There’s a sense of serendipity in the Gulf States that infuses events with a bit of a welcome surprise and a taste of local flavor. Many groups discover this in the region’s music, which prompts celebration and inspires contemplation. Others find the balmy climate makes for an easy-going atmosphere that can’t help but spark camaraderie.
But what is evident time and again is the locals’ sense of fun and hospitality, shared with those associations that want to get business done—and have a good time along the way.
Louisiana: Flavor & Flair
From the annual Mardi Gras celebrations to the monthly music and food festivals that fill the city’s calendar, New Orleans is always poised to let the good times roll. The city has had its share of noteworthy openings and additions over the last few years and, most recently, the CVB rolled out a civic-pride program that will promote the hospitality industry through its citizens. In fact, many groups choose New Orleans as a meetings destination based on local support.
That was the case for Great Minds in STEM, a nonprofit organization that promotes Hispanics working in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. The group selected New Orleans as the site of its 25th annual conference last year “due to the outstanding research and presentation of the New Orleans CVB as well as the energy of the best asset in New Orleans—the people who work in the city!” said Anna Park, its chief executive officer.
Paul Philips, exhibits and housing manager for the Clean Show, also praised the CVB and the convention center staff’s help in pulling off a successful event. The show drew 10,000 textile-care industry attendees from 84 countries in June, and the combined hospitality staff made it possible for more than 400 companies to exhibit working equipment utilizing a high volume of electricity, steam, compressed air and water. “New Orleans is a unique city that is a favorite of Clean Show exhibitors and attendees,” Philips said.
Other groups that have recently held events in the city include the National Cotton Council Of America, the International Franchise Association, the Worldwide Spirit Association and the National Automobile Dealers Association.
The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in the Central Business District is the city’s largest meeting venue—and the nation’s sixth-largest convention center. It offers 1.1 million square feet of space, including the recently debuted, $52 million Grand Hall, with more than 60,000 square feet of column-free space. Another major site is the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, which can host groups as small as 70 or as large as 73,000. The facility has completed an $85 million renovation, part of a $336 million renovation that has been taking place since 2006. Steps away from the Superdome is Champions Square, a 121,000-square-foot outdoor entertainment venue. Also within walking distance is an indoor club, XLIV, which can accommodate group functions for up to 1,000. A few blocks away, the LEED-certified New Orleans BioInnovation Center offers 66,000 square feet of state-of-the art wet-lab and conference space.
Hotels that saw upgrades last year include the Omni Royal Orleans, which completed a $15 million renovation of all guest rooms and meeting spaces, and the Sheraton/New Orleans, which underwent a $50 million renovation that included the revamp of its ballrooms and an upgrade of its bandwidth.
A major attraction that doubles as an event venue for up to 1,200 is the recently expanded National World War II Museum. At Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World, attendees can tour the warehouses where more than 80 percent of the famous Carnival floats and sculptures are designed. The venue features several event spaces, such a 30,000-square-foot ballroom and two outdoor plazas, one of which fronts the Mississippi River. And for another entertainment option, groups can head southwest of the city to Avondale where the NOLA Motorsports Park has meeting space for up to 500 people.
From downtown New Orleans, it’s just 30 miles to the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, where several communities offer professional event venues. In Slidell, the 45,000-square-foot Northshore Harbor Center can accommodate up to 2,500 people, and in Covington, the Clarion Inn & Suites Conference Center has meeting space for up to 452 people. In nearby Madisonville, the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum can accommodate groups of up to 350 with its 3,600 square feet of space and wrap-around porch. Farther north, in Folsom, the 900-acre Global Wildlife Center is home to more than 4,000 animals and welcomes special events at its pavilion or tree-house spaces.
Eighty miles west of New Orleans, on the banks of the Mississippi River, the capital of Baton Rouge is rich in entertainment options, heritage and culture. Many groups utilize the River Center, which has a 70,000-square-foot exhibit hall and recently added another 26,000 square feet of function space. Planners seeking a historic venue can turn to the Old Governor’s Mansion, with 6,690 square feet of space, or the castle-like Old State Capitol, which can host 200 people.
In hotel news, the Hampton Inn & Suites/Baton Rouge Downtown opened last year with 137 guest rooms and meeting space for 50. The Wyndham Garden Hotel completed a significant renovation project in late 2012, and the Hilton Capitol Center is currently expanding its meeting space and renovating all hotel rooms as well as its restaurant and bar. The Embassy Suites/Baton Rouge is also undergoing a renovation that is scheduled to wrap up this summer.
