Visit Seattle

What Visit Seattle does

Visit Seattle is the statutorily designated, nonprofit destination marketing organization (DMO) for Seattle and King County, operating as Seattle King County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Founded in 1994 and headquartered at 701 Pike Street in downtown Seattle, the organization promotes the region to four primary customer segments: domestic and international leisure travelers, corporate and association meeting and convention planners, international inbound travel trade operators, and member tourism businesses (hotels, restaurants, attractions, arts organizations). Its product surface is anchored by visitseattle.org, a multilingual digital platform (with localized sites in seven languages) supported by an AI-powered trip planning assistant branded Emerald and built on GuideGeek infrastructure, original video programming through VISITSEATTLE.tv, a Bandwango-powered Perks Pass for local business discounts, Wheel the World accessibility integration, and Crowdriff-driven user-generated content aggregation. The organization supplements digital channels with three physical visitor information centers at the Seattle Convention Center and Pike Place Market, a dedicated convention sales field force covering Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and national accounts, and inbound tour operator coordination in English, Spanish, Korean, and Japanese.

Revenue mechanics combine recurring membership subscriptions from tourism businesses, commissions and service fees on booked convention business, referral partnerships with booking platforms (Expedia), public-private Tourism Private Sector Funds, and event sponsorships. Notable technology and innovation assets include the world's first drone scoreboard show (400 drones, Sky Elements partnership) for the FIFA World Cup 2026, a Certified Tourism Ambassador Program that trains front-line hospitality workers, and the Bandwango Perks Pass. The organization is governed by a board of directors, led by President & CEO Tammy Canavan, and reports visitation outcomes of 39.6 million visitors and $8.8 billion in regional visitor spending in 2025.

Name

Visit Seattle

Legal name

Seattle King County Convention and Visitors Bureau d/b/a Visit Seattle

Website

https://visitseattle.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Visit Seattle is a nonprofit destination marketing organization that promotes Seattle and King County to leisure travelers, meeting planners, and international visitors through a multilingual digital platform, convention sales, member services, and FIFA World Cup 2026 host-city campaigns.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Destination Marketing and Tourism Promotion Services

NAICS

Convention and Visitors Bureaus (561591), Travel Agencies (56151)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Full-Service Destination Management (Ground Handling & Onsite Operations) (THAHADAA)

Keywords

• Destination marketing services
• Convention sales
• Tourism promotion
• Visitor information services
• Travel trade marketing

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Programs: Visit Seattle operates membership programs for hotels, restaurants, attractions, and other tourism-related businesses in Seattle and King County. Members pay dues to access sales leads, marketing support, and visibility through Visit Seattle's promotional channels.
2. Convention Sales and Services: Visit Seattle generates revenue through convention sales efforts that bring group meetings and events to Seattle and King County venues. The organization earns commissions and service fees from booked convention business.
3. Visitor Services and Referrals: Provides visitor information services and generates referral revenue through partnerships with booking platforms including Expedia. The organization operates visitor centers and distributes visitor guides that support tourism commerce.
4. Public Affairs and Advocacy: Engages in public affairs activities including data collection on lost business from downtown challenges (crime, homelessness, safety), advocating with elected officials on behalf of the hospitality industry.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion5 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Visit Seattle operates as the official destination marketing organization (DMO) for Seattle and King County, delivering destination marketing through the visitseattle.org website platform, convention sales services that bring group meetings and events to the region, and visitor information services delivered via physical visitor centers and digital channels. The organization generates demand for the destination through marketing campaigns, membership programs for tourism businesses, and international travel trade partnerships, ultimately supporting the regional hospitality economy (39.6 million visitors, $8.8 billion in visitor spending in 2025).

