Tacoma, Wash. (Nov. 20, 2020) – With the grand opening of the new Marriott Tacoma Downtown hotel on Nov. 18, Tacoma’s downtown has transformed into a more desirable and vibrant destination to welcome the future return of meetings, events and leisure travel. The new hotel, managed by Aimbridge Hospitality, has a skybridge connection to the Greater Tacoma Convention Center, and adds to the downtown core 304 convention-ready guestrooms, as well as more than 20,000 square feet of meeting and event space.
 
While the restrictions on large gatherings in Washington state continue, the opening of the Marriott Tacoma Downtown represents a new, forward-looking chapter in Tacoma’s history as a meetings and events destination. Upon the safe, responsible resumption of meetings, events, and travel in Washington state, the new property will enable Pierce County to host larger events than ever before. Specifically, the new hotel opens the destination to more mid-sized national association business, which tend to have larger events, meeting for more days, spending more money in local businesses, and ultimately contributing more economic impact.
 
“I am so excited to add a new hotel to downtown Tacoma. As we recover from COVID-19, this will allow the Greater Tacoma Convention Center to more readily hold conferences commensurate with the size of the facility while bringing more visitors to local shops and restaurants throughout the region," said Mayor Victoria Woodards. “The City was pleased to partner with the developer of this project, which adds a new dimension to our skyline.”
 
"We are thrilled to be joining the Tacoma community, bringing our patrons and guests an inviting, comfortable place to stay, eat, or meet in the heart of downtown," said Ben Osgood, General Manager of the Marriott Tacoma Downtown.
 
Combined with the Hotel Murano, Courtyard Tacoma Downtown, Silver Cloud Inn Tacoma Waterfront and Holiday Inn Express & Suites, downtown Tacoma now offers more than a thousand convention-ready rooms within walking distance of the convention center.
 
“This is a big day for Pierce County, and we’re excited to officially welcome Marriott Tacoma Downtown into the Tacoma hotel community,” said Dean Burke, President and CEO of Visit Tacoma-Pierce County – Mt. Rainier Tourism and Sports. “Having such a beautiful property adjacent to the Greater Tacoma Convention Center puts Tacoma into contention to host much larger meetings and events than ever before, which benefits the entire county. When these meetings and events come to Tacoma, they support restaurants, museums, attractions, and retail not just in Tacoma, but throughout Pierce County. We’re leaning forward with optimism about the pending COVID-19 vaccines, and looking forward to a time when we can again work with our hotel partners like the Marriott Tacoma Downtown to safely host those bigger events in downtown Tacoma.”
 
While the city welcomes a new hotel into the Tacoma hotel community, the Greater Tacoma Convention Center has been on the forefront of developing guidelines that will allow for safe reopening based on public health guidelines. The facility is currently open for very limited events, per Safe Start Washington. The Greater Way Forward is a set of such guidelines, developed in collaboration with the Washington Safe Meeting and Convention Coalition, to put sanitation and the safety of clients, guests and employees at the forefront of convention center operations.
 
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Media Contact:
Visit Tacoma-Pierce County – Mt. Rainier Tourism and Sports
Matt Wakefield, Sr. Communications Manager
matt@traveltacoma.com
Cell: (206) 412-5080
 
About Visit Tacoma-Pierce County – Mt. Rainier Tourism and Sports
Visit Tacoma-Pierce County – Mt. Rainier Tourism and Sports is the official destination marketing organization for Tacoma and Pierce County, Washington. Accredited by Destinations International. For more information, visit www.traveltacoma.com.