About 20 miles south in White Castle, the antebellum Nottoway Plantation Resort is recently renovated and welcomes overnight guests. It has more than 10,000 square feet of indoor-outdoor event space.
To the west, in Lafayette, planners can organize events at historic attractions such as the Vermilionville Living History Museum & Folk Life Park, which has space for upwards of 350 people, and the Acadian Village, a replica of an 1800s village with a pavilion for up to 250. Another option is the Acadiana Center for the Arts, which has a handful of spaces including a 500-seat theater. Groups that have met recently in Lafayette include the Beta Club and the Knights of Columbus.
In Lake Charles, groups that have convened in the area recently include the Police Jury Association of Louisiana and the Louisiana Municipal Association. Choices for groups include the refreshed Lake Charles Civic Center, which features a 17,875-square-foot exhibit hall for up to 1,400 people.
In hotel news, the Lake Charles Golden Nugget Casino Resort & Hotel is expected to open this fall. The Isle of Capri Casino Hotel recently completed a $15 million renovation of its Tower Hotel. And a multimillion-dollar hotel-room renovation at the L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles is scheduled to wrap up later this year.
The area surrounding Lake Charles is full of diversions as well, especially for groups whose members enjoy outdoor recreation. Just north of Lake Charles, in Westlake, the National Golf Club of Louisiana is home to a highly regarded par-72 course and welcomes special group outings, and the nearby Sam Houston Jones State Park provides 12 guest cabins, a lodge, wireless Internet service and an amphitheater that can be used for meetings. Southeast of Lake Charles, in Bell City, the Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge highlights Cajun culture and is a habitat for numerous birds.
In the heart of Louisiana, Alexandria is a convenient location for state and regional gatherings. The 35,000-square-foot Alexandria Riverfront Center overlooks the Red River, and the Baymont Inn & Suites & SAI Conference Center has 33,500 square feet of banquet and convention space. About 16 miles south, in Cheneyville, the Loyd Hall Plantation is a historic bed-and-breakfast inn with event space for up to 300.
The towns of Monroe and West Monroe offer event venues that include the Chennault Aviation & Military Museum, which has a 50-seat theater and a conference room for up to 80 people; the renovated Comfort Suites/Monroe, with meeting space for up to 60; and the renovated Hilton Garden Inn/West Monroe, with event space for up to 70 people.
In the northwest corner of the state (aka “Louisiana’s Other Side”), the neighboring cities of Shreveport and Bossier City offer the perfect balance of modern convenience and Southern charm. The area’s lodging-occupancy rates have been outperforming national averages since 2002. With the opening of the dual-branded Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites by Hilton in Bossier City in late 2012, the area now offers more than 10,000 hotel rooms. The Shreveport Convention Center features more than 350,000 square feet of meeting space and is connected to the 313-room Hilton/Shreveport. Associations that have recently held events at the convention center include the North American Travel Journalists Association and the Louisiana City Marshals & Constables Association. Other choices include the Robinson Film Center; Artspace, a downtown gallery; the Sci-Port: Louisiana’s Science Center; and the Silver Lake Ballroom. Shreveport Municipal Auditorium, a 6,300-square-foot arena with seating for more than 3,000, is scheduled to reopen in April following extensive renovations.
In Bossier City, attendees can test their luck at Harrah’s Louisiana Downs, a horse racetrack and casino that offers special-event packages for groups. Groups can also meet at the Villaggio, a 64-acre development with a dedicated conference venue, the Lakehouse. A few miles north, a new venue called Cash Point has space for up to 300 people.
Mississippi: In Tune With the Times
Each June, the northeastern Mississippi town of Tupelo pays tribute to hometown star Elvis Presley at the Tupelo Elvis Festival. Groups visiting other times of the year can head to the Elvis Presley Birthplace Park. There’s also an event center with 2,500 square feet of meeting space fit for a king.
Other attractions include the 120,000-square-foot Tupelo Automobile Museum, which welcomes group functions, and the Tupelo Buffalo Park & Zoo, which can accommodate special events. Fifteen miles north of the city, near Baldwyn, is the Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield, one of the nation’s best-preserved Civil War sites.
