Seattle, WA

Key Highlights

Hotels	432
Total Sleeping Rooms	53,715
Committable Meeting Rooms*	72
Largest Exhibit Space	205,700 Sq. Ft.
Largest Ballroom	44,628 Sq. Ft.
Average Hotel Room Rate	USD $137
Average Daily Meal Cost	USD $71
Average Weekly Car Rental	USD $286
*Maximum for a single hotel

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Seattle, WA Meeting Planning Overview

Cvent’s Seattle meeting planning guide is an extensive city guide for Seattle meeting planners. If you're looking into Seattle meeting planning, do not be deterred by Seattle's gray, overcast skies; this trendy city provides a hip, urban environment with plenty of outdoor style and exhilarating activities for visitors of all ages. Meeting and event attendees will enjoy exploring the city's museums and galleries free of charge on the First Thursday art walk; sip on a cup of Seattle's famous brew from one of the city's quaint coffee shops; head to the surrounding mountains and whitewaters to connect with the great outdoors; or, spend the afternoon sightseeing, shopping, and sampling delicious cuisine along the streets of the metropolitan city's diverse neighborhoods.

The Washington State Convention & Trade Center, the city's state-of-the-art convention center, is conveniently located in the heart downtown within walking distance to many of Seattle's hottest attractions, finest restaurants and best shopping areas. The Convention and Trade Center has over 305,000 square feet of meeting space with an abundance of parking, business services, and eateries on-site. This is the site if your Seattle event planning needs require space for an exceptionally large amount of people.

Looking for unique Seattle event venues for your next big meeting, convention or show? Seattle's Bell Harbor International Conference Center is the perfect place with over 100,000 square feet of waterfront conference, meeting and special event space. Here, visitors will enjoy breathtaking views of the Olympic Mountains and Mt. Rainier, as well as the Seattle cityscape from the Conference Center's 300-seat Bay Auditorium and Rooftop Plaza.

Does your Seattle meeting planning require large hotel room blocks? Choose from over 500 hotels boasting over 13,500 hotel rooms or dine in one of the city's 8,500 restaurants. Need to get around? Seattle contains a vast network of bus routes and two commuter rail routes that connect to the many neighboring suburbs. From thrilling outdoor adventure and lovely scenery to delightful coffee shops, exquisite restaurants, and state-of-the-art facilities, Seattle provides all of the necessary elements to ensure the success of your next meeting or event.

Seattle, WA Area Destinations

Tacoma, WA

About Seattle, WA / Additional Info

Situated in the beautiful Pacific Northwest between the Olympic Mountains to the west and the Cascade Mountains to the east, Seattle is a city defined by brilliant landscapes. In 2011, more than 10 million visitors traveled to this Pacific Northwest city to enjoy the tranquility of its shimmering rivers, glassy lakes, magnificent canals and steep green hills. Dubbed as the Emerald City, this half-million person metropolis is only 96-miles from the U.S.-Canadian border and rests on Puget Sound's eastern shore.

Although many think of Seattle as a sleepy Northwestern city, it is in fact a city that is teeming with culture and innovative businesses. Seattle serves as the headquarters for some of the biggest corporations in the U.S. including Amazon.com, Microsoft and Starbucks. Seattle is also home to several convention centers, fantastic theaters, inspiring art museums, numerous music festivals, and many historical sites.

From the creation of jet plane engines to personal computers and from a revolutionary coffee conglomerate to the unique sound of Grunge rock, Seattle has it all. Enjoy America's favorite pastime at Safeco Park; take in the serenity of the Pacific Northwest on a walk through the Olympic evergreen forests; or enjoy Orca watching in the Puget Sound; and, remember no Seattle experience is complete without a visit to the Space Needle.

Visitors should also be sure to partake in the annual festivities that make the city come alive. Enjoy a wide variety of culinary magic at the "Bite of Seattle" or participate in the second largest music and arts festival in the country at "Bumbershoot." Don't forget to take advantage of the many museums found throughout the city such as the Pacific Science Center or the Seattle Asian Art Museum. Be bold by venturing out into the countryside and don't miss out on the 35 wineries that reside just outside the city.

