When you’re deciding on an event location what cities do you think of first? Maybe L.A. or New York because of their popularity and exciting atmospheres. However, there may be some cities that don’t cross your mind. In this blog, we are going to talk about some of those cities and what would make them perfect locations for your events!
Providence is the capital of Rhode Island and is one of the oldest cities in the country. It has a quaint vibe like most New England cities and has been named one of the top cities for foodies because of its renowned restaurant scene. Adding that to the thriving arts community makes Providence an interesting place to have your next event!
Venue Options: With a central location, six event rooms and seven breakout rooms, you should consider hosting your meeting or conference at the Providence Marriott Downtown. For a more upscale event, the Skyline at Waterplace will make your event attendees swoon at its stunning view of the waterfront and its interior design. For a large convention, expo or conference, the Rhode Island Convention Center is the location for you and is the largest convention center in the state. For more venues in Providence click here.
Attractions: While in this eccentric city, event attendees can visit Benefit Street to take in the history of the architecture, Roger Williams Park and Zoo and Rhode Island School of Design to get a taste of creativity. At night, they can check out Downtown, also known as Downcity for delicious food and drinks!
Distance from airport: T.F. Green Airport is located just 15 minutes (9.4 miles) from downcity Providence.
Hotel Room Prices: $126 - $195 per night
Events held here: Providence has held events such as WaterFire, Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival, Rhode Island Comic Con, the Helix Summit and R.I.S.E. Women’s Leadership Conference.
The gateway to the west is full of history and is the 7th most affordable city in America according to Forbes. On top of that, St. Louis was listed in 5 Unexpected Cities Experiencing a Live Music Renaissance for its diverse music scene! Despite its background, low-costs and vibrant music, St. Louis, a major city in Missouri, may be overlooked when it comes to the “perfect event location.” However, if you seriously look into St. Louis as an option, you will find that it has a lot to offer for you and your event attendees!
Venue Options: St. Louis is home to many options for event venues including the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis where you can host a meeting, conference, gala or wedding with its multiple ballrooms, conference rooms and a rooftop terrace. If you’re looking for a smaller, more unique venue consider The Caramel Room at Bissinger’s and for larger conferences or expos the America’s Center Convention Complex is a great space. Learn about more STL venues here.
Attractions: If event attendees want to spend time exploring the city before or after the event, they can visit famous attractions like Forest Park, the St. Louis Zoo, voted #1 zoo in the country by USA Today, and the Arch. They can take a stroll through the Missouri Botanical Garden or check out the art museum which is free every day of the week! If they are looking for something to do at night, they can attend a show at The Fox Theater or The Muny during the summer months.
Distance from airport: St. Louis Lambert International Airport is located just 22 minutes (around 15 miles) outside of downtown.
Hotel Prices: $130 - $187 per night
Events held here: St. Louis has successfully hosted large events such as Blues At The Arch, LouFest, Festival of Nations, Central West End Halloween, the Midwest Digital Marketing Conference, the NADSP Annual Conference, WISE St. Louis and more!
With its beautiful landscape and vibrant culture, Tucson is an exciting place to live, visit and attend events! Visitors feel a sense of freedom as they experience the great outdoors, the famous food scene and get a chance to stargaze in one of the best cities in the U.S. for astronomy!
Venue Options: At the bottom of the beautiful mountain ranges in Arizona is the El Conquistador Tucson, A Hilton Resort, a remarkable venue where you can host large-scale conferences, corporate events, social functions, small meetings and destination weddings. Another venue in Tucson is the architecturally unique Whistle Stop Depot. Its innovative design makes it a great destination for weddings, parties and live music events. Last but not least is the Tucson Convention Center that offers the flexibility to accommodate meetings, conventions, trade shows or banquet events. To find more venues in Tucson click here.
Attractions: Your event attendees can spend a lot of time outdoors and enjoy the scenery at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and drive along the Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway for one of the most scenic drives in Arizona. To cool off inside they can visit the Pima Air & Space Museum and if they want to take a walk and look at the local art, the Tucson Museum of Art & Historic Block is a great place to start!
Distance from airport: Tucson International airport is just 15 minutes (around 8 miles) away from downtown.
Hotel Room Prices: $53 - $169 per night
Events held here: The events held in Tucson reflect the energy of the city itself, such as the Mexican Food Festival, the annual Tucson Meet Yourself event and the Tucson Jazz Festival! Corporate events that are held in Tucson include the SWAAAE Conference, Omnichannel Insight Summit and the ISSA Leadership Summit.
Named second in the best of Texas tourism, San Antonio pairs big-city amenities with a relaxing atmosphere. The Alamo makes a unique location for any type of event and attendees can enjoy the rich Spanish and Old West Heritage.
Venue Options: The Hotel Contessa is located on the banks of the famous Riverwalk and sets the scene for a romantic wedding destination. For more corporate events, the hotel also offers 11 meeting rooms. The Pearl Studio located in the warehouse of the Pearl Brewery has a modern, yet industrial feel and is a great venue for a variety of occasions such as press conferences, wedding receptions and more. The Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center offers you a space for trade shows, conferences, convention and more while also telling the story of San Antonio with the artwork placed throughout the building! Read more about other venues in San Antonio here!
Attractions: Event attendees can take in the natural scenery of the city on the San Antonio Riverwalk and take in some Spanish culture at The Alamo and San Antonio Missions. In the heart of the city is the Main Plaza where visitors can enjoy local entertainment and see the historic, well known San Fernando Cathedral.
Distance from airport: San Antonio International Airport is located just 10 minutes (8.2 miles) from downtown.
Hotel Room Prices: $53 - $200 per night
Events held here: Events and festivals held in San Antonio throughout the year include the Ford Holiday River Parade and Lighting Ceremony, the Engage Summit, the Texas Cyber Summit, the HFT Regional Conference, “You Are” Women’s Conference, the Texas Folklife Festival and the famous Fiesta, a 10-day salute to the Spanish heritage!
Home to Disney World, Orlando is a magical place to live and visit. There are tons of fun things to do in the city and it is known for its hospitality! Because of this, Orlando is one of the top summer travel destinations! This city could be a great place to host a summer event and attendees will have no problem finding activities during the day and at night to keep them busy!
Venue Options: The Rosen Centre is a beautiful hotel with plenty of event space that can accommodate conferences, galas, weddings and conventions. Perhaps the most convenient aspect of this hotel is that it is located adjacent to the Orange County Convention Center, another great venue in Orlando! If you’re looking for a more interesting location to hold your event, consider the Ivanhoe Warehouse. Every event held at this modern venue is different and you can let your creativity run free in the space to make it represent your brand and organization. Find more Orlando venues here.
Attractions: The most obvious attractions in Orlando are the theme parks; Disney World, Universal Studios and SeaWorld. However, if they are not interested in that hustle and bustle, they can take a relaxing walk around Tibet-Butler Nature Preserve, play mini-golf or take a boat tour in the charming Winter Park!
Distance from airport: Orlando International Airport is located just 20 minutes (11.3 miles) from downtown.
Hotel Room Prices: $70 - $200 per night
Events held here: Most people come for Disney, but Orlando has hosted many successful events throughout the years as well. Events like the Florida State Fair, Mount Dora Art Festival, Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Competition and the Florida Film Festival are just more reason to enjoy this awesome city! Corporate events held in Orlando include, the Wireless Global Conference, the Women’s Leadership Summit and the NABA Convention.