As Seattle prepares to welcome a surge of global visitors, small businesses across the region are starting to ask a practical question: what does it actually take to be ready?

For Chamber member, Tutta Bella, the answer started with carving out time to prepare, not just at the leadership level, but across their entire team.

Recently, Tutta Bella hosted a Small Business Readiness Workshop developed to help organizations proactively prepare for the FIFA World Cup 26™. The training is designed as a full “day of preparedness,” bringing together operations, marketing, and safety into one cohesive experience.

Rather than focusing on theory, the workshop centers on what businesses will actually need in real time. Teams work through how to manage increased demand, adjust staffing and hours, plan inventory, and ensure systems, from payments to customer flow, can handle higher volume. At the same time, they develop marketing strategies to attract new audiences and stand out in a crowded, high-energy environment.

That focus on execution is what makes the training resonate. Participants are not just hearing ideas. They are building plans they can use immediately. By the end of the workshop, teams walk away with a business readiness checklist, a marketing and promotions plan, and a basic safety framework tailored to their operations.

Another key piece is who delivers the training. Each section is led by subject matter experts, bringing real-world insight into the room. For safety planning, that includes partners like the Seattle Police Department, helping businesses think through crowd awareness, staff communication, and emergency response. The sessions are also tailored by industry, so the conversation reflects the realities of running a restaurant, retail shop, or service-based business during a major event.

For Tutta Bella, that meant aligning their team around a shared approach, from maintaining consistency under pressure to preparing staff for situations they may not have encountered before.

That kind of preparation matters. Major global events bring more than just foot traffic. They bring new expectations, new risks, and a level of visibility that can elevate a business or expose gaps. The goal of the workshop is to help small businesses meet that moment with confidence, while staying grounded in strong operations and clear planning.

For organizations looking to do the same, the Chamber and its partners have made it easy to bring this training in-house. A full suite of FIFA World Cup 26™ Readiness resources is available, including a ready-to-use agenda, participant workbooks, and access to a speaker bench to support delivery.

The materials are designed to be practical and flexible. The workbook mirrors each section of the agenda, allowing teams to move step-by-step through the content. Organizations can host the full program as a comprehensive training day or focus on the sections most relevant to their needs.

As Seattle steps onto a global stage, preparation will look different for every business. But the throughline is the same. Those who invest the time now, like Tutta Bella, will be better positioned not just to handle the moment, but to make the most of it.

Thank you to Chamber member Labour Temple for hosting this workshop.

Get started on implementation:

For organizations ready to put this into practice, the path is simple. Use the suggested agenda to structure a focused training for your team and work through the accompanying workbook together, turning discussion into clear, actionable plans across operations, marketing, and safety. For added depth, organizations can also bring in expert speakers from a curated bench, offering real-world insight, tailored guidance, and the opportunity to engage directly with partners shaping the region’s approach to this moment. To request speakers or learn more about hosting a workshop, fill out this form and our team will contact you.

Download the agenda and workbook to print below to guide your team through a focused, step-by-step training.

AGENDA WORKBOOK