Business Travel Guide—Seattle, Washington
Anchored by "the White Ghost" of Mt. Rainier lying in splendor some 60 miles south of the city, and spread along the shores of Elliott Bay at the eastern end of Puget Sound, Seattle came of age in the 1990s. Once a mid-sized town with a provincial character due to its geographic isolation, the city—named after a Native American tribal leader—is now recognized worldwide as the home of technology powerhouses such as Microsoft and Amazon.com; the retail leader, Nordstrom; United Parcel Service; and the aerospace giant, Boeing. No longer a backwater in the Pacific Northwest, Seattle is the third largest U.S. port and a significant gateway to Asian trade centers. Reflecting its heightened status as a business and tourist destination, business travelers will enjoy numerous first-class hotel rooms, a diverse collection of outstanding restaurants, most serving excellent Northwest wines, progressive architecture, sophisticated shopping, world-class culture in the form of both museums and music, and the charm of Pike Place Market, the nation's oldest continually operating Farmers Market. With all its attractions, rare is the business visitor who doesn't return as a tourist. |
Facts
to Know Before You Go |
Transportation:
Taxis and Shuttles
Cabs and shared vans can be found at the Ground Transportation Plaza across from the main terminal by crossing the skybridge to the parking garage and going down one level. The approximate fare to downtown Seattle is $35-$38, plus tip; to Bellevue, $40-$45, plus tip. Gas surcharges may be in effect.
Shuttle Express, a shared van service, provides door-to-door service to Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond and other Seattle suburbs with fees based on distance and destination. Vans also pick up passengers at the Ground Transportation Plaza 24/7 and allow walk-up reservations. For shared vans, expect to pay about $30 to reach downtown Seattle, and between $26-$36 plus tip to Bellevue.
As a third option, Grayline of Seattle operates 52-passenger Downtown Airporter buses direct to downtown Seattle where they stop at all major hotels. The trip takes about an hour and buses leave every 30 minutes. Fares start at $11 one-way, with roundtrip fare a bargain at $18. Departures are from Downtown Seattle daily, 5 a.m.-11 p.m., and from SeaTac Airport, daily 5:30 a.m.-11 p.m.
Limousines
Take a limo for the price of a taxi. Prices run about $40 for a trip to downtown Seattle, and between $50-$60 to Bellevue. Reservations are not required. Upon arrival, look for a courtesy phone and dial 55. Drivers stationed at the airport will pick you up at your baggage claim location or at the Ground Transportation Plaza.
Rental Cars
All major car rental companies—Alamo, Avis, Budget, Hertz and National—have information counters in the baggage claim area of the terminal and have pick-up and drop-off centers in the parking garage. Off-site companies—Advantage, Dollar, Enterprise and Thrifty—run courtesy vans on demand from the Ground Transportation Plaza. |
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Information:
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer and The Seattle Times, both significant newspapers covering local and national news, provide daily general and business news. All major networks, PBS and local cable channels have Seattle affiliates.
The Puget Sound Business Journal, with both print and online versions, offers weekly business news from around the Puget Sound region. The Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce offers daily business news on a range of topics such as real estate, e-commerce, retail, hospitality, law and construction. |
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Internet:
| With wireless high-speed Internet access in every terminal and at every gate, Sea-Tac is one of the most Internet-friendly airports in the country. |
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History and heritage join in this outstanding 2008 newcomer to Seattle's downtown boutique hotel scene. Created in one of Seattle's most famous buildings—built in 1916 and listed since 1978 on the National Register of Historic Places—the new Arctic Club Hotel honors the spirit and adventures of the Club's original members, all pioneers and investors with ties to Alaska who struck it rich in the Klondike gold rush. To preserve the integrity of this singular landmark, the hotel was carefully restored to showcase its legendary beauty and original ornamentation. As a one-of-a-kind establishment, public and private rooms are decorated with a comfortable mix of Art Nouveau, modern and period furniture creating a playful and elegant atmosphere. Accommodations include 120 spacious guestrooms (averaging 400 square feet) with high ceilings (up to 16 feet) conveying the property's history with a residential look and feel. Eight of the rooms offer rooftop terraces and 32 have jetted tubs or whirlpool baths. Business amenities abound. There's a fully equipped business center and over 5,800 square feet of meeting space to accommodate up to 400 guests. The hotel also offers five breakout rooms, on-site private dining, catering and event services, its own restaurant and bar, JUNO, plus the Polar Lounge, a casual hotel lobby bar outfitted in keeping with the hotel's distinctive heritage.
