Issue link: http://www.wacmagazine.com/i/320028
JUNE / JULY 2014 | Washington Athletic Club Magazine | 33 Whether you're here to spend quality time vacationing or you want to work out during a business trip, the WAC has you covered. Wowing your clients Paul Shattuck, nonresident member from Albany, California, visits Seattle once or twice a month on business. While here, he uses the Club for its athletic facilities, to entertain clients and vendors, and to host meetings. "I can go to the WAC straight from the airport and never leave," Paul says. Some of his favorite things about the Club include the oatmeal breakfast in the Sports Café, morning spin classes, and The Wall Street Journal delivery to his room at the Inn. Roland Spurrell, nonresident member from Beaverton, Oregon, agrees that having all of the amenities in one location is ideal. Roland typically comes to Seattle for business a few times a month. He uses the Club to entertain clients and to stay in a comfortable and secure location. But what drew him to the WAC, he says, is its laid-back and friendly feel. An urban escape In addition to the WAC's welcoming atmo- sphere, our downtown location is a big draw. We're within walking distance from multiple Seattle landmarks—from Pike Place Market to The 5th Avenue Theatre. Furthermore, the rooms on the top ten floors of our 21-story building boast great views. WAC members Joe and Jennifer Velling, who live in Bellevue, stay at the Inn a few times a year when they have an event down- town or at the WAC. They even hosted their 25th-wedding anniversary celebration at the Top of the WAC last year. "It's a lot of fun to stay at the Inn and then wake up downtown," says Joe. "On Saturday morning, my wife can go to her aerobics class and I can go running on the waterfront." Room for your friends Joe Velling also regularly sponsors guests to stay at the Inn—making reservations for colleagues and business associates traveling to Seattle from out of town. He notes that his colleagues love the opportunity to stay right downtown and to enjoy the Club's amenities. "In many cases, they've never experienced a club before," he says. "So they're blown away by the whole experience." That's because the staff at the Inn seek to ensure that guests feel like the hotel is a home away from home, says Director of Hotel Operations Mike West. In addition, the staff are ready to answer guests' ques- tions—from where to catch the best shows to where to find the best running paths. In the summer, guests get the scoop about the dizzying array of outdoor festivals and cultural happenings around town. Even Seattleites who are regulars at the Club can experience the city anew the minute they get their guest key to the Inn. Seattle is one of the most walkable cities in the country. Here are a few of our favorite places to walk (or catch a walk-on ferry) to near the Club. Next time you have a visitor in town or are staying at the Inn, tour the city like a true local. An Island Experience Walk to Pier 52 on the waterfront to catch a ferry to Bainbridge Island. After disembarking from the 30-minute ferry ride, you can visit Blackbird Bakery to try their famous tarts or explore Waterfront Park. "It's a lot of fun to stay at the Inn and then wake up downtown." — J O E V E L L I N G At the Market When you enter Pike Place Market from Pike Street, take a left after the piggy bank sculpture to see the World Famous Pike Place Fish Market—the company known for its fish-tossing flair. Steps behind you on Pike Street, follow your nose to the Daily Dozen Doughnut Co. By Foot & Ferry Underground Secrets Take the tunnel below the Convention Center to explore during the rain. There, you'll find dozens of great shops and restaurants underground. Our concierge can tell you how to get to the tunnel from the Club.