With Olympic National Park to the northwest, Mount Rainier to the southeast, and Commencement Bay and Puget Sound to the north, the city of Tacoma, Washington, is a welcoming urban hub framed by the beauty of Mother Nature. Its smaller size makes it an approachable alternative to larger cities like Seattle and Portland, Oregon—while still offering all the same opportunities for successful meetings and events.
“[Tacoma] offers big-city amenities without the hustle,” says Lynsey Norton, director of convention sales and regional services for the Tacoma Pierce County Tourism Authority. “We are an ideal destination for travelers looking for a true Pacific Northwest experience in an authentic, relaxed setting.” As a spring full of flower blooms leads to a summer packed with pleasant temperatures, Tacoma presents a landscape ripe for outdoor adventures that planners might add to itineraries, in addition to lodging and event venues showcasing stunning mountain or water views.
“Tacoma also has a deep connection with glass art,” says Norton. “Largely because Dale Chihuly was born here.” The internationally known glass artist, whose work is on display at Tacoma’s Museum of Glass, spent decades mastering his distinctive art form and became a trailblazer with his innovative techniques and unabashed experimentation. “[At the Museum of Glass,] visitors can watch artists from around the world create stunning pieces in the live Hot Shop [where they work with melted glass to craft artwork,]” Norton adds. There is also the Chihuly Bridge of Glass, a public pedestrian bridge connecting downtown Tacoma to the Museum of Glass, with more than 2,000 Chihuly pieces on display.
Go beyond the glass creations to the art of nature with a visit to the 760-acre Point Defiance Park, an urban green space at the northwestern end of Commencement Bay and just a short bus ride from downtown Tacoma. Here, attendees might stroll the many miles of hiking trails amid Pacific Northwest flora and fauna between meetings, or visit the nearby Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. The opportunities don’t stop there, either. Throughout Tacoma are diverse lodging properties, from expansive casino resorts to contemporary hotels, many of which provide space for meetings on-site and well-appointed guest rooms for postevent respite. Planners also can select from a sweeping menu of designated event venues, whether they’re looking for serene, waterfront backdrops or expansive convention space.
Lodging—and Then Some
“Hotel Murano is a boutique hotel dedicated to glass art named after the famous glass-making island in Italy,” says Norton, referring to Murano, Italy, an island in the Venetian Lagoon near Venice. “This downtown hotel is just across the street from the Greater Tacoma Convention Center and is known for its museum-quality glass art collection featuring [works by] a different glass artist on each floor.” Here, planners will find 319 guest rooms for overnight stays and can select from several options throughout its 28,000 square feet of meeting and event space. Then, consider group dining at its on-site restaurant, Bite, which serves up innovative takes on classic Pacific Northwest fare.
Also in the city center is the Marriott Tacoma Downtown, which connects to the convention center. “This hotel is a great choice for larger convention center groups requiring additional space, or smaller, self-contained conferences,” says Norton. “Travelers love the recognizable brand, the rooftop pool, the ballrooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, and the walkable downtown location.” The 304-room property features 18,953 square feet of space across 13 function rooms. Its largest gathering space, the Chambers Bay Ballroom, spans 10,581 square feet and accommodates 900 attendees theater-style. Additional meeting rooms to consider include the Point Defiance, Commencement, Union, and Proctor rooms, among several others.
Silver Cloud Hotel Tacoma at Point Ruston Waterfront is a luxury property in the Point Ruston district of Tacoma near Point Defiance Park. “As Tacoma’s only upscale, waterfront hotel, it boasts 194 guest rooms and suites, many featuring private balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows,” says Laura Hollingsworth, director of catering at the hotel. “Attendees can indulge in top-tier amenities, including a rooftop pool and hot tub, full-service spa, state-of-the-art fitness center, and the renowned Copper & Salt Northwest Kitchen.” In addition, its 10,000 square feet of available event space includes the Sterling Ballroom with stunning bay views, the 1,560-square-foot Onyx Room, and the outdoor Waterview Terrace, among others. Groups might also gather in Copper & Salt Northwest Kitchen’s private dining room with capacity for up to 20 people.