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Not only is this luxury boutique hotel near many of Seattle's major attractions, it's also one of them. Art is the focus here with original works in guestrooms and throughout the hotel's public spaces. The 109 accommodations have a standard mix of luxury hotel amenities, including bathrobes, cordless phones and high-speed Internet access, but the real attractions are the specialty suites: Book the Miles Davis Suite which features art by the musician himself, the Author's Suite, designed for touring authors, or the Sultan of Brunei Suite, which was redecorated just for his stay.
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Around the corner from the bustling Pike Place Market, this luxurious Italian Renaissance building was constructed in the 1920s on the site of what had been the University of Washington's first building. Its ornate lobby features 30-foot-tall ceilings and two curving staircases that open onto elegant meeting rooms. The 450 bright, elegant and spacious rooms feature antique furniture, original art, large closets, two or more phones and free high-speed Internet access. Afternoon tea is served in The Georgian, and The Terrace stirs up some of the best martinis in town.
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The newest addition to Seattle's luxury hotels, the 147-room Four Seasons Hotel opened in November 2008 touting its superior personal service and deluxe accommodations for high-end business and leisure travelers. Occupying floors 3 through 10 of a brand new downtown luxury condominium tower within a block of Pike Place Market and the Seattle Art Museum, many rooms offer stunning views of Elliott Bay and the Olympic Mountains. Designed for exclusive gatherings and business meetings, there are six meeting rooms, a 200-seat ballroom with two-story floor-to-ceiling window, an eight-room spa including a couples suite with fireplace and water views, a state-of-the art fitness center, and a fourth floor terrace with a pool and open fireplace. Everything necessary, in other words, to make a business trip worthwhile.
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As Seattle's oldest, continuously operating luxury hotel, the Sorrento appropriately evokes the quiet atmosphere of a traditional men's club. While décor may be formal, no modern luxury is overlooked. Each room comes with convenient business must-haves like a cordless phone, high-speed Internet access, a CD player, office supplies and an all-in-one fax/scanner/printer/copy machine. Unexpected extras like compilation CDs, a French press coffee maker, 400-thread-count linens and seven down pillows of varying firmness make relaxing as easy as working. If you must leave your room, try The Fireside Room for daily high tea or live jazz on the weekends. For fine dining, you can't go wrong with the Hunt Club, one of the city's best restaurants. |
The official restaurant of the Four Seasons Hotel, ART is inspired by the Hotel's collection of works by contemporary Northwest artists, its proximity to Seattle Art Museum (across the street), and acclaimed chef Kerry Sear's creative flair. The restaurant's sculptured interior features woods native to the Pacific Northwest with magnificent floor-to-ceiling windows offering sweeping views of Elliott Bay and the Olympic Mountains. Along with separate dining tables and a private dining room that seats 20, there's a 25-seat counter for diners who enjoy kitchen drama. Given the setting and the scenery, it's therefore befitting that the menu celebrates authentic Pacific Northwest cuisine enhanced with global influences. The wine list follows suit, offering top vintages from Oregon, Washington, and California. Business travelers on the go will appreciate the convenience of breakfast, lunch and dinner served at chef's stations, plus having a barista on-hand to provide custom coffee beverages.
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Northwest/Steakhouse/Contemporary
16/20
$$$$$ |
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With striking views across Lake Union and east to the Cascade Range, professional service, and a Northwest-inspired menu, there are many reasons why Canlis has been Seattle's special occasion restaurant for almost 60 years. Glamorous yet understated, posh without being intimidating, and family owned for three generations, Canlis is perched on a hillside above Lake Union. The Asian-inspired architecture takes advantage of the views and the ambience is sophisticated yet inviting. Although the menu focuses on seasonally inspired classic Northwest cuisine, many come for the New York steaks and troll-caught grilled King salmon. Signature dishes include the Canlis salad, Washington-raised Kobe-style beef, and the vermouth-bathed Peter Canlis prawns with garlic, red chilies and lime. Pastry chef Neil Robertson's chocolate-covered chocolate is a sinfully rich molten chocolate soufflé served with a chocolate ice cream pop. Order the Grand Marnier soufflé in advance or splurge on the lemon-thyme crème brûlée. If you want to prolong the evening (and you will), enjoy a brandy in the bar while listening to jazz or show tunes being played on a Steinway.
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Pacific Northwest/Pacific Rim/Seafood
15/20
$$$$$ |
The
swankiest of chef Tom Douglas's four-restaurant
empire, Dahlia has a small bar, a private dining room
and a retail bakery next door. One of the loveliest dining
rooms in Seattle, the sexy Dahlia has deep Chinese red
walls, cheery lanterns, and plenty of banquettes, perfect
for snuggling. The menu changes daily but expect dishes
like scallop sashimi, yuzu and shiso; veal sweetbreads;
roasted monkfish with sweet corn sauce and chanterelle
mushroom hash. Don't miss the Belgian fries, served
with a piquant curry ketchup. Desserts include made-to-order
doughnuts with honey-tangerine jam and vanilla mascarpone.
