Tukwila and SeaTac Tourism Poised for Success

Moving Wall Coming to Washington Memorial Park

Taking Advantage of Beauty in Your Midst

Red Roof Inn's Changing Status

New Local Transportation Company for Hire

Today's Sponsors

Automatic Data Processing (ADP)

City Kids Child Care

Brian Povolny, Orthodontist

Simply Thai

Spencer's for Steaks and Chops

TUKWILA-SEATAC, Washington - February 25, 2002 - The cities of Tukwila and SeaTac have signed a three- year Interlocal Agreement (ILA) for the purposes of promoting tourism on the Southside, and each city plans to contribute $350,000 annually to the effort.

"Our two cities individually have a lot to offer the visitor, but together, we have an increased ability to stimulate potential tourists' interest and desire to visit us," said Tukwila Mayor Steve Mullet. "We complement one another extremely well," said Joe Brennan, SeaTac's deputy mayor and chair of that city's Hotel Motel Tax Advisory Committee. "Whereas SeaTac has the lion's share of guest rooms, meeting facilities and the airport, Tukwila is an important regional center for retail shopping, dining, and family entertainment. Tukwila has more than 5 million square feet of retail shopping, the world famous Museum of Flight, eight-acre Family Fun Center, golf, movie theaters, and much more."

Last year, SeaTac International Airport brought 13.5 million tourists to the area. The cities proximity to downtown Seattle and the airport makes Southside an ideal destination for out of town guests. Most hotels/motels offer complimentary airport shuttle service. While regularly scheduled shuttle services is available to hotel/motel guests round trip to downtown Seattle for only $12.

Together SeaTac and Tukwila have approximately 7,800 guest rooms available within five minutes of the airport. This represents 26 percent of the lodging capacity in King County. The area included in the two-city cooperative agreement features a full range of guest accommodations from short-stay to extended-stay facilities. These hotels are typically priced 20 to 30% less than lodging in downtown Seattle.

The initial action plan of the two cities includes a $230,000 media branding blitz to promote Southside tourism, as well as a website, a kiosk program in all hotels, and a toll-free number serving all Tukwila and SeaTac hotels. Potential visitor calls can be transferred directly to any hotel during business hours. An after- hours automated attendant/directory will allow callers to reach their hotel of choice.

Travelers will be encouraged to dine at Southside restaurants through the use of concierge books placed in hotel lobbies. These publications will feature photos, sample menus and restaurant hours.

"The Southside has traditionally proven attractive to regional travelers from eastern Washington and Alaska," said Katherine Kertzman, Program Director, Seattle's Southside Visitors Information Services, the new name for the two-city cooperative program. "Many travel destinations with such regional markets did well, even in the recent downturn, because people chose to travel shorter distances. We plan to continue to develop this regional market for the Southside".  

For more information on Seattle Southside Visitor Information Services, please call 206-575-2489, or visit them online at http://www.seattlesouthside.com. 

The famous Moving Wall, the only replica of the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington, DC, is coming to Bonney-Watson Washington Memorial Park, located at 16445 International Blvd. in SeaTac on October 17, 2002 and will stay at the park through October 23^rd.  The 253-foot-long Moving Wall was constructed in 1983 by the Vietnam Combat Veteran’s LTD and took two years to complete.  The Wall consists of aluminum panels, painted with a two-part polyurethane gloss black finish and lists 58,225 names of individuals lost in the Vietnam War.

"The Moving Wall will dramatically change activities and the daily flow here," Cameron Smock, Bonney-Watson Washington Memorial Park Vice President and General Manager, said.  According to Smock, the presentation of The Moving Wall two to three years ago in Tacoma brought in thousands of visitors, all within a week.

Since assuming his position in 1996, Smock has been working closely with the Veterans Advisory Board to bring The Moving Wall to Seattle.  After six years of planning, Smock secured the contract on Feb. 20, 2002 to ensure The Wall's appearance at Washington Memorial Park this fall.

For decades, Washington Memorial Park has offered Memorial Day Ceremony Services and a Fall Prisoner of War (POW) and Missing in Action (MIA) Ceremony (usually the third week of September), which has been presented since 1991.  The POW/MIA Ceremony consists of a 24-hour caravan vigil beginning in Olympia and ending at the park.

For years, Washington Memorial Park has had close connections with POW and MIA efforts.  The park has the first-ever living memorial in the nation for POWs and MIAs.  The park also has six permanent, aboveground Veteran Memorial Monuments on its present 70-acre property.  "Bringing The Wall to the park is a way we can honor our Veterans," Smock said.  "Because of our close ties with the Veteran and POW/MIA communities, it just seemed natural for us to bring The Moving Wall here and host it."

Not only is the presentation of the wall at the park a monumental community event, but The Wall's coming to town in 2002 is significant for the Veteran community as well, for this year marks the 20th anniversary of the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington, DC.

