PORT OF SEATTLE 
MEMORANDUM 
COMMISSION AGENDA               Item No.       7a 
STAFF BRIEFING             Date of Meeting   January 8, 2013 

DATE:    December 27, 2012 
TO:     Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
FROM:    Jane Kilburn, Director of Tourism Development 
SUBJECT:  Tourism program briefing 
SYNOPSIS: 
This briefing will outline major focus areas for the 2013 tourism development program at
the Port of Seattle, and will include an introduction of the Port's tourism representative in
the United Kingdom. 
BACKGROUND: 
The Port of Seattle owns and operates the 16th busiest airport in the nation and owns the
busiest embarkation cruise port on the West Coast. In addition, the Port owns and
operates a new rental car facility at the Airport, first-class marinas and its oldest facility,
Fishermen's Terminal, which is a major tourist attraction in the area. The Port has the
statutory authority to "expend moneys and conduct promotion of resources and facilities
in the district or general area by advertising, publicizing, or otherwise distributing
information to attract visitors and encourage tourist expansion," per RCW 53.08.255. 
The overarching goal of the Port's Century Agenda is to generate 100,000 new jobs in the
region in 25 years. One of the Century Agenda's initiatives is to "Make Washington a
preferred destination for international tourists from countries with which we have direct
flights." Details of the Century Agenda include doubling the economic value of cruise
traffic to Washington state. 
For 2011, visitors to this state spent $16.4 billion and contributed nearly $1 billion in
state and local taxes. The tourism industry supported more than 150,000 jobs and
generated earnings (salaries) of $4.5 million. For every 35 international visitors to our
country, one job is created.
The Port's tourism development group, a part of the Public Affairs Department, has a
mission to "extend the economic impact of the Port's cruise and airport businesses by
attracting international leisure visitors to Seattle and the region, extending the stay of
cruise passengers, and encouraging a welcoming environment for all visitors." The group
plans to achieve this goal by deepening and forming new partnerships throughout the

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
December 27, 2012 
Page 2 of 2 
state's tourism industry and in five selected international markets (U.K., France,
Germany, Japan, and China) which have direct air routes to and from Seattle. 
OTHER DOCUMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS BRIEFING: 
Computer slide presentation. 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS: 
May 8, 2012, tourism briefing and Commission Motion Honoring National
Travel and Tourism Week.