Who We Are

Seattle Southside RTA is a quasi-public corporation. It’s legally separate from the cities, with public oversight and active private-sector participation on the board of directors. All board meetings are open to the public (and held according to the Open Public Meetings Act, Chapter 42.30 RCW). The RTA is chartered by the City of SeaTac as part of legislation enabling the region to collect a self-initiated Tourism Promotion Area (TPA) special assessment on room nights via an Interlocal Cooperation Agreement as required by the TPA legislation.

In South King County, there’s both the Chamber of Commerce and the RTA. And both organizations market Seattle Southside. The RTA handles visitors, meetings, group tours and sports events. The Chamber assists new residents moving in and relocating or expanding businesses.

The RTA represents all tourism-related businesses within Des Moines, SeaTac and Tukwila and does not charge a membership fee.

Funding for the RTA comes from a TPA special assessment of $2.00 per room per night collected by hoteliers, and those funds are directed to the RTA for management. (Occupancy taxes and special assessments are typically the way the visitor sector of the economy provides for destination marketing.)

The RTA will continue to contract with the cities for additional local lodging tax dollars to market the region. The lodging tax is a special 1% room tax visitors pay when they stay in Seattle Southside hotels, motels, campgrounds or bed-and-breakfasts. A percentage of this tax is invested into the RTA to attract more overnight visitors to the region and serve them, in order to replenish the lodging tax funds. These tax revenues provide visitor services and facilities and group sales and tourism promotion through a variety of marketing and communications initiatives.

It’s the RTA’s fiduciary duty to use these funds to promote the region to travelers and to report our results. Find out how we plan on accomplishing this with success in “Destination 2020.”

View the Strategic Plan: “Destination 2020”

To position Seattle Southside as a destination of choice for practical travelers to Seattle while enhancing the image and economic strength of the region.

As a brand-driven and entrepreneurial destination marketing organization, Seattle Southside Regional Tourism Authority provides advocacy and innovative services to competitively market the destination. This function helps create jobs, grow tax revenues and improve quality of life for our businesses and residents.

Seattle Southside RTA is a national award–winning destination marketing organization. We believe that the best way to attract visitors is through a coordinated, cooperative alliance with our regional tourism business community.

Seattle Southside RTA represents over 60 hotels and nearly 8,000 hotel rooms, more than 100 full-service restaurants and more than five million square feet of shopping, making Seattle Southside the perfect home base for leisure travelers, business travelers, and meeting and event attendees to experience Seattle and the Pacific Northwest.

Marketing & Communications
Seattle Southside RTA’s Marketing and Communications Department focuses on expanding brand awareness among new and repeat consumers. We work to inspire travel, engage visitors during every stage of the travel cycle, deepen relationships and increase overall leisure travel.

Utilizing social media tools and platforms, we connect with current and potential customers. Even before they begin the research process, our efforts have put Seattle Southside top of mind. And because we position ourselves as the local expert on all things travel in the Pacific Northwest, we are able to deepen trust and increase connections.

That trust is carried through the website, where relevant and current content supports the customer’s journey through the travel planning process and delivers on our promise of being able to Do More in Seattle Southside.

Because we understand our target audience, we are able to implement campaigns that speak directly to them. We give them valuable reasons to consider visiting (or revisiting) Seattle Southside. Our focus on multiple segments encourages increases in shoulder-season visits and overall occupancy, as well as expands other markets, such as the sports market.

Business Development
The Business Development department is committed to bringing about awareness, supplying and analyzing research, providing valuable services and creating positive visitor experiences.

Seattle Southside is the ideal location to host events of all kinds. There is a wide range of facilities with unique offerings in the Seattle Southside area, such as Starfire Sports Complex, Des Moines Waterfront and The Museum of Flight. In addition, no destination in the Pacific Northwest is better positioned than Seattle Southside, due to our close proximity to major transportation options like the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Link light rail and the freeway system, allowing convenient access from anywhere. Seattle Southside’s abundant and diverse lodging options, local attractions and dining choices offer coaches, participants and spectators experiences they’re looking for.

Our Business Development staff builds awareness through a marketing strategy that reaches local, state and national levels to better serve clients and industry partners. In addition to this marketing plan, the staff maintains strong partnerships with the Seattle Sports Commission and industry associations such as MPI, WSAE, PCMA, NTA and NASC. Whether you’re a regional or national association or looking to plan a corporate meeting, a military reunion, sports tournament or any sort of event, we have the insights to help support your success.