• EXHIBITOR magazine, a leading industry publication, named the Greater Tacoma Convention Center to its 2020 Centers of Excellence. The top 20 best convention centers in North America were selected based on criteria in five primary categories: facility and functionality; location and accommodations; service and execution; expansions and upgrades; and honors and awards. The Greater Tacoma Convention Center was one of two nominees for best convention center under 100,000 square feet of exhibit space. The top 20 included venues in Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles, Vancouver and more.
• The International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) selected the Tacoma Venues & Events team that operates the Tacoma Dome and the convention center the IAVM Venue Excellence Award. The award is given to venues or teams that demonstrate excellence in customer satisfaction, operational excellence, safety and security, professional development and service to the community.
• MeetingSource.com named Tacoma as the top spot for conventions of up to 1,000 attendees. The report compared 163 cities throughout the United States, based on six factors which included affordability, ease of access, safety, walkability, promotional appeal and weather.
Tacoma’s walkability and free light rail, proximity to an international airport, and the appeal of the cultural attractions and the outdoors activities in Pierce County are all factors for event planners choosing destinations.
The convention center is poised for even greater success in 2020 with the opening of the 4-star Marriott Tacoma Downtown. The adjoining hotel will add more than 300 additional hotel rooms to the downtown core.
The Greater Tacoma Convention Center hosts an average of 220 events annually with more than 125,000 attendees. Over 32,000 room nights are confirmed through 2024, for an estimated $20 million in economic impact over the next five years.
