About Seattle
Innovative and inspiring, Seattle offers a compact and highly accessible downtown, enhanced by world-class hotels and restaurants, vibrant arts and cultural institutions, and signature retail shops. Experience this truly distinctive meetings destination within walking distance of the Seattle Convention Center’s, Arch and Summit.
TAXES
- How much is the total cumulative hotel tax?
15.7% plus $4 per room per night flat fee for hotels in downtown for the TIA (70 Participating Hotels) - How much is the F&B tax? 10.25% for Seattle
- How much is the average F&B gratuity? 20%
AIRPORT
- How many miles from the airport to downtown? 14
- Is there public transportation, such as a bus or subway available?
Link Light Rail takes visitors from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to downtown Seattle in 30 minutes and costs $3.00. The train also continues on to the vibrant Capitol Hill neighborhood and University of Washington. - How much does the public transportation cost?
Link Light Rail – $2.25-$3.25
King County Metro Busses are $2.75 flat rate - What is the shuttle bus fare from the airport to downtown?
The Downtown Airporter charges starting as low as $25.45 per person. Advanced bookings are required to the airport, but walk-ups from the airport are okay. Click here for real-time information. - What is the taxi fare from airport to downtown? $45 average, Rideshare trips (Uber, Lyft) typically cost between $20-40.
- How many daily flights out of airport? Around 1,045
- Is the airport a hub for any carrier? Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines
- What are the major carriers serving airport?
Click here for real-time information.
HOTELS
- How many committable hotel rooms downtown on peak night? 6,000+
- How many committable hotel rooms downtown on peak within walking distance to convention center?5,221 within a 5.5 block radius (7-minute walk); 7,330 within a 10 block radius (14-minute walk)
- How many headquarter hotel properties? 2
- How many rooms available on peak night at the largest headquarter property? 1,000
CONVENTION CENTER
- How many total gross square feet of exhibit space at Convention Center?
Up to 205,700 sq. ft. – Arch building
Up to 248,450 sq. ft. – Summit building
Convention Center Campus Total Exhibit Space = Up to 454,150 sq. ft. - How much of this exhibit space is contiguous? 105,700 (4DEF)
- How many total gross square feet of meeting space is available at the Convention center?
Up to 141,248 sq. ft. – Arch building including ballroom space
Up to 160,040 sq. ft. – Summit building including ballroom space
Convention Center Campus Total Exhibit Space = Up to 301,288 sq. ft. including ballroom space - How many meeting rooms does the convention center have?
Up to 79 rooms – Arch building
Up to 66 rooms – Summit building - How big is the largest meeting room?
10,152 sq. ft. – Arch building (Rooms 605-610)
4,630 sq. ft. (Rooms 427-429) OR 6,500 sq. ft. (Signature Room) – Summit building - How many ballrooms does the convention center have?
4 – Arch building
3 – Summit building
Convention Center Campus Total Number of Ballrooms = 7 - How big is the largest ballroom?
15,048 sq. ft. (6E) – Arch building
138,320 sq. ft. – Arch building w/ meeting rooms and ballrooms (w/o swing space)
37,500 sq. ft. (ballroom 3) – Summit building
58,000 sq. ft. (ballroom 1, 2, 3) – Summit building w/ all ballrooms - When was the last renovation or expansion?
July 2010 expansion – The Conference Center opened
2011-2012 renovation of SCC main building - When is a future renovation/expansion scheduled?
In August 2018, the Seattle Convention Center broke ground on the additional facility, Summit, which opend in January 2023.
The facility will add:- 149,200 sq. ft. heavy load exhibition space and 99,250 sq. ft. flex space two floors above
- Up to 248,450 sq. ft. total exhibit space
- Up to 66 rooms
- Up to 102,040 sq. ft. of meeting space
- 58,000 sq. ft. of ballroom space
- Is there free Wi-Fi at the convention center? Yes, in common areas
- Is there an exclusive in-house Electrical provider? Yes – Edlen Electrical Exhibition Services
- Is there an exclusive in-house AV provider? No – preferred provider is LMG
- Is there an exclusive in-house decorator? No
- Is there an exclusive in house caterer? Yes – Aramark
- Is the convention center a union property? Yes
- If union property, can you provide estimated pricing list?
| Average Rates Charged to Exhibitors | Seattle |
| General Display Labor/Decorator/Hour | |
| Regular | $119.83 |
| Overtime | $213.50 |
| Sunday/Holiday/Other | $213.50 |
| Rigger/Hour | |
| Regular | $129.83 |
| Overtime | $203.50 |
| Sunday/Holiday/Other | $203.50 |
| Electrician/Hour | |
| Regular | $105.00 |
| Overtime | $157.50 |
| Sunday/Holiday/Other | $157.50 |
| Plumber/Hour | |
| Regular | $105.00 |
| Overtime | $157.50 |
| Sunday/Holiday/Other | $157.50 |
| Forklift with Operator/Lowest Weight Range/Hour | |
| Regular | $185.50 |
| Overtime | $251.50 |
| Sunday/Holiday/Other | $251.50 |
| Drayage Per CWT (Hundred Weight): Advance Shipments to Official Service Contractor | $108.67 |
| Drayage Per CWT (Hundred Weight): Direct Crated Shipments to Exhibit Hall | $110.17 |
| Drayage Per CWT (Hundred Weight): Direct Crated Shipments to Exhibit Hall Requiring Special Handling | $141.42 |
| Drayage Per CWT (Hundred Weight): Direct Uncrated & Loose Shipments to Exhibit Hall | $165.33 |
- Here is a list of labor unions with whom planners will be required to work at the convention center:
- District Council of Carpenters of Seattle, King County and vicinity
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local No. 46
- International Alliance of Stage and Theatrical Workers, Local No. 15
- International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local No. 117
- Painters District, Council No. 5
- Sign and Display Workers, Local No. 1094
- Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union, Local No. 8
- International Union of Operating Engineers, Local No. 286
- Service Employees International Union, Local No. 6
OFF SITE VENUES
- How many off site venues within walking distance can host up to 2,000 people? 8
- How many off site venues within a ten-minute bus transfer can host up to 2,000 people?
Another 7 Venues within a 10 minute bus transfer - How many restaurants are within walking distance of the convention center?
At least 50 or more - Can you list 3-5 local attractions and there whereabouts?
- Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass, Pacific Science Center, Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) (Seattle Center Campus: 6-minute drive from SCC)
- Pike Place Market (Downtown: 6-minute walk down Pike Street from SCC)
- Seattle Art Museum, Smith Tower (Downtown: 9 to 19-minute walk from SCC)
- The Great Wheel and Seattle Aquarium (Seattle Waterfront: 8-minute drive from SCC)
- Museum of Flight (Boeing Field: 10-minute drive south of downtown Seattle)
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Meeting Planner Webpage and Video
Digital Meeting Planner Guides