Sixty miles northwest of Tupelo, charming Holly Springs has a number of small community meeting facilities, including Rust College’s Beckley Conference Center and the Kirkwood National Golf Club & Cottages. A unique retreat site is Fitch Farms, which has six restored Civil War cabins that can serve as overnight accommodations or meeting areas.
Tunica, in the state’s northwest corner, is an affordable destination with more than 6,000 hotel rooms and numerous casinos, golf courses and entertainment options. For meetings, the Mid-South Convention Center features more than 45,000 square feet of meeting space. The Tunica RiverPark & Museum has event space for up to 600, or staff can arrange functions aboard the 400-passenger Tunica Queen riverboat.
Columbus, heralded as the “Center of the South,” served as a muse for writers Tennessee Williams and Eudora Welty. City meeting facilities include the Trotter Convention Center, which can accommodate up to 1,600 people. The center is scheduled to undergo a $2 million renovation beginning this summer, which will update its sound system and Internet capabilities. The 160-acre Plymouth Bluff Conference Center is another significant venue, with 24 guest rooms and 11,700 square feet of event space.
Two new hotels on the north side of town are set to make their debut this year. This month, a Courtyard by Marriott is set to open with 110 guest rooms and 3,375 square feet of meeting space. In October, a Hyatt Place is set to open with 99 guest rooms and approximately 2,000 square feet of meeting space.
Jackson, the state capital, offers associations nearly 5,000 hotel rooms and several large venues for events. The Jackson Convention Complex features 330,000 square feet of meeting space and an 82-seat theater. Smaller choices include the Mississippi Trade Mart, with 67,140 square feet of space; and the Mississippi Museum of Art, with event space for up to 600. The renovated Old Capitol Museum now offers three event rooms, the largest of which can seat up to 156.
West of Jackson is Vicksburg, situated along the Mississippi River. The Vicksburg Convention Center and the Vicksburg Auditorium are two of the city’s largest dedicated venues, with space for up to 2,400 and 900, respectively. The Old Court House Museum welcomes group events of 10 or more.
East of Jackson, Meridian is the birthplace of Jimmie Rodgers, the “Father of Country Music,” and attendees can tour his museum. Mississippi State University’s Riley Center is the area’s premiere conference and performing arts center, with 30,000 square feet of space and a broadcast center. It is also home to the historic and fully restored Grand Opera House, which can seat up to 950 people.
Ninety miles south is Hattiesburg, one of Mississippi’s fastest-growing cities and one of its friendliest to boot. Groups can convene at the Lake Terrace Convention Center, which features 68,000 square feet of space.
Along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, in Biloxi, the Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention Center has 400,000 square feet of expanded and renovated space. Beauvoir, the Jefferson Davis Home & Presidential Library, opened in August and includes space for gatherings of up to 200 people indoors and up to 500 outdoors. Groups may also enjoy visiting the Infinity Science Center at the NASA Stennis Space Center, which features 30,000 square feet of gallery space that can be used for special events. This spring, the Margaritaville Casino & Restaurant Biloxi plans to break ground on a major expansion that is scheduled to be completed by spring 2015.
Alabama: Playful & Proud
When it comes to state spirit, it’s hard to beat the enthusiasm demonstrated for the University of Alabama’s Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa. Groups that meet in Tuscaloosa can do so at numerous venues on the university’s campus including the 101,821-seat Bryant-Denny Stadium, whose two lounges, each named “The Zone,” offer 15,500 and 12,600 square feet of special-event space; the 16,058-seat Coleman Coliseum; and the Bryant Conference Center, which can host up to 1,000 people. Off-campus options include the Historic L & N Station, which welcomes groups of up to 300.
From Crimson Tide country, it’s just 55 miles to the metro area of Birmingham. The new $70 million Uptown District is a hub for groups thanks to its hotel and entertainment options and its location adjacent to the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. The complex offers more than 220,000 square feet of exhibit space, some 100,000 square feet of meeting space in 74 rooms, an 18,000-seat arena, a 2,800-seat concert hall and the Medical Forum conference facility.
