EXHIBITOR magazine, a leading industry publication, has named the Greater Tacoma Convention Center to its best convention centers in North America for a fifth time. Convention centers were evaluated using criteria in five primary categories: facility and functionality; location and accommodations; service and execution; expansions and upgrades; and sustainability.
The evaluation included a survey of event planners, show organizers, and exhibit managers who have recently hosted (or exhibited at) events within each facility, as well as a review of event spaces, selling points, and innovations, conducted by a panel of corporate exhibit managers. The highest-scoring venues, including the Greater Tacoma Convention Center, earned the distinction of being named among EXHIBITOR Magazine’s 2025 Centers of Excellence.
“The Centers of Excellence Awards allows exhibit managers to identify exhibitor-friendly venues that make their experiences at trade shows and events smooth and successful,” said Emily Olson, editor of EXHIBITOR magazine, noting that everything from health and safety protocols to the cost and quality of Wi-Fi access can have a significant impact on exhibiting companies’ experiences at events. “The facilities on this list have proven their ability to host trade shows and events of all sizes while providing world-class service and state-of-the-art accommodations.”
Tacoma was recognized alongside convention centers in Anaheim, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Miami Beach, New Orleans, San Diego, Washington, D.C., and others.
In addition to naming the world’s 25 best convention centers for trade shows and events, EXHIBITOR Magazine’s Centers of Excellence program will present five special awards. The Greater Tacoma Convention Center is one of three finalists for the Best Convention Center (Less Than 100,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space), along with Overland Park Convention Center and Owensboro Convention Center.
The Greater Tacoma Convention Center, marking a milestone 20 years this month, draws over 100,000 visitors annually and generated an estimated $27 million in economic impact in 2023. Community members, partners, clients, and local organizations are invited to come together and celebrate two decades of the convention center’s lasting contributions to Tacoma and the surrounding region on Thursday, November 21. More information on this open house reception is available at tacomaconventioncenter.org.
The leader in trade show and corporate event marketing education, Exhibitor Group publishes EXHIBITOR magazine, an award-winning publication featuring best practices in trade show marketing. The Centers of Excellence Awards was launched in 2019 to identify and recognize North America’s best convention centers for trade shows and events. Learn more at www.ExhibitorOnline.com.
Media contact:
Hillary Brenner
Marketing Director
hbrenner@tacomavenues.org
