EXHIBITOR magazine, a leading industry publication, has named the Greater Tacoma Convention Center to its best convention centers in North America for a sixth time. Convention centers were evaluated based on a wide variety of criteria in five primary areas: Facility & Functionality, Location & Accommodations, Service & Execution, Expansions & Upgrades, and finally, Honors & Awards.
The evaluation included a survey of event organizers and exhibit managers who have recently experienced events within each facility, as well as a review of event spaces, selling points, nearby attractions, 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 2026 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 the number and size of the bays on the loading dock to the cost and quality of internet service can significantly impact exhibitors' experiences. “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, Chicago, Denver, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Miami Beach, San Diego, Washington, D.C., and others.
Since opening in 2004, the Greater Tacoma Convention Center has been an economic catalyst, drawing over 100,000 visitors annually for a total of nearly 2.6 million guests and a cumulative economic impact of approximately $675 million. In 2024 alone, events hosted at the convention center generated an estimated $23 million in economic benefit and supported nearly 19,000 hotel room nights throughout Pierce County, including Fife, University Place, and Lakewood.
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.
