s CVB.
"The city is a world-class metropolis set within wild, beautiful, natural surroundings, offering the best of urban lifestyle surrounded by pristine natural beauty and abundant outdoor recreation," he says, adding that Seattle is a good fit for midsize meetings and conventions seeking big-city sophistication, including more than 7,000 hotel guest rooms within walking distance of the Washington State Convention Center and a great variety of entertainment and shopping opportunities.
Situated blocks from the Washington State Convention Center, which in 2010 added a 71,000-square-foot conference center to its portfolio of meeting space, are Grand Hyatt, Westin and Hilton properties, among other meetings-friendly options.
After the meeting, Norwalk says, Seattle highlights the arts via 25 professional theater companies, 16 museums, 200 art galleries and a major symphony, ballet and opera.
"For a sneak peak at Broadway musicals before they appear on Broadway, consider Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre," he says, adding that groups might also like a visit to the Seattle Art Museum, which presents special exhibits of international significance, and Experience Music Project|Science Fiction Museum, an interactive venue gearing up to unveil Avatar: The Exhibition, running from June 4 through Sept. 3.
The outdoors plays as big a role in Seattle as staged productions and other artistic offerings.
"Seattle is the gateway to the Pacific Northwest, surrounded by the saltwater Puget Sound and freshwater lakes, two mountain ranges and three national parks," Norwalk says.
Its surrounding natural splendor is meant to be explored, and groups might enjoy doing just that via a hiking, kayaking or simple sightseeing excursion.
EverGreen Escapes, a local outdoor adventure company, is now offering private team-building retreats throughout the region for corporate groups. Customized programs include scavenger hunts, rock climbing and wine tasting.
Bellevue
Bellevue’s proximity to Seattle, Sea-Tac International Airport and other major transportation hubs makes it an ideal meeting destination, according to Brenda Dotson, director of convention sales at Bellevue Washington Conventions.
"Bellevue is a great starting point to stay and see the attractions of the Pacific Northwest," she says, adding that the city stands on its own as a metropolitan hot spot, with hotels, dining and shopping in its downtown core.
Bellevue’s meetings portfolio features the Meydenbauer Center, suitable for 30 to 3,000 people with 54,000 square feet of meeting space, and group-friendly hotels including the Hyatt Regency Bellevue and the Hilton Bellevue.
"Bellevue hotel room rates are discounted 40 percent to 50 percent on weekends so convention groups with a weekend pattern can take advantage of an amazing group rate," Dotson says.
The scenic allure of the area is its major attraction, Dotson adds, explaining that visiting groups often get outdoors for hiking, boating, skiing or wandering around area parks, including Bellevue Downtown Park, Bellevue Botanical Garden and the Mercer Slough Nature Park.
Off-site excursions to Washington Wine Country in nearby Woodinville, with more than 70 wineries and tasting rooms including Chateau Ste. Michelle and Columbia wineries, have become increasingly popular with groups.
"Large groups can tour, taste and plan private winery events," Dotson says.
Seattle Southside/SeaTac
Seattle Southside, which enjoys the convenience of Sea-Tac International Airport and close proximity to both Tacoma and Seattle, encompasses Tukwila, SeaTac, Kent and Des Moines. In total, the area boasts more than 9,000 hotel rooms and more than 30 traditional and nontraditional meeting spaces, and is therefore perfect for small to midsize meetings and conferences, according to Katherine Kertzman, executive director for Seattle Southside Visitor Services.
Holding meetings just south of Seattle can save a meeting planner up to 30 percent versus convening in downtown Seattle, Kertzman adds.
"Added value is very important in Seattle Southside," she says, explaining that Seattle Southside Visitor Services acts as a concierge to meeting planners. "And many of our hotels provide complimentary parking, airport shuttle and breakfast for their guests."
Group-ready venues in the area include the ShoWare Center, Hilton Seattle Airport Hotel & Conference Center, Seattle Airport Marriott and Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Seattle Airport.
"Seattle Southside is on the Puget Sound, making it easy to take a sunset cruise or travel a few miles so your group can have an outdoor hiking excursion in the mountains," Kertzman says.
Golf at nearby courses is another tried and true way to get the group networking outside. Among other favorite off-session outings are team-building activities at Starfire Sports, which houses the practice field for the Seattle Sounders soccer team, and cooking classes at the Albert Lee Culinary Events Center.
Tacoma
Groups really appreciate the convenience of Tacoma, both in terms of access to the airport (it’s situated 18 miles south of the Sea-Tac International Airport) and the proximity of meeting facilities and hotels to area attractions, shopping and dining, according to Shauna Lunde, director of sales and marketing at the Tacoma Regional CVB.
"Once in Tacoma, delegates can easily get around town on foot," she says, explaining the Museum District in downtown Tacoma is a big draw for groups due to its proximity to the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center and hotels. "The Museum of Glass, Tacoma Art Museum and Washington State History Museum are connected in a pedestrian-friendly triangle by the Chihuly Bridge of Glass and offer visitors diverse and unique cultural experiences."
Lunde adds that Tacoma’s glass art theme, inspired by world-renowned glass artist and Tacoma native Dale Chihuly, is at the top of its list of attributes.
"Tacoma has really embraced glass art as its identity with beautiful masterpieces proudly displayed throughout public spaces, hotels, museums, restaurants and retail shops," she says, explaining that glass art tours that include the Museum of Glass, the Chihuly Bridge of Glass and the Tacoma Glass Blowing Studio provide a great way to experience the city’s glass art culture.
The Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center’s trademark contiguous glass walls provide delegates with water and mountain views, and its new Commerce Room, with more than 1,800 square feet of space, sports views of Mt. Rainier and downtown Seattle.
Located directly adjacent to the facility are the Hotel Murano and Courtyard by Marriott. The Showplex Pavilion at the Puyallup Fair and Events Center, McGavick Student Center and Conference Center in Lakewood and Tacoma’s Landmark Catering and Convention Center are available to accommodate larger groups, Lunde adds.
In other Tacoma news, the brand-new Gondola at Crystal Mountain on Mount Rainier opened in January 2011. It ascends more than 2,500 feet for wonderful views and year-round outdoor fun.
"We encourage visitors to dine at Washington’s highest restaurant, the Summit House Restaurant perched at 6,872 feet, to enjoy mountain views and local flavors," Lunde says, adding that other outdoor pursuits in the area include sightseeing and hiking at Mt. Rainier, snowboarding and skiing, and a round of golf at Chambers Bay Golf Course, home of the 2015 U.S. Open.
Snohomish County
Snohomish County begins just 12 miles north of downtown Seattle and offers the advantage of hotel rates approximately 40 percent less than the big city, plus free parking at all properties, says Heather Carter, group sales manager at the Snohomish County Tourism Bureau.
Ideal for groups of 100 to 350 people, the county’s meeting facilities include various full-service hotels, such as the AAA Four Diamond Tulalip Resort Casino & Spa, with 370 guest rooms and 30,000 square feet of meeting space; Holiday Inn Downtown Everett; and Lynnwood’s Embassy Suites Hotel. Additional facilities include the Edward D. Hansen Conference Center at the Comcast Arena in Everett, the Lynnwood Convention Center and the Everett-based Schack Art Center, a 19,000-square-foot visual arts center that is opening this spring.
Off-session fun is plentiful in Snohomish County, where popular options for groups include visits to Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour, shows at the Everett Performing Arts Center and outdoorsy pursuits including whale watching, hot air ballooning and golf.
Carolyn Blackburn is a frequent contributor to Meetings Focus West.
