Economy

Booming Tourism Helps Seattle Hotels Set Q1 Record

Twelve conventions between January and March this year will have generated 130,000 confirmed hotel rooms in the city

By Rob Smith March 14, 2019

Seattle, Washington, USA - May 27, 2012: Guests arrive via taxi at the Westin Hotel, located in downtown Seattle.

This article originally appeared in the March 2019 issue of Seattle magazine.

This article appears in print in the March 2019 issue. Click here for a free subscription.

Librarians and pharmacists are driving hotel occupancy records in Seattle.

Tourism agency Visit Seattle says the 12 conventions between January and March this year will have generated 130,000 confirmed hotel rooms in the city, up from the previous record of 115,093 in 2007.

The American Library Association brought 9,000 library professionals to the city for five days in late January. The American Pharmacists Association will bring 6,000 visitors for four days later this month. And the annual Emerald City Comic Con, a meeting that generated 95,000 visitors during four days last year, also returns this month.

Its all especially interesting, considering that nine of Seattles 10 coldest days have occurred in the months of January or February.

It shows weve never been more popular, says Visit Seattle President and CEO Tom Norwalk.

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