SPOTLIGHT ARTICLE

36 Hours in Seattle

If your exposure to Seattle is limited to postcards and reputation, then you know it for the Space Needle, Mount Rainier, coffee and rain. But today’s Seattle is ever evolving, filled with colorful neighborhoods beyond the museum-studded central districts.

Top Labor Day Travel Trends of 2024

This year’s record-breaking, blockbuster summer travel season comes to a close with many Americans exploring Alaska by cruise. According to AAA booking data, Seattle is the number one Labor Day weekend* destination, up nearly 30% from last year when it also topped the list.

This City Was Just Named the Most Outdoorsy in the U.S. — and It’s Near Both the Mountains and the Ocean

According to a report sponsored by RVshare, a company that facilitates RV rentals, Seattle is the most outdoor-friendly large city in the U.S. followed by Denver and Grand Rapids.

This Annual Festival Shows Why Seattle is a Major Hub for Glass Art

Seattle is often associated with coffee, Grunge and technology, but this city has another solid fixture – glass art. This medium can be seen in Seattle at various art galleries and working studios. Taking place October 17-20, 2024, “Refract: The Seattle Glass Experience” is a weekend of glass art exhibitions, parties with artists and collectors, studio tours and live demonstrations.

Couples Set Record for LGBTQ Vow Renewals in Seattle

LGBTQIA+ couples traveled to Seattle to set a new world record during Pride month, with 56 renewing their vows on May 30, according to recordsetter.com.

Kayak Just Named This ‘Surprising’ U.S. City the Most Popular Destination for Summer Travel

At the top of the popular domestic destination list is Seattle, which Kayak says is “surprising” based on past results. That said, those in the know, are well aware that the cool, notoriously rainy city shines in the summer. Between May and September, the number of rainy days drops significantly, and the temperature hovers around 70 degrees — arguably the ideal summer temperature.

This Popular U.S. City Was Just Named the Best for Outdoor Activities

Seattle boasts one of the best park systems in the country and is surrounded by stunning scenery. A new report on the best places to live for outdoor activities by Niche.com ranked Seattle first in the country and gave the city a perfect grade of A+.

Bakeries, Bars, and Seafood Make Seattle One of the Best US Cities for Food and Drink

A unique bounty of fresh ingredients, from produce to seafood, and a diverse population make Seattle the best city in the United States to eat your heart out.

Meet the Women Behind Visit Seattle’s C-Suite

It’s a well-known fact that the meetings and events industry is dominated by women. Ask any meeting or event planner you know and they’re likely to mention how 80% of the industry is female. What they’re less likely to mention, though, is how drastically that number shifts when looking at C-suite level positions, of which men hold 80%. The number may seem shocking, but when you compare it to what it was in the past, Tammy Blount-Canavan, president and CEO of Visit Seattle, says there’s been an improvement.

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Locally Focused Culinary Experiences in the Pacific Northwest

Even if you’ve never been to Seattle before, you probably know that it’s the home of Starbucks. Coffee roasting is serious business in the Emerald City, and attendees can caffeinate for their meetings at the original Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. Private events and tours at the roastery can also be arranged to learn about the science, art and theater behind all things coffee.

SPOTLIGHT ARTICLE

Our Favorite Places to Eat, Sleep, and Explore in Seattle

Known as the birthplace of grunge, Starbucks, and the beloved Space Needle, Seattle is one of America’s most underrated cities. In a city with as much on offer as Seattle, we’re here to help you narrow things down. The following spots set up the perfect itinerary for your next trip to The Emerald City.

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Winners of BizBash’s 11th Annual Event Experience Awards

Seattle Convention Center is recognized as Best Convention Center in BizBash’s 11th Annual Event Experience Awards.

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8 American Cities That Are Going All Out for Lunar New Year

Seattle’s diverse population has been spurred on by the growth of its Asian population, now accounting for about 18% of the city—and its Lunar New Year activities reflect that with a vibrant line-up all month long.

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9 Black History Museums to Visit Across the United States

The Northwest African American Museum excels at showcasing the often underrepresented Black History of the West Coast. Exhibits and artifacts take visitors through the history of Seattle, starting with the first African-American settlers.

SPOTLIGHT ARTICLE

The Most Walkable Cities in the US, Ranked

There’s no better way to get to know a city than by ambling down winding roads and cobblestone streets, popping into restaurants and art galleries along the way.

