PCMA Countdown
Seattle Tourism Industry Invited to Participate in First-Ever Seattle Meeting of Convention Industry Giant

SCVB will officially launch the sponsorship program for the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) annual meeting at a May 22 membership luncheon in downtown Seattle (see Membership Events for details). PCMA President and CEO Deborah Sexton will be the featured speaker.

The first PCMA annual meeting to be held in the Pacific Northwest will take place in Seattle, January 13-16, 2008. Some 2,500-3,200 meeting professionals, CEO, and meetings and convention industry suppliers are expected to attend. In addition to the immediate economic impact from the meeting and its attendees, Seattle is expected to stimulate future bookings by other groups. Philadelphia, which hosted the 2006 conference, reports new bookings of more than $225.2 million.

Don't miss the opportunity to host or sponsor PCMA. Contact Joan Cahill, SCVB Director, Special Projects at 206-461-5834 or jcahill@visitseattle.org.

Full sponsorship information is available at www.visitseattle.org/pcma2008.

The Orthodontists are Coming!
One of Seattle's largest conventions in recent years takes place May 17-22. The American Association of Orthodontists will bring some 18,000 delegates to town and contribute an economic impact of more than $30 million. The citywide convention will use the Washington State Convention & Trade Center, 21 downtown Seattle hotels and numerous off-site venues. Hotels beyond downtown are expected to benefit as well, and many local restaurants, retail outlets and visitor attractions will see brisk business. Additionally, delegates affiliated with this association tend to bring family members to conventions and often add pre- and post-convention stays to their trips.

Travelers tip: Call or visit online the Seattle Super Saver program, which typically offers the last available rooms in the city during such peak periods.

(800) 535-7071 or www.seattlesupersaver.com

Chicago Sales Mission a Success
SCVB took Seattle-style hospitality to the Windy City May 10-11. A 28-member delegation composed of staff from the SCVB Convention Sales team, WSCTC, hotels, off-site venues and convention service providers hosted three receptions for Chicago area clients who represent definite business, are considering Seattle as a meeting site or are prospective clients. Events included a lunch at Topolobampo, the nation's most-celebrated Mexican restaurant; a reception at a champagne bar called Pops where guests enjoyed cool jazz and hot cuisine; and an Italian lunch that featured Washington wines. Members of the delegation also conducted in-person sales calls on targeted meeting planners not present at the receptions. Chicago is one of Seattle's top three geographic sources for convention business and is home to many key medical associations and corporate clients.

LEISURE TRAVEL UPDATE
Record Numbers of Appointments at Pow Wow
A record 120 tour operator and media appointments were conducted at the 39th Annual TIA International Pow Wow in Anaheim, April 21-25. SCVB's Don Welsh, Brad Jones, Michael Kurtz and David Blandford participated in the travel industry's premier international marketplace. More than 5,000 travel industry delegates from 70 countries held an estimated 47,000 business appointments, generating more than $4 billion in travel to the United States over the next three years.

Tourism and Wine Promoters Team Up in Japan
The Seattle - Washington State Tourism Mission, the destination's largest annual promotion to the Japanese travel industry, took place in Tokyo, Japan, March 11-14.

SCVB, the Port of Seattle and Washington State Tourism coordinated the mission. Delegation members included the Future of Flight, Hotel Deca, Mayflower Park Hotel, North Olympic Peninsula Convention & Visitors Bureau,Tillicum Village, Tourism Walla Walla, the Washington Wine Commission and the Yakima Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The mission, which coincided with Washington Wine Month in Japan, included the Washington Wine Commission and some of the state's top vintners who poured award-winning wines at a tourism reception for senior travel executives at the Westin Tokyo Hotel. In addition, guests dined on the creations of Fernando Divina, renowned Chef of Tendrils at Sagecliffe in Quincy, Washington.

Another reception for Japanese travel and travel trade media included journalists who had previously been to Washington State and were currently working on stories.

An educational seminar and table top trade show attracted a record 85 tour operators, travel agents, airline sales and marketing personnel and travel journalists. Professionals from major companies such as JTB and Kintetsu learned how to sell Seattle and Washington State to their clients. Robin Pollard, Executive Director of the Washington Wine Commission, was a featured presenter.

(Another) Record Cruise Season Begins
On April 23, Holland America Line's ms Zandaam and Celebrity Cruises' Mercury kicked off Seattle's 2007 cruise season. The Port of Seattle projects record passenger volumes of 390,040 this year. Five major cruise lines including Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Holland America will offer 190 vessel calls from the Port of Seattle through November 4.

Seattle will host the 25th Annual Travel Trade CRUISE-A-THON, June 1-4, which will feature a conference at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel and trade show at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center. Seattle last hosted the conference in 2005. This year, approximately 750 travel agents and trade industry professionals are expected to attend. Approximately 90 percent of all cruises are sold via travel agents, making CRUISE-A-THON a valuable opportunity to showcase Seattle and Pacific Northwest pre- and post-cruise add-ons. For more information, contact SCVB's Marj Snyder at (206) 461-5804 or msnyder@visitseattle.org.

For general information on CRUISE-A-THON, visit www.ttshows.com/cat_07_program.html.