Taking tourism to new heights.
Mountain climbing and travel are natural pursuits for Ed Viesturs. He's ascended Mount Everest seven times and is the only American to climb all 14 of the world's highest mountains, all without the use of supplemental oxygen.

But, nothing beats the thrill of returning to Mt. Rainier, where he began his career and has guided visitors for nearly 30 years.

"I'm still in awe when I look down from a summit and see a horizon of peaks, forests and lakes as far as the eye can see," he says. "Washington has the best alpine climbing environment of the lower 48 states." Each year, millions of visitors agree - whether they summit our peaks or admire them from a distance. And, while in Washington, they spend $15.2 billion, generate $440 billion in state and local taxes and support 143,000 jobs.

Tourism launches careers.
Christi Smither turned a natural affinity for water, people and service into a 20-year career at Clipper Vacations, the Northwest's largest tour operator. She supervises onboard operations, greets guests from around the world and shares a welcoming smile from ship to shore. Thanks to tourism, Christi and some 50,000 others in King County fulfill their dream jobs each year.

Wine and tourism provide the perfect blend for economic success.
Ted Baseler knows what it takes to grow a successful wine business. Proper sun and soil, sophisticated winemakers, superb wines-and tourism. Three decades ago, Baseler started work at Washington State's founding winery, Chateau Ste. Michelle. Now he oversees Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, the seventh-largest and among the fastest-growing wine producers in the U.S. and he was named Wine Enthusiast's Man of the Year in 2009.

Credited for his collegial spirit, Baseler promotes a sense of place as passionately as he promotes his own wine brands: "When visitors have a remarkable wine experience, they return home as ambassadors of our wines and our state."

Each year, Washington attracts some two million wine visitors. These and other travelers spend a combined $14.2 billion in our state, generate nearly $1 billion in state and local taxes and support nearly 150,000 jobs.

Food, wine and hospitality are a Pacific Northwest tradition.
At the entrance to Seattle's renowned Canlis restaurant, an authentic Japanese "treasure house" door symbolically protects the community's most honored possessions and greets guests from far and wide.

When Mark and Brian Canlis returned from their travels and stints in some of the world's great restaurants, they knew they had a legacy to fulfill. Today, the Canlis brothers manage the family restaurant and welcome visiting gourmands from around the world.

Each year, travelers spend more than $5 billion at Seattle/King County restaurants, hotels, shops and other businesses. They pay more than $470 million in state and local taxes and support jobs for more than 60,000 people.

Tourism is an investment in Seattle's future.