Become an active tourist today and scope out the Seattle's many hot spots. Start at Pike Place Fish Market and work your way towards Gas Works Park, where you'll find one of the best views the city has to offer. Enjoy the wide array of restaurants and night life that can be found throughout Seattle's unique neighborhoods and learn what it means to be "sleepless in Seattle."

Seattle, WA Key Stats for Meeting Planners

Time Zone: Pacific Time (PT)
Convention Center(s):

Hotel at Convention Center? Yes
Sleeping Rooms 1 Mile from Convention Center: 8,404

Airport(s):

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

Destination Type(s):

Beach Destination
Golf Destination
Mountain / Skiing Destination
Smoke-free Restaurants

Special Event Venues
364
Population
3,439,809
Restaurants
858
Country Code
1
Sales Tax
9.00%
Currency
U.S. Dollar
Standard Tipping Practice
10-20%
Electricity
120V / 60Hz
Official Languages
English

Credit Cards and Travelers Cheques widely accepted? Yes

All average costs based on U.S. Government Per Diem rates as published by the U.S. General Services Administration.

Seattle, WA Area Destinations

	Population	Meeting Hotels	Hotel Rooms	Special Event Venues
Tacoma, WA	200,000	13	2,010	25

Cities Near Seattle, WA

	Distance	Estimated Driving Time	Estimated Min. Flying Time	Estimated Flight Cost
Tacoma, WA	35 mi	43 min	n/a	N/A
Vancouver, BC	141 mi	2 hr 25 min	50 min	USD $245+
Portland, OR	175 mi	2 hr 52 min	45 min	USD $225+
Olympia, WA	202 mi	3 hr 28 min	n/a	N/A
Sacramento, CA	755 mi	5+ hrs	1 hr 50 min	USD $200+

Seattle, WA Climate Information

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg. High (°F)	46	50	53	58	64	70	75	76	70	60	51	46
Avg. Low (°F)	36	37	39	42	47	52	55	56	52	46	40	36
Rec. High (°F)	67	70	78	87	93	98	100	99	98	89	74	65
Rec. Low (°F)	0	1	11	29	16	38	25	44	35	19	0	6
Rainfall (in)	5.1	4.2	3.8	2.6	1.8	1.5	0.8	1.0	1.6	3.2	5.9	5.6

As the heart of the Northwest, Seattle has a rapidly changing climate. Considered to have a mild climate classified as “Marine West Coast,” Seattle usually tends to have dry summers and wet winters. In the past, summers have been recorded to hit 100°F with temperatures dropping as low as 35°F in the winter time.

With rain an average of 226 days out of the year, it is no wonder many joke that “Seattleites don't tan, they rust.” While the effects of the Puget Sound and Lake Washington are partially responsible for this wet weather pattern, it is mostly caused by the fluctuating patterns of the Pacific Ocean.

The ideal time to visit the city is between the months of June and September, but book your travel in advance as hotels and tours sell out as many as 6-8 weeks in advance during this peak season. If you don't mind a little soggy weather, great bargains can be found during the rainy season from October to April.

Meeting Planning in Seattle, WA

Bell Harbor International Conference Center

This Seattle meeting facility is a Pacific Northwest treasure. The center offers 100,000 square feet of waterfront conference, meeting, and special event space. Bell Harbor sets the stage for history-making occasions for groups from 5 to 5,000. It offers a 300-seat Bay Auditorium designed after the United Nations, as well as a Rooftop Plaza affording magnificent views of Seattle, the Olympic Mountains, and Mt. Rainier.

The Conference Center's Bell Street Pier location provides visitors with all of the essential accommodations to ensure a memorable dining and lodging experience. The Center is located within short walking distance or cab ride of the Edgewater Hotel, Marriott Seattle Waterfront Hotel, Mayflower Park Hotel, and Anthony's Pier 66 restaurant.

