Seattle, Washington:  The “Emerald City” is one of only (12) major cities in the U.S that will host the FIFA World Cup 2026 games.  Lumen Field in Seattle is already the site for numerous national and international soccer games; hosting (6) FIFA games 9n 2026 will elevate Seattle’s recognition as a favorite destination for soccer players and fans around the world! 

The momentum is behind Seattle to grow in even greater pre-eminence as a “must visit” destination in the U.S.  And now, Visit Seattle in partnership with HSMAI Seattle and sponsored by Amadeus, is proactively working to ensure that their destination accommodations are prepared to benefit from the increase of interest from the international market.   

An increasing number of travelers rely on the travel trade to arrange accommodation reservations and other details for overseas travel.   Visit Seattle and its co-sponsors ae offering a program to educate their hotel partners about the “why and how” of utilizing the B2B framework, the engine that drives international inbound travel.   

Today’s travelers increasingly desire an immersive and curated experience in the destinations to which they are traveling.  This is especially true regarding the type of accommodation, amenities and services offered.  Visitors to the U.S. want their stay to be uniquely personalized.  Seattle, a one-of-a-kind city that comprises of 41% water and is situated against the backdrop of the magnificent Mount Rainier, is particularly suited to offer a one-of-a-kind experience to overnight visitors.   It features both natural outdoor beauty and a sophisticated cosmopolitan city vibe!   

The International Inbound Tourism Association (IITA) has contracted with Alon Tourism Solutions who have developed a streamlined training program that educates destinations and destination accommodations and other products “how to” engage with the travel trade for the purpose of increasing uptake by global travelers. 

Visit Seattle and its co-sponsors recently presented the Inbound Insider: Steps to Success™ program to its accommodation partners.  This program will give participating venues the ability to position their hotels to be included in the world-wide business of travel.  Receptive Operators in the U.S. will contract with Tour Operators whose Travel Agents will sell Seattle as a premier destination to potential travelers all over the world.   This “sales channel” has the added benefit of creating greater product exposure; Seattle will also have their destination and its accommodations exposed to new markets globally!