Seattle Business Hotels

Flanked by water on two sides, i.e. Lake Washington and the Pacific Ocean, the city's industry was always going to be associated with port and seagoing activities. Known as the 'Gateway to Alaska', cruise ships are a common sight in the port but it was the timber trade which first built the city, aided by the commercial benefits of the Klondike Gold Rush. Founded in the 1850s the city is not so old but in that relatively short space of time it has grown and developed into a major business center of the Pacific North West by virtue of business acumen, technology expertise and a very high standard of education.

It is certainly a smart city, with highest rates of literacy in the States and a greater level of graduates than any comparable city. In the modern world it is not enough simply to work hard but to work smart too, a philosophy recognized and realized within Seattle business hotels. Technology and innovation come naturally to a city which is home to Boeing Aerospace, Microsoft and a host of Biotechnology companies. It is a prime location for start-up businesses with progressive ideas including those within the green economy. The city's port, as always provides a perennial and significant commercial and industrial contribution to the city's economy

With so many business of every scope and size, the demand for business hotels in the city is high. The market for such accommodation certainly includes corporate clients who have short term business interests in the city but also the large convention crowds attending business meetings or academic conferences. Often Seattle business hotels will be directly associated with conference facilities and in addition will have a range of small to medium sized meeting spaces for hire within the hotel. These are often available in boardroom, classroom and seminar sizes, and often the boardrooms and smaller meeting rooms can be booked on short notice or on an ad hoc basis.

For larger meetings and conferences on a half day basis, full day or longer, full meetings packages are available incorporating everything required for the meeting or event including event management, catering, and all equipment and audio visual technologies. Those attending meetings at the venues associated with Seattle business hotels can often enjoy discounted rates on accommodation too and certainly access to the hotels additional business and leisure facilities for the duration of the event.

Any top hotel in the city will have a range of features for the corporate traveller but the Seattle business hotels will be designed with with the needs of business guests as a top priority. In this respect while most hotels will provide access to s selection of office equipment and services, a business hotel will likely have a dedicated business center, often staffed and open 24 hours a day. In here guests will find internet ready computers and machines with copy, print and fax functions. There may also be laptops and cell phones for hire and directories available listing all the local businesses and contacts.

Seattle business hotels will usually offer a range of accommodation options, from standard rooms to extended executive suites. Even the most basic rooms will be well equipped for guests to conduct their business, with standard features such as work desks, wired and wireless high speed internet, and telephones with speakerphone, voice mail and international direct dialing. Satellite televisions will provide access to all the usual entertainment channels but also to international news, finance and business channels. There are many other standard hotel services which may be of use to the corporate traveler, such as shoe shine, dry cleaning and morning newspaper delivery to the room.

At the upper end of the scale are the executive suites which as well as offering extra lounge and work spaces often come with many additional privileges and benefits. Sometimes sections or floors of the hotel will be exclusively for executive use and have features such as a separate entrance with flexible check-in times, and an executive lounge, where guests can relax in comfort and style. Commonly available services as part of an executive package also include hotel parking, airport transfers and business concierge.

Whatever the time spent in the city most visitors will want to experience some of its leisure aspects and undoubted charms and there will often be a visitor information service available from Seattle business hotels to encourage guests to get out and about in the city. The hotels themselves will have leisure features too course, from great dining and drinks environments to stress-busting exercise, swimming and spa facilities. In a city where Starbucks and coffee shop culture was born, there will at the very least be somewhere within its business hotels to enjoy a good cup of coffee.