As with the other restaurants in the Douglas family, count
on relaxed and friendly but always professional service. |
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Contemporary/Pacific Northwest
15/20
$$$$$ |
Polished and elegant, the focus at JUNO is on seasonal, sustainable American cuisine with a twist; new menus debut with the solstice, and even table linens and chef's jackets change with the seasons. As a hotel restaurant, service is available for all three meals and room service. The extensive lunch menu ranges from a simple grilled cheese and tomato sandwich to a classic Reuben reinvented with Riesling-braised fennel. For dinner, there's a serious chef's tasting menu paired with wines, as well as small, sharable plates. |
"Chef in the Hat" Thierry Rautureau, one of Seattle's finest, doesn't miss a beat at this charming restaurant in posh Madison Valley. The eight-course grand tasting menu teases, tempts and ultimately seduces as completely as a practiced courtesan. Seasonal offerings vary from Maine lobster and veal sweetbreads with bamboo root and curry-ginger nage, to seared scallops with creamed celeriac, duck prosciutto and Perigord truffle, or venison medallions with foie gras and Armagnac sauce. For a grand finale, there's a symphony of sweets. Sound too daunting? Choose the five-course alternative, and you'll also be wonderfully satisfied. Vegetarians are also welcome with their own tasting menu. |
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Jefferson Park Golf Course
4101 Beacon Ave. S.
206-762-4513
www.seattlegolf.com
Jefferson Park Golf Course, in Beacon Hill, offers incredible views of both Mt. Rainier and the city skyline. Built in 1915, the 18-hole championship course is the oldest public course in town. Its tree-lined fairways are wide and flat, and the clubhouse is a little out of date, but with breathtaking scenery and some exciting play, this remains one of Seattle's most popular courses. You'll also find a nine-hole, par 3 executive course and putting green on-site.
Kenmore
Air Seaplanes
Lake Union Terminal
950 Westlake Ave.
425-486-1257
www.kenmoreair.com
Downtown may be easy to explore on foot, but for something
different, see Seattle from a seaplane. Twenty-minute
tours depart from Lake Union and offer bird's
eye views of Downtown and the area's waterfronts,
bridges and ferries. Have a little more time? Take a
day trip to the San Juan Islands and experience the outdoors
while kayaking, whale watching, hiking or fishing. Other
tours include Victoria Island, Vancouver or even Alaska's
Inside Passage. Both scheduled and charter services
are available.
Olympic Sculpture Park
2901 Western Ave.
206-654-3100
www.seattleartmuseum.org
Rolling meadows, dynamic spaces, and meandering paths overlooking Elliott Bay and Western Avenue were created from nondescript industrial land several blocks north of Pike Place Market as a dramatic setting for a variety of outdoor sculptures. Opened in winter 2007 as the Olympic Sculpture Park, the waterfront park is an outdoor extension of the Seattle Art Museum. Striking sculptures by renowned artists ranging from Alexander Calder and Anthony Caro to Mark di Suvero and Louise Bourgeois, are positioned throughout the nine-acre site. A z-shaped path links three land parcels and leads from a steel-and-glass pavilion through four ecological environments designed as archetypal landscapes found in the Pacific Northwest. Open 365 days a year from one-half hour after dawn to one-half-hour after dusk, tours of the park can be self-guided or docent-led. Taste Café in the PACCAR Pavilion in the southeast corner of the park offers simple, seasonal fare for hungry and thirsty visitors, including the perfect cup of espresso, lemonade or cocoa.
Pike
Place Market
First and Pike
206-682-7453
www.pikeplacemarket.org
This nine-acre farmers market has been a waterfront
institution since 1907. Local farmers, fishermen and
artisans still flock here each morning to sell their
stock amongst nearly 200 bustling stalls and shops.
Whether you're looking for produce, flowers or
fish, chances are your goods were picked, plucked or
hooked earlier in the day. Take a market heritage tour
and get shopping tips along with a dose of the market's
intriguing history. If you're hoping to try something
more offbeat, this is still your place; you can get
a tattoo or even have your palm read all before lunch. The Triple Door
216 Union St.
206-838-4333
www.thetripledoor.net
Tucked beneath the acclaimed Wild Ginger restaurant in the heart of downtown, the Triple Door offers a variety of live jazz club acts on two stages. The main stage features noted jazz and blues musicians, plus the occasional comedian, while the smaller "Musicquarium" stage is as fully equipped, but hosts one-person performances. Patrons are able to order dinner from the Wild Ginger menu, enjoy a full bar and an award-winning wine list, all set to the beat of live music. Check their website for a complete schedule. (Author: Judith H. Dern)
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 Going to Washington? Check out our Guide |
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(Updated: 04/28/09 HC) |
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