About Bellevue
Bellevue stands perfectly between the densely wooded land between Lake Washington and Lake Sammamish. It is excellently located and near major cities like Seattle, yet far away to not get disturbed by the excessive hustle and bustle of large cities. The town has grown since the 1950s and has become a thriving metropolis with corporate culture while still retaining its suburban charm.
The proximity and lifestyle of Bellevue make it an ideal meeting space for small and large businesses. The connectivity to other cities, shopping districts, and excellent vendors and retailers make meeting spaces in Bellevue a success. You can host large and small conferences, meetings, seminars, and even corporate getaways and team-building activities in Bellevue.
Meeting Options in Bellevue
Bellevue, thanks to its central location, is an excellent meeting place for dignitaries, top management, and for re-training seminars. To create successful meeting spaces, rely on some fantastic vendors in and around Bellevue.
- Food Options
Once you have the perfect Bellevue meeting space, consider all the catering and food options. In Bellevue there are several excellent caterers to help make the meeting space a warm and welcome one, along with supplying delicious dishes. After all, attendees looking forward to good food usually have good moods.
- Equipment Rentals
No meeting is complete without excellent quality equipment. Bellevue offers several options for equipment rentals to help with the sound, audio-video set up, lighting, projector setups, tablet setup, and more. Ensure you have all the basics set up. Some meeting spaces in Bellevue also offer their own equipment for rent. Take a look at these before finalizing a vendor.
- Transportation
Attendees traveling from out of town always need transfers to the hotel from nearby airports, train stations, and major bus stops. Arrange for good-quality transportation to ensure that all attendees are well cared for. One great way to make them feel looked after is to ensure they are greeted by their official names and escorted to their hotels.
Meeting Companies in Bellevue
As you organize your Bellevue meeting space, take the advice and assistance of local companies to get things ready.
- Lish Foods Corporate Catering
Lish Foods are known for their varieties in small and large corporate catering. They can be hired for meeting spaces in Bellevue to help with food service, prep, and clear-ups. Some of their cuisines are Asian, Mediterranean, American, Mexican, Indian, and more. They also have a wide range of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options to suit all palates.
- Service Solutions AV
Service Solutions are excellent at helping set up meeting spaces in Bellevue. They have high-quality 4K Ultra HD screens, monitors, projectors, stage and podium lighting for speakers, LED video walls for outdoor lighting in the sun, and some best-in-industry audiovisual equipment. They also have 2D and 3D projection mapping for product launches and services.
- Aero Rent-A-Car
Aero Rent-A-Car is excellent for attendees who prefer affordable transport and yet have special and unique cars. The rates per day are pretty competitive, and if you need to hire a fleet of cars for the meeting in Bellevue, consider Aero Rent-A-Car.
Pros and Cons of Meetings in Bellevue
As with any city, it is best to know the good and bad before making a final choice. It is also essential that you prepare for emergency situations and have backups ready for your meeting space in Bellevue.
Advantages
- Close proximity to major cities
The close proximity and distance to major cities like Seattle make Bellevue an ideal meeting space. The international airport is also less than 20 miles from Bellevue, which makes travel much more accessible.
- Shopping
The Bellevue Collection and other shopping districts and areas make entertainment and shopping relatively easy. The presence of VIPs and others who come for meeting spaces in Bellevue has resulted in upscale stores like Gucci and Louis Vuitton.
- Choice of vendors
Bellevue is a large city and is also in close proximity to other major centers. This means that you have a great choice of vendors for essential items like technical equipment and more.
Disadvantages
- Traffic
As with any central city, getting to the meeting space in Bellevue is a headache. The streets (especially during peak hours) are jam-packed with cars and buses. Interstates 90 and 405 also experience acute traffic resulting in heavy freeway jams.
- Frequent rainfall
Bellevue sees a lot of rainfall, with an average of 42 inches of rain per annum. While it isn’t always a heavy downpour, the drizzle and grey skies can be slightly depressing. It is best to consider letting attendees know that they should keep an umbrella for unexpected showers.
- Public transport
Bellevue has buses and taxis but a flawed public transport system. It doesn’t have a subway metro like you would find in Seattle and other cities in Washington. However, a boat service is available for people traveling from Bellevue to Seattle (via Lake Washington).
Famous Locations in Bellevue
- Bellevue Arts Museum
The Bellevue Arts Museum (BAM) has an impressive collection of artwork from regional and international artists. It has self-guided tours with excellently trained curators. The BAM also has educational workshops for all ages, with free admission for special lectures and seminars.
- Bellevue Botanical Garden
The Bellevue Botanical Garden is famous for housing a majority of the Pacific Northwestern flora. Located on Main Street, the 53-acre garden also has an impressive Rock Garden and a gorgeous Dahlia Display (seasonal). The best way to see everything is to participate in a class or sign up for a tour.
- The Bellevue Collection
The Bellevue Collection comprises three shopping areas concentrated in the Bellevue downtown area. You can shop for unique, name-brand designer clothes, retail outlets, bags, shoes, and seasonal wear. During the festival season, Bellevue Collection is decked out to impress with the emphasis of Snowflake Lane. Here you will find plenty of restaurants, small and large shops, quick trinkets, and quirky marketplaces alongside branded designer labels and boutiques.