A few blocks south is the Birmingham Civil Rights District. Attendees can visit the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, which has four rooms for events, the largest of which can accommodate 300. Also nearby is the Birmingham Museum of Art, which can host functions of up to 1,000; and the 60,000-square-foot McWane Science Center. Iron City, a downtown music venue with 22,000 square feet of event space, is still going strong a year after its debut. Other local choices include Railroad Park, used for events of up to 500; the adjacent B&A Warehouse, which welcomes groups as large as 1,500; and WorkPlay, with four major spaces. In hotel news, the Wynfrey Hotel is now a Hyatt Regency following a $20 million renovation.
Just south of Cahaba Heights, the Cahaba Grand Conference Center has a 23,000-square-foot ballroom that can host groups of up to 2,000 people as well as additional meeting and banquet rooms. Just northeast of the city’s international airport, in South Highlands, Gabrella Manor has space for up to 300. And in Bessemer, the Splash Adventure Waterpark (formerly Alabama Adventure) offers discounted group rates.
Hoover is home to the Riverchase Galleria, one of the South’s largest enclosed malls. Adjacent is the Hyatt Regency Birmingham–The Wynfrey Hotel, which wrapped up a $20 million makeover last June. About 45 miles southeast, in Sylacauga, FarmLinks at Pursell Farms is a meetings destination in itself. The resort offers accommodations for up to 80 and meeting space for up to 300 people.
In the northern reaches of the state is Huntsville, a city of 182,000 that ranks third in the nation for its concentration of high-tech workers. For large conventions, the enhanced Von Braun Center features more than 170,000 square feet of continuous space.
One of Huntsville’s must-see attractions (and a fantastic venue for events of up to 4,000) is the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. Other worthy sites include the Huntsville Museum of Art, with function space for up to 350; the Huntsville Botanical Garden, with meeting space for up to 200; and the EarlyWorks Museum Complex, with a half-dozen event spaces, the largest of which can accommodate up to 1,000 people.
Ninety miles south of Birmingham is Montgomery, the state capital. Its Capitol Building isn’t far from the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, where Martin Luther King Jr. was a pastor. Both attractions are National Historic Landmarks. Planners can also organize an excursion on the Harriott II, a paddle wheeler that plies the Alabama River. The boat is docked next to the Riverwalk Amphitheater, which can seat up to 6,000 people. On the local hotel scene, the DoubleTree by Hilton/Montgomery Downtown (formerly a Best Western) has been completely renovated. Four blocks away is Alley Station, an area with a ballroom and a rooftop that can be used for events.
In Alabama’s southeast corner, Dothan is known as the “Peanut Capital of the World” and is home to the National Peanut Festival each fall. The city is also home to the 20,000-square-foot Dothan Conference Center, which can accommodate groups of up to 400.
Farther south, Mobile offers a singular Southern experience for groups. On the banks of the Tensaw River, the Arthur R. Outlaw Convention Center features 317,000 square feet of space and is connected to the Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel.
The Battleship U.S.S. Alabama offers planners its fantail for functions of up to 500 or its War Room for up to 150. The surrounding Battleship Park is home to historic airplanes that can be positioned to serve as the backdrop for events of up to 1,200. Also in downtown is the Mobile Carnival Museum, which can host up to 200 guests.
Southwest of town, in Theodore, the 65-acre Bellingrath Gardens & Home is a scenic and historic site for meetings of up to 100. In Spanish Fort, groups can convene at 5 Rivers, a recreational area with a 90-seat theater and two event halls, for up to 230 and 150 people, respectively.
Some 45 miles south is the popular resort area of Orange Beach and Gulf Shores. Associations gather here year-round to take advantage of white-sand beaches, fresh seafood, world-class golf, wildlife and a scenic national byway.
In Gulf Shores, the main meeting venue is the Erie Meyer Civic Center, which has 5,400 square feet of space. In Orange Beach, the Orange Beach Event Center at the Wharf offers more than 18,000 square feet of space. It is located near shopping, restaurants and a 10,000-seat amphitheater. Last fall saw the opening of Phoenix West II, a condominium complex with approximately 10,000 square feet of event space.
Relaxing retreats can be had at the Perdido Beach Resort; the Island House Hotel, which recently expanded its meeting space; and the Kaiser Conference & Business Center (run by Wyndham).
A Swing in Your Step
As attendees stroll streets in the Gulf States, they’ll discover dynamic facets of the South have become a living part of day-to-day life in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. With landmark sites, fresh local fare and toe-tapping entertainment unique to this region, meeting planners can construct a program that draws upon the best of the South.