Volunteers will be needed from the local community to help meet the needs of visitors to the area during the seven-day visit.  The Bonney-Watson Washington Memorial Park will be sponsoring the event.  Organizations and individuals interested in learning more can call Smock at 206-242-1787 or visit the memorial's website at http://www.themovingwall.org or, for more information regarding Bonney-Watson Washington Memorial Park, call 206-242-1787 or visit http://www.bonneywatson.com.

Not far from where you live lies a local diamond in the rough. Located next to the North SeaTac Park Community Center at S 138th & 24th Ave. S, the Highline Botanical Garden is setting down roots and will soon blossom into a beautiful botanical garden. 

Construction on the new Botanical Garden began in April 2000. The first phases developed were a redesigned entry for the Community Center and a new Elda Behm Paradise Garden, honoring Elda's long gardening history. Elda's plants were relocated during the winter of 2000/2001 and work continues on the new garden site. The Grand Opening is slated for the fall of 2002. 

Professional grant writer and volunteer Board Member, Wendy Morgan has been instrumental in acquiring $35k for implementation of irrigation systems, essential to the gardens survival, to be installed this year. She helped firm up plans with the Highline Exchange Club who committed $8k for designing the children's garden that should be created this year. 

Last year John Russell, owner of the Redmond based Russell Water Gardens, volunteered to donate the labor for installation of a water feature. The water feature, using three pumps and costing $11-18k, will highlight a three tiered fountain, stream, recirculating water, Koi and aquatic plants. Elda, herself, has raised $5k in pledges for this feature. Wendy is writing a grant for the monies to complete what they need for the hard materials. 

A volunteer board oversees the garden. One of the things they are interested in doing this year is building a stronger volunteer board by adding a CPA and someone with marketing and PR skills. If you are interested in helping the board build a strong non-profit business, contact Jacqueline Carroll at banjo_artist@hotmail.com. 

Local businesses will appreciate the desire of the board to partner with them. Becoming a year-round destination location would result in increased business traffic. Potential ideas for possible promotions include onsite concerts/benefits, wine and cheese tasting, Oktoberfest beer garden, Halloween safe haven, a Christmas lighting, extravaganza or, perhaps, Mother's Day teas.

Education, another major objective of the garden, is found in its mission statement. Various local high school students gained community service credit by volunteering at the garden last Spring. Partnering with local educators, 20 seniors were onsite daily while fellow sophomores and juniors at Highline were taking mandatory tests. Part-time Garden Manager and Board Member, Greg Butler, who is a landscape designer, gave direction to the students who spent time moving soil and chipped wood as well as digging holes and planting various flora. Teachers at both Mt. Rainier and Highline are interested in setting up science, biology and horticulture programs using the garden as a classroom. Another local resident desires to develop a children's education program for the garden. From its inception, founders have encouraged both Highline Community College and South Seattle Community College to use the garden as a hands-on source for horticultural classes. Even new Master Gardeners will have the opportunity to select the Highline Botanical Garden as their site of training this spring.

The Highline Botanical Garden wants to be a place of beauty where you can escape to, a business resource and an educational outpost. However, this is YOUR garden. What do you want it to be? How can you take advantage of this beauty in your midst? The board welcomes your input. For more information on membership, volunteering or to give your input, visit the Highline Gardens website at www.highlinegarden.org.

Since December of 2000, the SeaTac Airport Red Roof Inn has been part of the Accor Economy Lodging Corporation. Changing from franchise to corporate status has allowed the property to unite with nationwide marketing efforts. Guests experience consistent quality at all Accor locations.

Accor, the world's third largest hotel holding company, owns over 1,600 hotel properties internationally, including Motel 6 and Studio 6, and Novotel (three star properties) and Sofitel (five star properties). Accor owns 300 Red Roof Inns nationwide and has been adding 40 new Red Roof Inn properties nationwide every year since 1999.

While Accor's nationwide marketing efforts have positioned the local Red Roof Inn favorably in the market, the hotel also has been experiencing higher occupancy levels from walk-ins. One factor contributing to the higher walk-in rate is that Red Roof Inn room rates are less than other area lodging venues. For a Standard or two Queen bed room, Red Roof Inn charges $49.99 a night and $54.99 a night for a King bed room.

According to General Manager, Heidi Markey, the Red Roof Inn has positioned itself to help business people who are traveling on their own dollar. Competitive pricing and the following list of amenities focus on this strategy: free local calls, voice mail, data port phones, fax machine services, copy machine services, a USA Today newspaper, Showtime/ESPN/CNN/ESPN 2/TBS/TNT, a free continental breakfast, 24-hour airport shuttle service (runs every 30 minutes), guest laundry services, in-house movies, video games, a fitness room and children under 18 stay free. The Red Roof Inn is also pet friendly and offers complimentary, free shuttle service to any location within a five-mile radius of the hotel. Guests have found that Red Roof Inn has established a great rapport with taxi and town car services in the area for transportation to downtown Seattle and the waterfront attractions. 
Red Roof also offers a fall through spring park and fly package to travelers. For a low $89.99, travelers can stay for a night at the hotel and keep their car in the hotel's main parking lot for up to 10 days. The summer rate is slightly higher. 

