Visit Seattle

Visit Seattle is heading to Fort Lauderdale for the U.S. Travel Association #IPW2026 event from May 17-21! We're excited to connect with global travel professionals and media to share what's new in the Emerald City! Swing by booth #234 and say hi to Tammy Blount-Canavan, FCDME, Marco Leal, Christine Walker Scarce (she/her), Sydney Martinez, Sierra Takushi, Caitlyn Shearer, CTP, CTA, Shawana Lee, CTA, Sam Castillo, Roxana P., and Sierra Reutimann (Johnson). Can't wait to SEA you there! #VisitSeattle

This week, we join the hospitality community in recognizing National Travel & Tourism Week! At Visit Seattle, our mission is to responsibly grow the visitor economy for the benefit of our community. A healthy visitor economy is a critical source of tax revenue that helps fund improvements that benefit visitors and residents alike. In 2025, 39.6 million visitors to Seattle and King County generated $840 million in state and local taxes that funded schools, healthcare, infrastructure, and more. This tax revenue represented a tax offset of $892 per King County household – money our residents were able to save. Beyond the numbers, tourism fosters cultural exchange that allows us to share the spirit of the Emerald City with all who visit while learning about the places they call home. Interested in learning how you can help Seattle and King County’s visitor economy thrive? Check out Visit Seattle’s Certified Tourism Ambassador Program here: https://bit.ly/42PJwku

We are happy to join the tourism and business events industries in celebrating Global Meetings Industry Day! When we meet, we connect, learn, and collaborate, ultimately transforming the human spirit into groundbreaking innovations that bring us to new heights. Meetings, conferences, exhibitions, and incentive travel play a crucial role in supporting the small businesses that make Seattle and King County so special. Last year, Visit Seattle-booked groups hosted at Seattle Convention Center, hotels, and other venues generated $718 million in economic impact for our community. Cheers to our fellow DMOs, hotels, venues, and meeting professionals who work tirelessly to plan these events for the benefit of their organizations and communities! #VisitSeattle #GMID2026

This week, we join the hospitality community in recognizing National Travel & Tourism Week! At Visit Seattle, our mission is to responsibly grow the visitor economy for the benefit of our community. A healthy visitor economy is a critical source of tax revenue that helps fund improvements that benefit visitors and residents alike. In 2025, 39.6 million visitors to Seattle and King County generated $840 million in state and local taxes that funded schools, healthcare, infrastructure, and more. This tax revenue represented a tax offset of $892 per King County household – money our residents were able to save. Beyond the numbers, tourism fosters cultural exchange that allows us to share the spirit of the Emerald City with all who visit while learning about the places they call home. Interested in learning how you can help Seattle and King County’s visitor economy thrive? Check out Visit Seattle’s Certified Tourism Ambassador Program here: https://bit.ly/42PJwku

“When people think about the FIFA World Cup, they often focus on the games. But the real story unfolds far beyond the stadium. It happens in parks and local businesses filled with watch parties; in downtown neighborhoods hosting cultural celebrations; in restaurants and bars where strangers become friends over a shared love of the game. It’s in these moments that the true impact of the World Cup is felt.” - Marco Leal, VP, Destination Development, Visit Seattle as he reflects on twenty years of working in global soccer. Read the full article in The Seattle Times : https://lnkd.in/g2SNvrJt #LetsPlaySEA26

Congratulations to our President and CEO Tammy Blount-Canavan, FCDME for being featured as one of CORPORATE & INCENTIVE TRAVEL’s Women in Leadership, alongside a group of esteemed colleagues from across the country. To learn more about Tammy’s career and her advice for the next generation, check out the post below:

Visit Seattle's Data Symposium returns to Bell Harbor International Conference Center on June 2 from 7-11:30am! Register here: https://lnkd.in/gZKhdpmj This event provides economic insights and forecasts from local and national industry experts, updates on major destination demand drivers, and perspectives from the Visit Seattle team. The program is designed for hospitality and tourism leaders in Seattle and King County who manage strategy and budget decisions for their businesses, and for those interested in data pertaining to the tourism economy. Register by April 24 to take advantage of early bird pricing. https://lnkd.in/gZKhdpmj

Lacy Compton, Senior Director of Professional Learning & Publishing at the National Association For Gifted Children (NAGC), shares why Seattle Convention Center was a natural fit for their annual meeting. In Mother Nature’s City, we like to think fresh air inspires fresh thinking. We’re so happy we could share this experience with NAGC’s attendees.

We are conducting our second-ever Resident Sentiment Survey to learn how locals feel about tourism and the place they live. This is a great way for us to learn how we can better grow the visitor economy for the benefit of our community, and advocate for improvements to our destination which benefit visitors and residents alike. Seattle and King County residents can take Visit Seattle's Resident Sentiment Survey here through April 30: https://bit.ly/4c8YVQG

Visit Seattle is excited to announce our Destination & Convention Services Specialist Paula Cintron T., CTA has been named one of Destinations International’s 30 Under 30 Class of 2026! The honor recognizes a select class of early-career leaders in the tourism industry, sourced from a rigorous scoring criteria. She is the first Visit Seattle representative to receive this honor. Paula joined Visit Seattle in 2022 and was promoted to her current role in 2024. As our Destination & Convention Services Specialist, Paula provides services and connections to self-contained meeting groups of all sizes. This honor is a true reflection of her talent, dedication, and impact on our team, clients, city, and industry. In addition to her role, she volunteers as the co-chair of the Visit Seattle Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee. Way to go, Paula!