“What I appreciate most about the layout is the spaces are connected in a unique way, focused along the waterfront with oversized foyer spaces and indoor/outdoor capabilities,” adds Justine Kunz, director of sales and marketing at the hotel. “Being a new facility as well, the event rooms were intelligently designed with preinstalled audiovisual equipment and service access for a seamless guest experience.” Additional meeting-friendly hotels in Tacoma are the Emerald Queen Casino & Hotel and Courtyard Tacoma Downtown.
Go Big, Tacoma-Style
Some of the larger venues in Tacoma include the Greater Tacoma Convention Center, the Tacoma Dome, and Cheyney Stadium—the latter the home of the Tacoma Rainiers Baseball Club, a minor league affiliate of MLB’s Seattle Mariners. The convention center is in the city center, while the Tacoma Dome is southeast of downtown, and Cheyney Stadium is to the southwest.
“The Greater Tacoma Convention Center offers 119,000 square feet of flexible event space with a 50,000-square-foot exhibit hall, ideal for corporate meetings, conventions, trade shows, competitions, and special events,” says Norton. “The convention center is in the heart of downtown within proximity to restaurants, shopping, nightlife, museums, and an adjoining headquarters hotel (Marriott Tacoma Downtown) for those who want to host an event under one roof.” Norton adds its easy access to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, affordable pricing compared to larger metro areas, and full-service catering with customizable menus are among the center’s other benefits she hears most about from corporate clients.
The Tacoma Dome is unique as one of the largest wood-domed structures in the world—its roof was constructed with some 1.6 million board feet of wood weighing about 1.5 million pounds. Best suited for large events, the dome accommodates groups of 1,000 to 21,000 people with its various configurations. To the west, Cheyney Stadium can add a sports-centric energy to events and is able to host groups in several on-site spaces. The indoor/outdoor MultiCare 1882 Club can seat up to 150, or planners can choose between the left field or third baseline party decks. Opt for home plate advantage by booking the whole field, available for gatherings with attendees mingling on the diamond.
The Activities Menu
The opportunities for team building in Tacoma are diverse and wide-ranging, from outdoor excursions in nature to delectable group-dining experiences, themed walking tours, playful entertainment, and cultural excursions.
“I love Tacoma because the city offers so many things a larger city would but without the hassle,” says Norton. “There is no shortage of art, culture, restaurants, and nature to explore.” The Museum of Glass is available for docent-led group tours during museum hours, as well as private events. Planners might arrange artist demonstrations for attendees to watch glassblowing in action in the Hot Shop, or opt for a more traditional event space such as the Grand Hall, available for up to 400 people.
“For many working-age professionals, attending an event like an awards banquet might be their only chance to visit the Museum of Glass and check out what is in our galleries,” says John Ferguson, manager of events and the Mobile Hot Shop (a glass-blowing workshop on wheels). “In this way, the special event program plays an important role as a bridge with the community.”
Duke’s Seafood Tacoma is on the water and provides an indoor dining room and outdoor dining deck for private group culinary outings, while Spaceland centers on energetic fun, like paintball and laser tag with team-building packages and designated meeting spaces also available. Pretty Gritty Tours features an assortment of themed excursions to educate attendees on all things Tacoma, from the “Downtown Ghost Tour” to brewery and sweets tours spotlighting area businesses—those with a sweet tooth will appreciate that the first Mars Bar was invented in Tacoma. Activities such as these help your group both connect with Tacoma communities and encourage team bonding.
Appreciate the Atypical
Consider one of these stellar unconventional venues in Tacoma for your meetings and events:
Foss Waterway Seaport is a waterfront museum centered on Tacoma’s maritime heritage with space for events of up to 600 people. fosswaterwayseaport.org
Point Defiance Pagoda pays homage to Japanese architecture in Point Defiance Park’s Japanese Garden with space for groups of up to 200 people. parkstacoma.gov
Rialto Theater seats up to 738 attendees and is a historic beaux arts venue dating to 1918. tacomacitytheaters.org
W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory features two event venues and is home to more than 250 speciesof exotic plants. parkstacoma.gov