Since its addition to Accor's holdings, the SeaTac property has been continuously upgrading its room furnishings and motel décor. "Corporate Red Roof Inn consistently reinvests money for improvements to its hotel properties," Heidi Markey, Red Roof Inn General Manager, said. "No matter the occupancy levels, Corporate will allocate funds annually for capital improvements. Our top priority is quality and customer service."

For more information on the Red Roof Inn, or to book a reservation, call either their local number 206-248-0901 or their toll-free number 1-800-RED-ROOF. You may also visit them online at http://www.redroof.com.

Five-month-old Etcetera Transportations is appropriately named as it offers a variety of transportation services.  The company provides pick-up, drop-off, share-ride and chartering services to SeaTac International Airport, the train station, the bus station, ferry terminals, sports stadiums, shopping malls and other Seattle area attractions.  The company also provides fast delivery services for customers including office-to-office mail, document transfers, and pick-ups from airline claim offices within the transit company’s service area (all of King County, Tacoma, Olympia and Everett).  Charter services can go beyond the service area if arrangements are made in advance. 

On October 7, 2001, Etcetera Transportations set up its fleet, which includes one white, five-passenger Lincoln Town Car and two burgundy executive 12-passenger vans.  In early February of this year, Etcetera added a beautiful BMW straight limousine to its fleet.

Etcetera Transportations is a family run business owned by Uwem and Gloria Usoro.  They are assisted by their children and two other hired drivers.  Uwem has 17 years experience as an electrical engineer with the Washington State Department of Transportation.  He is the administrative and staffing director, and public relations officer.  Gloria has five years experience as a commercial driver and capably trains Etcetera drivers.  She also oversees the fleet’s general operations and reservations for the company.

The Usoros have had a passion to see expansion in the transportation industry in south King County and greater Seattle area for nearly 10 years.  Uwem said, “Growth means being flexible and having a willingness to face the challenge.  Etcetera Transportations is a name that rings the bell when it comes to transportation services.” 

For more information on Etcetera Transportations, or to make a reservation for transportation to any place within metropolitan Seattle and neighboring cities, call 206-764-0856, or call toll-free at 1-800-764-0856.  Etcetera Transportations can also be visited online at http://www.etceteratransportations.com.

Today's Sponsors

Automatic Data Processing (ADP)

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) is the industry leader in staffing, managing, paying, and retaining qualified employees.  ADP provides small business outsourcing solutions for payroll processing, automated tax-filing, direct deposit, and human resource functions.  By streamlining these tasks, ADP enables you to focus on what matters.

Call for a free consultation and let ADP show you why more than 9,000 businesses in Washington State with an average of 9 employees have chosen to utilize their services.

To contact ADP, e-mail andy_gloudemans@adp.com or call Andy Gloudemans at (253) 943-5103 or (800) 304-5428.

Located in downtown Renton on the Piazza across from the Renton Metro Transit Center, City Kids Child Care offers you and your child an opportunity to experience a caring and unique Toddler, Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten program in a state-of-the-art facility.

For more information phone Linda F. Collins at 425.255.9556.

Dr. Povolny loves to create beautiful, healthy smiles using the most advanced techniques, coupled with lots of old fashioned TLC.  He specializes in traditional braces and also offers the patented Invisalign system of invisible tooth straightening for adults.  Dr. Povolny and his staff believe that while some of the greatest benefits of orthodontics can occur even before all permanent teeth are present, you're never too old to get your bite fixed.  And when the correction is complete, both patient and doctor agree that "creating the smile made it all worthwhile".  In addition to the latest clinical techniques, Dr. Povolny's patients utilize the Internet to make their lives easier.  On his website (www.planetortho.com) they can log onto a private page that gives them all their account and appointment information.  This allows them to better schedule their busy families and keep track of insurance and finances.     

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Located at 375 Strander Blvd., across the street from Southcenter Mall in Tukwila, Simply Thai restaurant serves excellent platters of ethnic northeastern Thai and Laotian cuisine.  A rapidly growing success, Simply Thai will be opening a second location at 1001 Andover Park East on March 1st, 2002.

For more information, call Simply Thai restaurant at 206.575.6666.
     

Make reservations today for an extravagant Easter Brunch, March 31, 2002 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hilton SeaTac Airport and Spencer's for Steaks and Chops.  Guests can enjoy a full buffet which will include salads, carved meats, made-to-order Belgian waffles, hot dishes, seasonal fruit and vegetable platters as well as a seafood station including kippered salmon, lox, peel-and-eat shrimp, Dungeness crab claws and hot seafood cioppino and rice.   Prices are $21.95 for adults, $10.95 for children 5-12 under children under 5 are free.  Guests must phone 206.248.7153 for required reservations.  A private dining room will be available for large groups.

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Purpose:  CeSI's Business Forum is designed to promote communications between businesses located or operating in Burien, SeaTac, Normandy Park and Tukwila, Washington.  The newsletter is distributed monthly, every third Thursday morning.

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