Seattle A transformed convention center, inspiring new venues
Perfect fit Meeting planners can research potential venues just by visiting Seattle’s Convention and Visitors Bureau’s website, visitseattle.org. Users can browse listings by category, including convention facilities, meeting spaces, large-group venues, restaurants and private dining, and more.
Light bright Chihuly Garden and Glass is one of Seattle’s newest attractions and event venues. The museum has the most comprehensive collection of Chihuly artwork in the city, and its multiple areas — including the exhibition hall, lush gardens, and Glasshouse — can accommodate events of up to 2,000 guests.
A combination of natural wonders, popular attractions, and modern facilities is the key to why meetings in Seattle are such remark- able, successful experiences. Nowhere is this more evident than the expansive Washing- ton State Convention Center (WSCC), where visitors will feel an immediate connection to the beauty of the Pacific Northwest inside its light-filled, eco-friendly spaces. Directly con- nected to the WSCC, the LEED Silver–certified Conference Center offers 71,000 square feet of flexible space in addition to the conven- tion center’s 343,722 square feet of space. The complex is located in the heart of Seattle, and some of the city’s biggest attractions, hotels, restaurants, theaters, museums, and shops are just a few steps away. Currently undergo- ing a $20-million transformation, the WSCC will debut a whole new look along with addi-
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tional eco-conscious enhancements by 2013. From budget-friendly to luxurious, Seattle
has event spaces to fit every budget, size, theme, and interest. Whether it’s a restau- rant serving local seafood and wine from area vineyards to a larger venue unique to the Northwest, Seattle is full of flexible spaces that will keep groups entertained. Popular Seattle-specific venues such as Chihuly Garden and Glass, the Space Needle, and Safeco Field (home to the Seattle Mariners) are always a sure-fire hit. And CenturyLink Field, the Seattle Art Museum, Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle Aquarium, Downtown Seattle Waterfront, and more than 90 wineries in the Woodinville Wine Country will give attendees a memorable experience in the heart of the destination. Meeting planners love the flexibility of
Seattle’s Museum of Flight, where planners can hold banquets and receptions under sus- pended aircrafts while guests explore historic fighter jets and ride in aviation flight simula- tors. Another lively Seattle venue, the EMP Museum, pays homage to contemporary popular culture in a 140,000-square-foot, Frank Gehry–designed building. The muse- um also highlights Seattle as the birthplace of jazz, blues, and folk, with a vast collection of music memorabilia, hands-on exhibits, and a live performance stage where groups can even play out their ultimate rock-star fantasy.