Seattle Emerging As Tech Meeting Center
<B>Seattle Emerging As Tech Meeting Center</B>
By Judy Jacobs
The development of Seattle as a software center has led to a rapidly growing corporate meetings market--a fact not lost on area conference centers, which are improving what they have to offer.
"Seattle has had tremendous growth in meetings during the past 10 years," said Shelly Tomberg, director of sales and marketing for Columbia Hospitality, which operates three Seattle-area conference centers. And while meetings are expanding rapidly in Seattle proper, another very notable development is taking place in downtown Bellevue, just east of the city and an area where high-tech companies have set up shop. There, the Meydenbauer Center plans to expand by adding 49,000 more square feet of space to the 291,000-sq.-ft. convention center.
Along with the Meydenbauer expansion--to be completed in mid-2001--is the addition of two major new hotels, as well as food and beverage and retail outlets on the block where the center is located. "Developers are looking at building a Marriott and a Ritz-Carlton, but are awaiting financing," said Tim Carr, Meydenbauer Center's director of guest services. "The project's timeline is 24 months from the time of financing. We're looking at fall 2002 or early 2003."
Also planned for Bellevue is the 305-room Westin Bellevue, which will be built less than two blocks west of Meydenbauer. The hotel, scheduled for a spring 2002 opening, is part of a multi-use complex that will consist of two towers, one for offices and the other for the Westin Hotel and condominiums. Plans call for 15,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 7,300-sq.-ft. ballroom.
Meanwhile, in Seattle itself, the Bell Harbor International Conference Center is expanding as part of the $4.5 million Port of Seattle's cruise terminal project. The expansion will create the infrastructure that soon will make Seattle a major cruise ship port as well as a site for meetings.
The 47,000-sq.-ft. Bell Harbor facility opened in 1996 and is being expanded to include a 10,000-sq.-ft. international promenade. "The promenade has removable counters and will be used for cruise passengers on Fridays and weekends," said Tomberg, "and for meetings during the week." The cruise season lasts from May through September, so for the rest of the year, the facility will serve a single purpose--meetings.
Currently, the ideal meeting size is 250 to 300 attendees, but after the expansion the center will be able to handle 450 to 500. "Bell Harbor's largest room is the 6,000-sq.-ft. Bay Auditorium. It has a built-in screen, T-1 lines and a JVC Hughes projector," she added.
According to Tomberg, the center's new dual-purpose personality adds an interesting twist for those planning Seattle meetings. "Corporate groups can use it as a venue and then go on a cruise to Alaska after the meeting," she said.
On May 7, Seattle will become the only U.S. homeport to serve the Alaska cruise market on a regular basis when the Norwegian Cruise Line begins seven-day roundtrip Alaskan summer cruises. One week later, Royal Caribbean's 2,000-passenger Vision of the Seas also will begin to serve Alaska.
Just across the street from Bell Harbor and part of Seattle's waterfront expansion, the World Trade Center also provides a venue for evening functions. The dining room seats 80 and has floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the waterfront. It serves as a members-only conference center during the daytime and has four meeting rooms, the largest accommodating 40 attendees.