Carved into the hills and nestled along the Puget Sound, Seattle — called The Emerald City for its year-round greenery — is the ideal mix of the great outdoors and bustling city life. The city’s culture is made up of a rich tapestry of heritages, including Native American, African American, Latino, and Nordic, which are celebrated in its museums, parades, and festivals. All who come here — whether to put down roots or stop by for a visit — are welcome.
There are many sides to Seattle for business event goers, from experiencing the state-of-the-art Washington State Convention Center (WSCC), to exploring the Museum of Pop Culture — or checking out the Waterfront neighborhood’s Seattle Great Wheel, a 300-person-capacity Ferris wheel that stands at 197 feet tall, making it the largest observation deck on the West Coast.
Rudy Willingham
SoDo
The SoDo (south of downtown) neighborhood is a hot spot with easy access; it’s located 10 minutes from downtown and within a short distance of many hotels, including Silver Cloud Hotel — Seattle Stadium and Embassy Suites Seattle Downtown. SoDo, also accessible by light rail, scores big with its event venue options. Showbox SoDo, a warehouse that has been converted into a concert venue, is available for event rentals. A former copper and steel plant, The Foundry is a chic space ideal for up to 550 for a reception. SoDo UrbanWorks houses 10 urban wineries for groups to enjoy an evening of mingling.
LMN Architects
Summit Building at WSCC
Opening in January 2023, an additional facility, known as “Summit,” will sit just a block-and-a-half away from the existing facility Arch, and feature architectural design details borrowed from local geography. The $1.7-billion project broke ground in mid 2019 and once complete, will add up to 248,450 square feet of exhibition space – and attract more than 400,000 new delegates per year – to the city.
Nick Hall Photography
Space Needle
Fresh off a $100-million renova-tion and part of the 74-acre Seattle Center, a greenspace oasis and hub for 30-plus cultural, educational, sports, and entertainment groups, the iconic Space Needle can be rented out via Space Needle Private Events — along with Chihuly Garden and Glass and Museum of Pop Culture, all steps apart — for a block-party experience for up to 1,500 people.
Taste Washington
Food and wine lovers rejoice — Taste Washington, a festival that includes samples from more than 235 wineries, 65 restaurants, and some of the country’s most talented chefs, takes place over a four-day event that is specially curated to highlight the best the state has to offer in gastronomy and wine.
Courtesy Waterfront Seattle
Seattle Waterfront
Overlooking the picturesque Elliot Bay, the Seattle Waterfront is known for world-class dining and stunning views via the Seattle Great Wheel. The area will become an even hotter destination in 2022 with the addition of the Overlook Walk – a path with 20 acres of parks and a two-way bike path that will allow guests access from Pike Place Market to the waterfront.
Courtesy Hyatt Regency Seattle
Hyatt Regency Seattle
Opened last December, Haytt Regency Seattle adds 1,260 rooms to downtown and is steps away from WSCC and Pike Place Market – home of the original Starbucks, renowned fish markets, and 225 local and regional crafters in the 40-year-old crafts market. This largest hotel north of San Francisco has 103,000 square feet of meeting space – 46 meeting rooms and two, 19,000-plus-square-footballrooms.
Courtesy SEA Airport
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
The fastest-growing U.S. airport – a hub for Delta Airlines and Alaska Airlines, and just 20 minutes via car or 30 minutes via Light Rail to downtown – SEA Airport is undergoing a nearly $17-million central terminal reno. These updates will include ADA accessibility improvements, 10,000 square feet of dining and seating space, and a new, International Arrivals Facility that will double its gate capacity.
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