Visit Seattle recently named Rachael Riggs vice president of meetings and conventions. Riggs has more than 30 years of experience in the meetings industry, working at several DMOs: Destination Vancouver, NYC Tourism and Conventions, Visit San Diego and Visit Baltimore. In addition, her most recent role was general manager of environmental strategy at Maritz.
In her new position, Riggs will work closely with the Seattle Convention Center and downtown hotels to boost the meetings and events sector, overseeing the DMO’s sales and services departments.
Here is what Riggs has to say about rejoining the DMO world and partnering with planner clients.
Meetings Today: What are your plans to improve sustainability results for events coming to Seattle?
Rachael Riggs: Seattle already has a very strong foundation, so my focus will be on making sustainability easier to act on and easier to measure, given my past experience.
With global sustainability regulations coming into effect this year and next, sustainability teams are getting deeper into carbon accounting, and that’s naturally increasing the scrutiny on meetings and events. Prior to my new role, I was also seeing associations begin to feel pressure from their corporate partners to incorporate sustainability more meaningfully into their planning, which is a dynamic the industry needs to pay close attention to.
That shift makes measurement and education critical. Planners will increasingly look for partners who can simplify the process and help them demonstrate impact. Seattle is well positioned to do just that by embedding sustainability across the full event lifecycle and providing clear, practical tools to support smarter decisions and measurable progress. Ultimately, it’s about turning good intentions into real, credible outcomes.
[Related: New Executive Chef at Rainwater Conference Center Seeks to Wow Groups]
How can planners and suppliers document their environmental impact after their meeting concludes?
To me, it really comes down to education, simplification and measurement. Many planners don’t fully understand what it takes to measure impact today. I often ask, “Do you know what Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions are?” and for many, it still feels like a foreign language.
Therefore, I recommend starting with education, then relying on trusted partners to make it simple and easy to measure. There are a lot of tools out there, but not all align with the Net Zero Carbon Events standards, so it’s important to choose partners and platforms that follow those guidelines.
In my role at Visit Seattle, I hope to help educate, share best practices and simplify implementation by using practical tools, industry standards and established frameworks. I believe we can make it easier for planners to track impact, identify reduction strategies and clearly communicate results with their stakeholders. Having the right partner makes all the difference.
Outside of sustainability, what other priorities do you have in your new role?
Beyond sustainability, my focus is on strengthening Seattle’s position as a premier global meetings destination, driving convention growth across both citywide and in-house meetings, maximizing use of our convention center campus and elevating the attendee experience.
[Related: New One10 CEO Drew Carter on What His Appointment Means for Planners]
As part of the Visit Seattle leadership team, my role is to lead our sales and services teams while working closely with leadership, the Seattle Convention Center, hotels and other members to secure meetings and events and deliver a seamless experience—from planning through post-event—with the goal of bringing business back to Seattle.
Ultimately, it’s about taking a more strategic, data-informed approach that not only attracts and supports our clients but also drives meaningful community impact for the city.
What's one piece of advice you've carried with you through the last three decades of your career?
Stay curious, be open to new ideas, and invest in your network—it’s a global industry, and you never know where it will take you. I also strongly believe in volunteering within industry organizations. It's a great way to give back while building meaningful connections along the way.
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