Smart Growth America has put together an authoritative ranking of the most walkable cities in the US as part of its 2023 Foot Traffic Ahead Report. The study identifies what percent of the 35 largest US metropolitan regions are considered walkable, and ranks the regions accordingly with Seattle landing in the top five.

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How Top U.S. Convention Centers Stack Up on Sustainability

LEED certification is governed by the U.S. Green Building Council, which offers four tiers of certification that address how efficiently a structure addresses carbon emissions, energy and water usage, waste management, transportation, materials, health, and indoor environmental quality.

Only two of the 30 largest U.S. convention centers currently hold the highest level of LEED certification. One is Seattle Convention Center’s Summit building.

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Seattle Convention Center’s Summit Building Awarded Prestigious LEED Platinum Sustainability Certification

Summit becomes one of the very few convention centers in North America to achieve this designation.

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The 25 Best Places to Travel in 2024

Seattle included in prestigious ‘Where to Go’ list by renowned travel brand AFAR. Recognizing the Emerald City as one of the world’s top destinations for 2024 travel.

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Seattle’s Summit and One-of-a-Kind Vibe Have the Emerald City Soaring

The addition of the Summit building to the Seattle Convention Center (SCC) is one of those game-changing developments that catapults a destination into a rarefied upper range of citywide clients, and the Emerald City was keen to show off it and other meetings and events options to Meetings Today as well as a group from streamlinevents, a San Francisco Bay Area-based experiential events agency.

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Winners of the 2023 Meetings Today Best Of Awards

Visit Seattle and the Seattle Convention Center have both been recognized by Meetings Today as winners of the 2023 Best Of Awards. Recognizing Visit Seattle as one of the Best West CVBs/DMOs and the Seattle Convention Center as one of the Best Convention Centers.

Read the full list of winners here.

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In Seattle, Sports is Part of City’s Culture

In an area that hosted multiple major events throughout this year and with more to come in the months and years ahead, a recent trip to the Pacific Northwest through Visit Seattle showcased the variety of sports the region offers at every level.

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The Best Times to Visit Seattle, According to Locals

Flying fish in Pike Place Market, whale watching in the Puget Sound, and a diverse art scene are just a few reasons that travelers flock to Seattle. The city is an outdoor lover’s paradise packed with plenty of culture thanks to excellent restaurants and world-class museums.

There are reasons to visit in all four seasons: hiking in the summer, leaf-peeping in the fall, snow sports in the winter, and ambling around downtown in the spring. The best time to visit Seattle really depends on your travel goals, but these are the main tourist seasons:

• High Season: May to August
• Shoulder Seasons: September to October and March to April
• Low Season: November to February

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The Best Convention Centers in the U.S.

In a Wall Street Journal ranking of 30 centers, the Seattle Convention Centers ranked among the top 10 best convention centers in the United States. With an overall score of 49.07, and an overall rank of 9th.

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Refract: Seattle’s Vibrant Glass Experience Returns For 5th Anniversary Celebration

Prepare for an enthralling blend of vibrant hues, warmth, illumination, and enthusiasm as Refract: The Seattle Glass Experience comes back to Seattle from October 12 to 15, 2023.

Marking its fifth year, this eagerly awaited occasion presents an impressive lineup of fresh exhibitions, extravagant galas, exclusive studio tours, live showcases, and a chance to connect with a diverse group of emerging local glass artists.

Together, they exemplify Seattle’s reputation as the United States’ foremost center for glass art.

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Food & Wine names Seattle chef among 11 best new chefs in America

The food publication named Chef Aisha Ibrahim of Seattle Canlis restaurant among the 11 best new chefs in America. Ibrahim became the seventh executive chef in the restaurant’s 73-year history. She is the first woman to hold the position.

Ibrahim is also the second local Filipino chef to make this prestigious list, following Melissa Miranda of Seattle’s Musang, who made Food & Wine’s class of 2022.

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Americans rate Seattle one of safest cities in Gallup poll

Americans think Seattle is one of the country’s safer big cities, according to a new Gallup poll.

In the poll, which surveyed approximately 500 people about their perceptions of safety in metropolitan areas, Seattle ranked in the top three major U.S. cities.