Prevue May-June 2017 - 12

bureaubuzz

Hello Seattle
A major revitalization caters to all types of meetings and attendees

T

ech companies such as Microsoft
and Apple already call the Seattle
area home, but a couple of new kids
on the block-Google and Facebook-
reflect a deeper renaissance that is stirring
up the city.
Seattle welcomed 100 new restaurant
openings last year and 3,000 new hotel
rooms are slated to open by 2020,
including brands such as SLS and Hyatt.
Seattle's nature-in-its-backyard location,
with Puget Sound and the Olympic and
Cascade Mountains in the distance, also
promise attendees a view or group activity
worth the trek.
"Seattle's civic renaissance features
some $20 billion in infrastructure investment
in the coming decade," says Rob Hampton,
senior VP of convention sales and services
for Visit Seattle. "That includes new light
rail lines throughout the region and a master
development plan for Seattle-Tacoma
International Airport that will add 35 new
gates, a new international arrivals facility
and more."

The Upscale Era
Debuting this July, the 189-room SLS Hotel
Seattle will take up 15 stories in the new,
43-story Mark tower and offer the complete
upscale meeting experience, including a
Ciel Spa, pool, 16th-floor cocktail lounge
and restaurant, and more than 21,000 sf of
meeting space. The reimagined 151-room
Hotel Theodore will also set up shop later
this summer in the landmark 1929 building,
currently operating as the Roosevelt Hotel.
The hotel will showcase a collection of
works that honor Seattle's pioneering spirit,
and offer 2,415 sf of meeting space to boot.
Next year will also see major
developments when the 1,260-guest
room Hyatt Regency Seattle opens as

Picture caption

The Nest at the Thompson Seattle (photo credit: Nic Lehoux)

Seattle's largest hotel. The 45-story property
will offer more than 100,000 sf of flexible
meeting and ballroom space and serve as a
signature hotel for the Washington State
Convention Center expansion, which is
projected to start construction later this
year. Current plans have the expansion at
250,000 sf of exhibition space, 120,000 sf
of meeting rooms and a 60,000-sf ballroom.
The luxury 158-room Thompson
Seattle opened last year, featuring hip
spaces where groups can meet, including
The Nest rooftop cocktail lounge.
Indigenous foods-shellfish from Puget
Sound and wild mushrooms foraged from
the Cascade Mountains-make up the
menu, and the Chef's Table takes groups on
a round-trip culinary exploration with 15 to
17 locally inspired courses.

Creative Venues
The first expansion to the city's famous
Pike Place Market in 40 years will hit the
city this June with the much-anticipated
$74 million Pike Place MarketFront. The

"Seattle's civic renaissance features some $20 billion
in infrastructure investment in the coming decade."
12 | prevuemeetings.com

market will restore the site for the public
with a dynamic public plaza and viewing
deck, as well as 47 rooftop day stalls with
local goods that attendees can peruse.
Hampton says Seattle's central waterfront
is also on the brink of a "comprehensive
renovation that will enhance public spaces,
parks and attractions."
Meanwhile, Seattle's classic attractions
are still a lure for meetings groups, and
Visit Seattle often orchestrates "The
Ultimate Block Party" to get things going.
The Space Needle, Museum of Pop
Culture, and Chihuly Garden and Glass
recently partnered to offer meeting planners
the all-encompassing experience that
introduces attendees to all three venues
simultaneously. "The Space Needle even
collaborated with Panogs, a leading virtual
reality technology provider, so planners
can virtually experience what is possible
with their block party before it takes place,"
Hampton says.
Other local experiences include
flightseeing by float plane out of Lake Union,
urban kayaking, and, if driving isn't an issue,
close proximity to three national parks.
-Jessie Fetterling
visitseattle.org
http://www.visitseattle.org http://www.prevuemeetings.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Prevue May-June 2017
