Destination Information

View Seattle City Map

General Seattle Information
Seattle is anything but ordinary. It's a place where bike messengers share elevators with world-renowned researchers. Where fishermen have lunch alongside top surgeons. It's a city where the extraordinary is commonplace and commonplace is anything but. And if you look closely, you just might discover that in Seattle there are amazing things happening all around you.

Jim McCurdy, Seattle Resident and WorldatWork Advisory Board Member Offers his Insights about Seattle.
As an international business center of the Pacific Northwest, the Seattle metropolis is home to Starbucks, Microsoft, Nintendo, Amazon.com and nearly four million people, including Jim McCurdy, CCP, GRP. A senior compensation analyst, with more than 28 years experience at one of Seattle’s largest employers, The Boeing Company, Jim supports base pay management, variable compensation and job analysis for Boeing operations in the United States and around the world. He has been entertaining people in his home city for years, and when he learned that WorldatWork would be coming to Seattle in May for the conference, the experienced tour guide volunteered to provide his insights on how to enjoy the city.

Hotel Information

IMPORTANT NOTICE — Hotel Reservations
As of Thursday, May 14, the WorldatWork Housing Bureau is no longer accepting reservations (through phone or the Housing Bureau web-site). If you would like to make reservations, or need to make a change to an existing reservation at one of the host properties, you will need to contact them directly.

There is still availability at all of the host properties. Be sure to mention that you are with WorldatWork. Unfortunately, WorldatWork cannot guarantee the group rate after the cut-off date of Wednesday, May 13.
For more information, click here.

Seattle Activities

Don’t miss these renowned Seattle landmarks and local favorites.

Farmers Market
Opened for business since 1907, Pike Place Market is one of the oldest continually operated public farmers’ markets in the United States. The market has different levels, featuring a potpourri of exotic and exciting shops, restaurants, fishmongers, fresh produce stands and craft stalls.  Make sure you visit one of the market’s major attractions: Pike Place Fish Market, where employees throw three-foot salmon to each other.

Ferry Ride
The Washington State Ferry System is the largest ferry system in the United States and the third-largest in the world. The mass transit system through the Puget Sound carries more than 25 million passengers each year.

Lattes
Just a few blocks from the Pike Place Fish Market, the fuel of the modern workforce was founded — Starbucks. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world and has seen success not only with lattes, but also with ice cream, water and mugs.

Locks
The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks (also known as the Ballard Locks) are a complex of locks in Salmon Bay, connecting the Puget Sound to Lake Washington and Lake Union. Anyone interested in marine biology can see how different species of salmon change from fresh water to saltwater through an intricate fish ladder. Visitors to the locks can observe the salmons’ progress and how the sea lions try to catch them.

Space Needle
Locals call it The Needle. This historic landmark is as tall as a 60-floor building and is the compromise of two architects for the 1962 World’s Fair, with designs featuring a balloon tethered to the ground and a flying saucer, when the new frontier of outer space was a major goal. Today, tourists can ride up in 43 seconds and enjoy a meal in the SkyCity restaurant at the observation deck that rotates 360 degrees.

Seattle Art Museum
With three unique locations throughout the city, the Seattle Art Museum will capture the appreciation of any artist. The main museum is in downtown Seattle, the Seattle Asian Art Museum is on Capitol Hill and the Olympic Sculpture Park with free admission is on the Seattle waterfront (it ought to be beautiful at the time of conference). The collections of modern and ethnic art are notable.

Aquarium
The newly expanded Seattle Aquarium is located on Pier 59 and boasts the Window on Washington Waters with up-close looks at salmon, rockfish, sea anemones, kelp and other marine life that is great for a family or group activity.

Aviation Center and Boeing Tour
Covering almost 100 acres, this facility is a must-see for any aerospace enthusiast, like Jim. “Employees have to use electric carts and bikes to get around it,” he said. Visitors will see the assembly lines of 747, 767, 777 and 787 planes. The exhibits feature an X-15 flight simulator, a future concepts zone and a place for visitors to design and print their own airplanes.

Airport Information

Sea-Tac International Airport is approximately 15 miles from the Washington State Convention & Trade Center and the host hotels.

Taxi: Approximately $33 USD one way.

For more information about shuttles, transit, taxis, limos, etc. from the airport please click here.