Bell Harbor offers 57,000 square feet of conference center space, equipped with high ceilings, an abundance of natural light, gathering spaces, and outdoor terraces. All meeting rooms feature soundproof walls, ergonomically designed Herman Miller chairs for comfort, open lobby areas, and built-in high-tech presentation equipment such as wireless connectivity, videoconferencing capabilities, and rear projection screens.

As a Port of Seattle-owned waterfront property, the Bell Harbor International Conference Center also manages catering and events for a few other Seattle meeting facilities including the World Trade Center Seattle, Odyssey Maritime Discovery Center, and Pier 30 Event Center.

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Washington State Convention Center at Convention Place

Located in the heart of downtown Seattle, the Washington State Convention Center has hosted more than 2,500 conventions, trade shows and events for groups of 50 to 5,000. With on-site parking, restaurants, business services, electrical services, and an experienced staff, the WSCTC promises the success of any event.

The Center offers 61 meeting rooms, two lobbies for registration, four ballrooms with approximately 45,000 square feet of space, as well as 102,201 square feet of dedicated space. All meeting rooms are complete with meeting services, high-quality finishes, and wall-to-wall carpeting. The rooms can be combined to create numerous different spaces and accommodate groups from 20 to 3,500. Additionally, the WSCTC offers 205, 700 square feet of exhibit space that can be divided into six halls. Exhibit set-up and break-down is a breeze at the Center's two loading docks with 20 covered bays. Advanced telecommunications, connectivity, and audio/visual support are available throughout the building.

No meeting or event is complete without food and beverage—the WSCTC's nationally acclaimed catering staff, trained by the Culinary Institute of America, provides unmatched service for groups ranging in size from 20 to 11,000 guests. A complete on-site kitchen and bakery allows guests to select from creative displays of innovative cuisine, as well as an extensive wine list, 98 percent of which is from the state’s own wineries.

The Convention Center is also open to the public. Seven on-site restaurants including Bambuza Bistro, Crepes Voila, Cyber Dogs, Espresso Caffe Dior, Juice It Café, Moby's Restaurant and Lounge, Subway, Taco Del Mar, Tully's Coffee, and Unconventional Pizza and Salad make the WSCTC a popular spot not only for convention-goers, but also for area locals and visitors. The Center's health club, beauty salon, massage bar Kinko’s FedEx, and extensive collection of art also draw many unconventional visitors.

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Seattle, WA Meeting Venue Spotlight

Cedarbrook Lodge

18525 36th Avenue South
Seattle, WA
Total Meeting Space - 20,000 Sq. Ft.

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Seattle, WA Airport Information

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)

Approximate taxi fare: $39.11 USD

Situated 12 miles South of Central Seattle and approximately 20 miles North of Tacoma, the Seattle International Airport (affectionately called Sea-Tac by locals) is run by the Aviation Division of the Port of Seattle and operates 24-hours-a-day, 365-days-a-year. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is the 17th busiest airport in the nation.

Passengers traveling through Sea-Tac will also enjoy the airport's extensive collection of art featuring glass, sculpture, painting and photography, as well as works from well-known 20th century artists like Frank Stella, Louise Nevelson and Rauschenberg. Sea-Tac's 35 new restaurants, variety of stores, and manicure and massage services also help to create a pleasurable traveling experience.

With four concourses and two satellite terminals, Sea-Tac provides service to all major cities in the United States, as well as international destinations like London, Paris, Amsterdam and Tokyo.

Taxis to Airport

Taxis can be located on the third floor of the main Parking Garage. Available vehicles include large vans, sedans and station wagons. Taxis to areas like Auburn, Ballard, Bellevue (downtown), Boeing Field, Burien, Capital Hill, Covington, Des Moines, Federal Way, Fife, Kent and downtown Seattle range in price from approximately $20-$40. It should only take about 25-30 minutes to travel from SEA to the city center. Phones are available curbside on the Baggage Claim Level to reserve taxi services. For more information, call (206) 246-9999.

