Seattle Southside Visitor Services (SSVS), the official tourism organization for Tukwila, Des Moines and SeaTac, has opened its new Visitor Center at Westfield Southcenter Mall.
Local officials cut the ribbon on the new visitor center Wednesday.
The new visitor center provides guests with personal concierge service for Pacific Northwest vacations.
“We’re extremely excited about our new visitor center, as it provides us with endless opportunities to connect with travelers, as well as community members,” said Katherine Kertzman, executive director of Seattle Southside Visitor Services, in a press release.
“Westfield Southcenter welcomes millions of shoppers each year and our premium location allows us to interact with them in ways we haven’t been able to before,” she said.
Complimentary visitor center services include restaurant recommendations; hotel reservation assistance and referrals; directions; brochures; maps and sightseeing guides; transportation guidance; advice on museums and entertainment – and details on how to get tickets; tour bookings; tips, suggestions and advice on area attractions and ticket information; and expert knowledge on local events, sports, festivals and activities.
The opening of the new visitor center was made possible by lodging-tax funding from the City of Tukwila. In addition, in-kind rental space from Westfield Southcenter and a sponsorship by The Museum of Flight further enhanced the opening of the center.
“This partnership was a natural fit to provide visitor services as well as expert knowledge about the region and available attractions,” said Mike Bush, director of marketing and public relations for The Museum of Flight.
The Seattle Southside Visitor Center, located on the first floor of the southwest corner of the mall, joins the original center located one block east of the Airport Light Rail Station at 3100 S. 176th St. in SeaTac.
The new center is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays.
For additional information about the Seattle Southside Visitor Services and the new visitor center, call 877-885-9452 or visit www.seattlesouthside.com/westfield-visitor-center.
Seattle Southside Visitor Services reports 2013 travel impact numbers are increasingly positive, with tourist spending $659.2 million in 2013.
The annual study, compiled by research firm Dean Runyan Associates, shows the best year on record for visitor spending, local and state tax receipts and tourism employment. Travel spending increased 5 percent from 2012 to 2013, marking the third consecutive year of strong growth in the Seattle Southside travel industry.
