What is…

Visit Seattle

The destination marketing organization for Seattle and King County. What it is, how it is paid for, and its contract with the convention center.

Updated November 6, 2026.

What is it?

Visit Seattle is, in its own words, "a private, non-profit destination marketing organization (DMO) serving Seattle and King County." It says it exists "to champion the region as a world-class destination for travel and tourism and promote the economic power of travel," and states its mission as "Responsibly grow the visitor economy for the benefit of our community." Its legal name in IRS records is the Seattle-King County Convention and Visitors Bureau, a 501(c)(6) organization.

Its website is aimed at visitors, and it has separate sections for meeting planners, the travel trade and the press.

How is it paid for?

Visit Seattle says its funding comes from "many sources, including hotel occupancy tax revenue from Seattle-King County visitors," its membership program (more than 750 local businesses), marketing programs, government contracts for service, and miscellaneous revenue.

One of those sources is the Seattle Tourism Improvement Area, which Visit Seattle describes as a business improvement area formed in 2011 under Washington law. It says a ratepayer advisory board oversees the area and that Visit Seattle manages its day-to-day activities.

Who runs it?

A board of directors and a president and CEO, Tammy Canavan, as listed on its leadership page on November 6, 2026. The board's officers are the chair, Brian Flaherty, president of Columbia Hospitality; the vice chair, Scott Stulen of the Seattle Art Museum; the past chair; and a secretary/treasurer. The directors listed include managers and owners of Seattle hotels and attractions. How the board is chosen is not described on the page.

What is its relationship to the convention center?

The Washington State Convention Center Public Facilities District, which does business as the Seattle Convention Center, has a contract with Visit Seattle "to market the convention center." The District's audited financial statements say it paid Visit Seattle $10.6 million in FY2024, that the payments "may be modified at the discretion of the Board," and that the money comes from lodging tax revenues. Visit Seattle also keeps an information kiosk in both the Summit and the Arch. Visit Seattle lists the Seattle Convention Center among its strategic partners.

Sources: Visit Seattle, "About Us" (visitseattle.org/about-us) and "Leadership" (visitseattle.org/about-us/leadership), both read November 6, 2026 (self-description, funding, Seattle Tourism Improvement Area, officers, directors, CEO, partners, office); WSCC PFD FY2024 audited financial statements (seattlecc.com/governance/financial-reports), management's discussion and "Other Commitments – Marketing" (the contract, the $10.6 million, the Board's discretion, the kiosks); ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer listing of EIN 91-1644435 (legal name and 501(c)(6) status), read November 6, 2026. Every date and figure above can be checked against them.

Ivan Schneider is the founding editor of the Convention City Dispatch.

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