Buses/Shuttles to Airport

Shuttles and buses are a popular means of transportation to and from the Seattle Airport, running almost 24-hours around the clock. There are many service providers including Shuttle Express, Airporter Shuttle, Black Hills Transportation, Bremerton-Kitsap Airporter, Capital Aeroporter, and Gray Line Downtown Airporter. For more information about transportation options, go to the Ground Transportation Information Booths on the third floor of the parking garage or in the baggage claim area across from Carousel 12. Travelers can also dial 55 from any Traveler's Information Board to hear the most current shuttle schedules and rates.

Airline carriers serving Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

Air Canada
(including Air Canada
regional airlines)
Alaska Airlines
America West Airlines
American Airlines
ATA
Asiana Airlines
Big Sky
British Airways
China Airlines

Continental Airlines
Delta Air Lines
EVA Air
Frontier Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines
Horizon Air
Iberia Airlines
JetBlue Airways
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

Lufthansa
Northwest Airlines
Scandinavian Airlines
SkyWest Airlines
Southwest Airlines
Sun Country Airlines
United Airlines
(including United Express)
US Airways

Seattle, WA Train Information

Amtrak

As an excellent alternative to Seattle's crowded airports and freeways, Amtrak offers service to hundreds of destinations, comfortable seats and roomy accommodations. Amtrak operates from the historic King Street Station, nestled in Pioneer Square, as well as the Victoria Ferry Service Station at Pier 69.

From the train, enjoy scenic views of the Cascade and Olympic Mountain ranges, the Puget Sound and the Columbia River. Seattle Amtrak provides service to destinations like Tukwila, Tacoma, Olympia/Lacey, Centralia and many more.

Seattle, WA Public Transportation

Buses

Due to its rainy climate, much of Seattle bus travel takes place beneath the city in its downtown bus tunnels. Most buses within the downtown area are free of charge between the hours of 6:00 am and 7:00 pm. For more information on the complimentary bus service, refer to the Metro Free Bus information.

The Metro Transit Bus charges $1.50 during rush hours (Monday - Friday, 6-9 am and 3-7 pm) and $1.25 at all other times, including weekends. If traveling on a Metro Transit Bus, make sure to pay the exact amount as drivers do not typically carry change. Bus fares are to be paid when boarding if traveling towards downtown, but don't be confused because fares are to be paid when exiting if heading away from the downtown area. Keep an eye out for Metro buses with green and white "EXPRESS" signs, as well as those whose signs read "VIA EXPRESS," as these buses are intended to accommodate regular commuters traveling between work and home and make no additional stops.

Shuttles

The majority of Seattle's Shuttle Services operate from 5:00 am to 11:00 pm with service during off-peak hours by reservation only. Shuttle rates range from around $30 for one to two people, increasing by $4 per person for each additional rider.

Seattle's Shuttle Express has been Puget Sound's most-trusted airport shuttle, town car and limousine service since 1987. The express service offers sedan and luxury limo service, vans and mini-coaches, as well as wine tours, city tours and charters.

Taxis

Taxis are readily available almost anywhere inside the Seattle city limits. The customary charge for two passengers is $2.50, plus $2 per mile thereafter, and $0.50 extra per passenger.

Public transportation can be a major benefit for Seattle meeting planning.

Distance To...

	Distance	Estimated Driving Time	Estimated Min. Flying Time	Estimated Flight Cost
Tacoma, WA	35 mi	43 min	n/a	N/A
Vancouver, BC	141 mi	2 hr 25 min	50 min	USD $245+
Portland, OR	175 mi	2 hr 52 min	45 min	USD $225+
Olympia, WA	202 mi	3 hr 28 min	n/a	N/A
Sacramento, CA	755 mi	5+ hrs	1 hr 50 min	USD $200+