The novel blend of unique architecture, proximity to the waterfront, walkable downtown streets and a free light rail make Tacoma an excellent choice for any meeting or event. The third-largest city in Washington features a vibrant arts culture, a thriving museum district, a multitude of outdoor recreation thrills and some supreme regional cuisine. Located 30 minutes from Seattle, Tacoma has less traffic and a more compact downtown.
Tacoma’s signature attractions, including the LeMay Car Museum, the Glass Museum, Mount Rainier, Lakewold Gardens and the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, add to its appeal. Museums and local theaters provide entertainment, and many also host meetings and events. Whether out-of-town guests prefer beaches, mountains, an urban setting or shopping, Tacoma and the surrounding area satisfies all desires.
“Tacoma is a destination where one large event can take over citywide, which means groups receive attentive, dedicated and personalized service while enjoying endless attractions, entertainment and amenities in Tacoma and throughout Pierce County,” said Chelene Potvin-Bird, vice president of sales and servicing for Travel Tacoma.
Largest Meeting Sites
Three options come to mind when considering the major and most popular meeting spaces, Potvin-Bird said: The Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center (GTCTC) and Hotel Murano, both located in downtown, and the Washington State Fair Events Center in nearby Puyallup.
Glass walls frame a stunning view of Mount Rainier at the Trade Center, located 20 miles south of SeaTac International Airport. The five-story building houses 119,000 square feet of flexible meeting space that includes 50,000 square feet of column-free exhibit space, a 13,000-square-foot ballroom and several breakout rooms. The center can easily support a one-day meeting or a five-day conference.
GTCTC, together with Travel Tacoma, provides meeting planners with vendor referrals, marketing support, off-site activity suggestions, and hotel and transportation options, all at no cost. They can also put together a presentation about the destination if a meeting place decision is pending. Travel Tacoma provides visitors guides and welcome bags to attendees. Potvin-Bird said her staff will even help a group select another city post-convention if they don’t plan to return to Tacoma.
“We’ve hosted cheer competitions, a pinball exhibition, government conferences, association meetings and everything in between,” said Potvin-Bird. “Mary Kay holds its career conference here every year. We support all markets.”
Adjacent to the GTCTC, the Hotel Murano not only offers 319 modern, well-appointed guest rooms, but also has 28,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. Staying overnight in the same location as the event makes it convenient for both guests and meeting planners, said Tom Ebner, director of sales for Hotel Murano.
The area’s only Forbes four-star-rated hotel and a Condé Nast Best in the Northwest hotel, the Murano also showcases creations of 45 glass artists from around the world. The sales team claims the art inspires creativity and productivity among meeting-goers. Groups often book tours of the hotel’s glass art with the in-house docent. Those who want a team-building experience around glassblowing can find it at the Tacoma Glassblowing Studio. They will not only blow glass in teams but also get to take home their creations.
A frequent gathering place in the European atrium-style lobby, the Lobby Bar serves coffee in the morning and switches to cocktails in the evening. More than 50 shops and restaurants are within a six-block radius, and groups can ride the Tacoma Link Light Rail around the downtown core at no charge.
The Washington State Fair Events Center in Pierce County has a whopping 539,063 square feet of indoor meeting space. Cowboys, horses, carnival games, 4-H exhibits and elephant ears are hallmarks of Washington’s state fair, which takes place at the events center. Meeting planners can use as many or as few of the buildings as they want. The Grandstand, part of which is under cover, holds 10,000 people.
“We have a wide range of facilities available and offer free parking, which is a real bonus for attendees,” said Karen LaFlamme, spokeswoman for the Events Center. “We have banquet facilities and theater-style seating.”
A fourth option for events, conferences and meetings, the Courtyard Marriott, is conveniently located in downtown Tacoma and houses 6,661 square feet of meeting space. The hotel offers function space for 400 people, seven event rooms, audiovisual equipment, business services and catering.
