Shoppers' Heaven
Mall-happy patrons thrive in Bellevue, where the Shops at Bravern and the Bellevue Collection offer a feast for the credit card. Check out
Belle's Vue, a blog from the Collection.
Seattle
Plans to expand the Washington State Convention Center keep getting new life. An amendment to the budget proposal in the Washington State House would extend a temporary tax on hotels, rental cars and restaurants to fund the work. The levy originally was earmarked for Safeco Field (home of the Seattle Mariners), which will be paid off later this year.
The city's largest meetings property, the 1,258-room Sheraton Seattle, is putting the finishing touches on the Garden Walk, turning 7th Avenue into a pedestrian corridor leading to the convention center.
Meeting Hotels
Downtown Seattle is filled with suitable properties, including the 1,258-room Sheraton Seattle Hotel, 891-room Westin Seattle, 553-room Renaissance Seattle Hotel, 450-room Fairmont Olympic Hotel, 425-room Grand Hyatt Seattle, 424-room W Seattle, 415-room Crowne Plaza Seattle, 358-room Seattle Marriott Waterfront, 346-room Hyatt at Olive 8, 297-room Red Lion Hotel on Fifth Avenue, 250-room Courtyard by Marriott Seattle Downtown/Lake Union, 237-room Hilton Seattle, 223-room Edgewater, 189-room Hotel Monaco, 123-room Best Western Executive Inn, 120-room Hotel 1000 and 119-room Hotel Andra.
Convention Center
Washington State Convention Center; exhibit space, 236,700 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 72. (206) 694-5030
Airport Transit
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, 13 miles south of downtown. Transfer cost by taxi to downtown, $45-$50; from downtown hotels to the airport, flat fee of $32; by shuttle, $15 and up. Sound Transit Link light-rail direct from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to downtown (30 minutes), $2.50 one-way
Taxes
Room tax, 7%; sales tax, 8.6%; total tax on hotel rooms, 15.6%
Group Venue
The Mainstage theater and Musicquarium Lounge at The Triple Door present a variety of local and national musical acts, ideal for topping off a busy agenda. Buy out the venue for 425 people or use one of the Musicaquarium's sections for up to 100. (206) 838-4330
Contact
Seattle's Convention and Visitors Bureau, (206) 461-5800
Fun and Games
A short drive north of Seattle is the 370-room
Tulalip Resort Casino in Tulalip, Wash. Offerings include 30,000 square feet of meeting space, the T Spa (left) and the 450-seat Canoes Cabaret.
Anchorage
The 307-room Hotel Alyeska, 40 miles from downtown, completed a three-year, $10 million renovation in 2010. All rooms were redone, as well as the 15,000 square feet of meeting space.
The 375-room Sheraton Anchorage Hotel & Spa finished a $15 million renovation in late 2009, which spruced up the rooms and added the Ice Spa.
Meeting Hotels
Properties in Alaska's largest city include the 600-room Hilton Anchorage Hotel, 547-room Hotel Captain Cook, 392-room Anchorage Marriott Downtown, 375-room Sheraton Anchorage Hotel & Spa, 251-room Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel, 248-room Millennium Alaskan Anchorage and 198-room Westmark Anchorage Hotel.
Convention Centers
Dena'ina Center; exhibit space, 72,240 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 3. (907) 263-2850
The Egan Center; exhibit space, 30,534 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 4. (907) 263-2800
Airport Transit
Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, approximately 12.5 miles from downtown. Transfer cost by taxi, $20.
Taxes
Room tax, 12%; sales tax, 0%; total tax on hotel rooms, 12%
Group Venue
Get a real sense of local history at the 26-acre Alaska Native Heritage Center, where the Athabascan Ceremonial House seats up to 75 people and the Gathering Place holds up to 150 for a dinner. (907) 330-8000
Contact
Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau, (907) 276-4118
> By train: Take the group on a rail excursion