It’s a DIFFERENT world, where everyone drinks espresso, grows giant dahlias, and lives one hour from a dead VOLCANO and three hours from a live one. It’s a world center for caffeine, art GLASS, and high TECH; it’s a place where the term “QUALITY of life” is practically a mantra. Never short on things to do, Seattle has discovered new vitality in its booming cruise business, while Tacoma has finally shed the “aroma” of its former wood-pulping industry to emerge as a BOUTIQUE destination with a brand-new, 227,000-square-foot convention center and a surefire pillow gift—its home-grown creation, Almond Roca. SWEET.
THE BIG NEWS
The elegant, steel-and-glass, 277,000-sf Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center opened last November, replacing the former 33,561-sf Tacoma Convention Center (adjacent to the 319-room Sheraton Tacoma). The new center is built five levels high into the city's steep slope with a great view of Mount Rainier. Its facilities include a 51,000-sf exhibit hall, a 14,000-sf ballroom, and an 11,000-sf meeting room. With the center’s opening, Tacoma’s citywides grew from six last year to 10 in 2005.
Meanwhile, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport opens its central terminal expansion this year as part of a $2.4-billion upgrade that includes the construction of a
third runway, enhanced transportation system, new terminals, enhanced security, updated retail, new concession areas, and additional curbside baggage check-in locations. The new terminal will include a
glassed-in courtyard with panoramic views of airport operations and the Olympic Mountains. The Port of Seattle expects the upgrade to be completed in 2010.
FACILITIES NEWS
SEATTLE
The Washington State Convention & Trade Center debuted a new, on-site Tasting Room this Feb—the first demonstration kitchen specifically designed for a convention center’s meeting planner clients. The Tasting Room can seat up to 12, showcasing the center’s menu, service, and comprehensive wine list.
Last year, the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) broke ground on a 300,000-sf expansion to its downtown branch, for a total of 450,000 sf upon completion in 2007. This year, SAM will break ground on downtown’s 8.5-acre, $60-million Olympic Sculpture Park. When completed in 2006, the park will also contain a glass-and-steel pavilion for special events and public programs and an out-door amphitheater that provides a unique setting for outdoor movies and perform-ances.
--Last June, the Museum of Flight opened its 85,000-sf Personal Courage Wing on the 60th anniversary of D-Day. The Personal Courage Wing features two major galleries with interactive technologies and vintage aircraft from World Wars I and II.
--The 119-room boutique Hotel Andra opened in Belltown last year with 4,000 sf of meeting and banquet space, wireless Internet, fitness facilities, and a business center. Room service and catering are provided by chef Tom Douglas’ restaurant, Lola, which is located on site.
--Starting this month, Gray Line of Seattle will offer narrated motorcoach tours to the visitors’ centers that surround the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument this spring and summer. The 11-hour, round-trip tour departs from the Sheraton Seattle Hotel & Towers, Fri-Sat through Sept. 17.
--The historic 90-unit Alderbrook Resort reopened last year, following a complete renovation.
TACOMA
A 160-room Courtyard by Marriott is scheduled to open this spring, across the street from the new convention center.
PIERCE COUNTY
The Puyallup Fair & Events Center will debut a major renovation of Hobby Hall and the construction of a large, new, adjoining Exhibition &
Conference Center in August 2005. The exhibition building will feature 122,000 sf of multifunction space on a single level.
GROUPS SHOULD CONSIDER these recommendations from the Successful Meetings Home Team experts. Top choices include the 425-room Grand Hyatt Seattle, the 237-room Hilton, the 840-room
Sheraton Seattle & Towers, and the 891-room Westin Seattle.
GROUP DINING - The following restaurants were selected from the Zagat Survey (www.zagat.com) of the Seattle-Tacoma area:
Cafe Juanita (Italian); Dahlia Lounge and Kaspar’s (regional); Metropolitan Grill (steakhouse); Wild Ginger (Pacific Rim); Oyster Bar, Flying Fish, and Dash Point Lobster Shop (seafood); Szmania's (German); and
Palace Kitchen (American).
READERS RECOMMEND
Our subscribers gave Pinnacle
Awards to the following:
Seattle’s CVB
Bell Harbor International
Conference Center
ESSENTIAL TOOLBOX:
Convention Facilities:
SEATTLE
Washington State Convention & Trade
Center, 305,700 sf of dedicated exhibit
space; 60 meeting rooms, largest holds
8,800 theater-style.
TACOMA
Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center,
227,000 sf of total space, 25,000 sf of
meeting space.
Hotel Rooms:
SEATTLE: 31,000
TACOMA/PIERCE COUNTY: 4,900
Rooms Close to the Center:
SEATTLE 6,000
TACOMA/PIERCE
COUNTY 465
Average Daily Business Travel Costs:
SEATTLE Hotel $160.36 F&B $72.08
Car Rental $105.54
For More Info:
Seattle’s CVB
www.seeseattle.org
Tacoma Regional CVB
www.traveltacoma.com
*Business Travel News 2005 Corporate Travel Index
Contributors to this section include Home Team
members Rhonda Daniel-Foss; Joan L. Eisenstodt; Shannon Kiley; Lisa J. Mikita, CMP,
CAE; and Sharon Pegau.