Product overview

Visit Seattle operates as a destination marketing organization (DMO) for Seattle and King County, delivering its mission through a unified digital platform and a suite of industry programs. The core product is the Visit Seattle official website (visitseattle.org), a comprehensive travel planning destination providing editorial content on attractions, events, dining, lodging, neighborhoods, and transportation. The site integrates an AI-powered trip planning assistant branded as "Emerald" (powered by GuideGeek) for personalized travel recommendations, a digital Perks Pass powered by Bandwango offering local business discounts, verified accessibility information via Wheel the World, and social content aggregation through Crowdriff. Visit Seattle TV (VISITSEATTLE.tv) extends the platform with original video programming. The organization also runs the Seattle Certified Tourism Ambassador Program for hospitality workforce training and the annual Ovation Awards for industry recognition. The "Let's Play SEA 26" campaign and the associated drone scoreboard show represent the organization's flagship initiative for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Visit Seattle Official Website (visitseattle.org) The primary destination marketing platform for Seattle and King County, providing travel planning resources including attraction information, events, dining, lodging, transportation guides, neighborhood profiles, and interactive trip planning tools for leisure travelers. Includes multilingual international sites in Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), German, Japanese, Korean, French, and Spanish.
• Seattle Certified Tourism Ambassador Program An industry certification program that trains front-line hospitality employees and volunteers on best practices for welcoming visitors, ensuring they understand their role in increasing tourism to Seattle and King County. Targets hospitality workers and volunteers across the destination.
• VISITSEATTLE.tv A video content platform featuring original destination programming including series such as "I Know A Place," "Seattle Uncovered," "Seattle Bookmarked," and "What's Good Seattle," showcasing Seattle's culture, attractions, and local experiences to leisure travelers and travel trade audiences.
• Ovation Awards Annual industry awards program recognizing Seattle and King County hospitality professionals who go above and beyond, including categories for Tourism Leader of the Year, Community Leader of the Year, Arts & Culture Leader of the Year, Frontline Distinction, and Behind-the-Scenes Distinction.
• Convention Sales and Services Enterprise convention sales service delivered by Visit Seattle's regional sales directors (Mid-Atlantic, Midwest-Great Lakes) and national account directors to bring corporate, association, and independent group meetings, conventions, and incentive travel programs to Seattle and King County venues.
• Membership Program Tiered membership programs for hotels, restaurants, attractions, and other tourism-related businesses in Seattle and King County. Members pay annual dues to access sales leads, marketing tools, member extranet, marketing visibility through Visit Seattle's promotional channels, and public affairs advocacy support.
• Visitor Information Centers Physical visitor centers at the Seattle Convention Center Arch building (701 Pike Street), the Seattle Convention Center Summit building (Olive Way lobby), and Pike Place Market (First Avenue and Pike Street), providing in-person visitor services, maps, guides, and trip planning assistance to leisure travelers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 39.6 million visitors to Seattle and King County in 2025, generating $8.8 billion in visitor spending and $840 million in state and local tax revenue.
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• B-EngagedcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 December 2025Visit Seattle appointed B-Engaged to lead its global football strategy in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The agency develops campaigns focusing on Seattle's football culture, engaging international fans, and raising the city's profile as a World Cup destination, with a focus on media partnerships and content creation targeting Europe and Asia.
• Downtown Seattle AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on FIFA World Cup reflections and economic impact analysis for Seattle. Downtown Seattle Association, Seattle Host Committee, and Visit Seattle officials jointly assessed the tournament's success including record hotel revenue and visitor numbers, and are planning future mega-events including potential bids for the Women's World Cup 2031.
• Wheel the WorldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVisit Seattle partnered with Wheel the World to share the best accessibility information for Seattle visitors. The partnership features Seattle's Destination Verified page showcasing the best accessible experiences for travelers with disabilities.
• SEA Airport (Port of Seattle)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinated with SEA Airport for FIFA World Cup 2026 transportation logistics, providing visitors with information on airport amenities, transportation options, and travel-day soccer experiences during the tournament.
• Sound TransitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered for World Cup visitor transportation, with Sound Transit reporting record light rail boardings of 280,000 on Juneteenth during the tournament, supporting Seattle's claim of being a walkable, transit-friendly host city.
• CrewfarecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVisit Seattle partnered with Crewfare, a community-focused fan travel platform, to welcome World Cup fans. The platform enables affordable accommodation bookings while a portion of each booking supports local initiatives strengthening downtown neighborhoods beyond the tournament.
• Seattle Bank - Community Partnership ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVisit Seattle and Seattle Bank jointly operated a Community Partnership Program supporting BIPOC and LGBTQIA+-owned small businesses, with annual cohorts of selected businesses receiving promotional and community engagement support.
• IntentionalistminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVisit Seattle announced a partnership with Intentionalist to support small businesses and diverse local communities, encouraging locals and visitors to discover and support businesses from underrepresented community members.
• Destination BCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVisit Seattle coordinated cross-border planning with Destination BC for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, framing collaboration through the Cascadia concept (Pacific Northwest region encompassing Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia). Projected 350,000 match attendees and $1B+ in tourism revenue for the broader Cascadia region.
• Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian AirlinesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerServed as Signature Sponsors for the Visit Seattle Ovation industry awards event, supporting recognition of hospitality professionals in Seattle and King County.
• CORT Party RentalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerServed as Reception Sponsor for the Visit Seattle Ovation industry awards event.
• Delta Air LinesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerServed as Reception Sponsor for the Visit Seattle Ovation industry awards event.
• Sky Elements (Texas-based drone company)coreTechnology or IntegrationVisit Seattle engaged Sky Elements, a Texas-based drone company, to execute the world's first drone scoreboard for FIFA World Cup 2026. Sky Elements used 400 drones to create aerial displays showing match scores and flags against Seattle's skyline after each match hosted at Seattle Stadium.
• GuideGeekcoreTechnology or IntegrationVisit Seattle partnered with GuideGeek to power Emerald, a custom AI travel assistant launched to help visitors plan trips to Seattle, leveraging GuideGeek's AI platform infrastructure.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/visitseattle
• TikToktiktok.com/@visitseattle
• Xx.com/VisitSeattle
• Facebookfacebook.com/visitseattle
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/visit-seattle

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Visit Seattle