It’s no surprise that spirit of discovery has translated to Seattle's hospitality industry, with three Hyatts—located within a stone’s throw of one another—leading the way.
Unofficially dubbed “Hyatt Row,” the Grand Hyatt Seattle, Hyatt at Olive 8 and Hyatt Regency Seattle are poised to assist planners working with larger groups. Because all three properties have the same owner, staff can work harmoniously to provide a single bid and seemlessly coordinate everything from transportation, to off-site events and on-property mixers.
The latest addition to the trio is Hyatt Regency Seattle, the largest hotel in the Pacific Northwest. Two blocks from Washington State Convention Center and adjacent to The Summit (the planned convention center expansion slated to open in 2022), the 45-story property has 1,260 rooms, 103,000 square feet of meeting space and Gold LEED certification. Gatherings can be held on the 8th floor at the Regency Club, which sports a 2,460 sq.-ft. outdoor terrace.
The Sound Hotel Seattle Belltown, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, occupies the first 10 floors of the 42-story, mixed-use Arrivé Tower. Having debuted in February 2019, it has 142 rooms with views of the city skyline and Puget Sound, event space with unobstructed views of the Seattle Space Needle (which itself has undergone a $100 million renovation) and the 7th-floor Lupine Room, with meeting space for up to 35 people.
Beyond Hotels
Planners looking for uniquely Seattle venues could begin their exploration at The Center for Wooden Boats in South Lake Union. Originally opened in the 1970s by a boat-loving family, the center offers two buildings for groups: The Boathouse Gallery & Deck with indoor/outdoor space for up to 100, and the Wagner Education Center, which opened in 2019 with 9,200 square feet of indoor space.
Museum of History & Industry is a brilliant choice if you’re looking to showcase the story of Seattle. Exhibits include the Bezos Center for Innovation, which explores the city’s role as a nexus of big ideas and new direction “True Northwest: The Seattle Journey,” covering everything from making moonshine to Microsoft; and the McCurdy Family Maritime Gallery, with its working World War II periscope set up for a 360-degree view of Seattle. Special event spaces include the Faye G. Allen Grand Atrium and the outdoor Boeing Centennial Terrace.
National Nordic Museum is the only museum in the U.S. dedicated to the impact and influence of Nordic cultures, which are particularly strong in the Pacific Northwest. Planners can coordinate special events in the Osberg Great Hall, which features hemlock wood paneling, pendant lights, and a sliding glass wall that opens to the museum’s 3,000-sq.-ft. Sun Terrace, as well as coordinate access to the permanent and visiting exhibitions within the museum itself.
Chinese immigrants were also influential in the shaping of the city, and their story is explored at the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience. Available special event spaces range from smaller rooms to a buyout of the entire 13,000 sq.-ft. museum. Pair the museum with a walking tour of nearby Chinatown.
The latest hot spot is The Spheres, which opened in January 2018. The three geodesic domes were built by Amazon to showcase and celebrate the planet’s biodiversity. Arrange an unguided visit for your group, then marvel at the 72-degree, 60% humidity interior climate that provides a home to more than 40,000 plants from 50 countries on five continents. Its centerpiece is a 50-ft. fig tree that reaches up inside the glass-and-steel structure, making it a fitting symbol of Seattle’s continued spirit of innovation.
