The Colorado Convention Center (CCC) expansion will feature a rooftop terrace with unobstructed views of the Rocky Mountains. Courtesy Photo

While many meeting and event planners set their sights on big cities such as Las Vegas, New York and Miami as “go to” locales for all things meetings and events, second-tier cities are gems just waiting to be discovered.

Denver, CO

When Gretchen Bliss, CMP, DES, director of meetings and conferences for Healthcare Financial Management, hosted her organization’s annual conference in Denver last summer, they had 2,900 attendees. “Denver is centrally located, [and] it has great airlift both domestically and internationally, providing numerous options and ease for attendees to get to and from the city,” Bliss says. “It has a great vibe and energy, with unique restaurants and cultural activities steps from the convention center and hotels. It provides a fun, engaging destination that appeals to our attendees.”

Denver’s central location offers easy access to the entire country via Denver International Airport, the third-busiest airport in the world and one of the best-connected airports in the country.

Denver is also a walkable city, with about 13,000 hotel rooms within walking distance of the Colorado Convention Center (CCC). A variety of infrastructure projects are underway to make Denver an even better convention destination. including the expansion of the CCC, which will add state-of-the-art offerings and will feature a rooftop terrace with unobstructed views of the Rocky Mountains. Other major improvements include the expansion of the National Western Center and the renovation of the 16th Street Mall to create a premiere pedestrian experience.

The walkability is key for convention attendees. Everything is at their fingertips in downtown, including sports, arts and culture, shopping, dining and nightlife. Western hospitality  is also something that convention attendees talk about – great service. And if you have a little extra time, Red Rocks Amphitheatre was the highest-attended concert venue in the world last year and is a must-see.

Portland, OR

Portland offers greater opportunities for meeting and event attendees to venture outside of the meeting venue and explore outdoor activities and adventures in and around Portland’s city limits, within close proximity to the Oregon Convention Center (OCC).

The juxtaposition between urban and natural areas that exists here is like nowhere else. Portland is a city in a forest. Forest Park, Portland Japanese Garden, Lan Su Chinese Garden and Pittock Mansion all showcase views of Mount Hood and the evergreen landscapes of the “Rose City,” and are within walking distance of popular meeting venues and lodging.

Visitors can also take advantage of Portland’s arts, culture and culinary scenes by booking group activities such as an evening performance at the Oregon Symphony, a tour of Portland’s 500+ food carts, or a private dining experience at one of the city’s unique restaurants. Portland’s culinary scene is made up of international cuisine, fusion, local farmers and chefs, making it the perfect melting pot of options for travelers and locals alike.

And meeting planners can make meeting experiences truly unique in Portland by hosting them at one of the city’s robust selection of flexible spaces packed with personality and charm, and imbued with local artisanal touches courtesy of local makers, designers and artists. For those looking for beautiful backdrops for their next board meeting or a standout venue for pre-conference networking, outdoor locations can be ideal.

Portland’s central city hotel room inventory has grown by nearly 50% since 2016. Lodging options improved and opened in the past couple of years include the Hyatt Regency Portland at the Oregon Convention Center.

In addition, Portland will soon be home to its first five-star hotel. The Ritz-Carlton, Portland is set to open downtown this year with plans to offer 251 rooms and a pool on the 19th floor. The 35-floor tower will offer an indoor/outdoor restaurant and bar on the 20th floor, with panoramic views of the Cascade Mountains and Portland’s cityscape.

Asheville, NC

The Blue Ridge Mountain backdrop in Asheville has long served as a source of inspiration, fueling those who call the area home to innovate, create and collaborate. The breathtaking scenery is met with a colorful arts community, diverse outdoor adventures, a vibrant culinary scene, live music around every corner and quality experiences that contribute to truly memorable meetings. Asheville also supports homegrown brands and attracts purpose-driven companies aligned with local values. This translates into an innovative community prime for group gatherings. Executives and meetings professionals in search of locations to hold meetings, executive retreats, conferences and incentive trips will be inspired by Asheville’s creative spirit, scenic beauty and fresh mountain air.

Asheville has a bountiful array of conference hotel properties, such as boutique hotels, grand resorts, elegant inns and chic, modern hotels downtown. In fact, Asheville boasts more than 9,200 hotel rooms and one of the best-connected regional airports, which offers more than 25 direct destinations.

Cybill E. Valentine, CMP, co-owner of Travel with Sunshyne, recently produced a staff retreat in Asheville. “We selected Asheville because this client wanted a place where the weather was warm, but not overwhelming, and one which provided great food, outdoor activities and was accessible for the team from the East Coast,” Valentine says. “Be certain to ask the CVB for any/all assistance. They are the best resource for even the smallest thing. My favorite was our Welcome Bag items. The industry often promotes large companies that make gifting boxes and ‘swag.’ But my CVB representative shared some amazing local companies and that made the bag even more special.”

Charlotte, NC

Charlotte is a city on the rise that offers endless opportunities to craft an unforgettable experience that stretches well beyond the city’s hotels and meeting rooms.

According to Mike Butts, executive director of Visit Charlotte, the Charlotte Convention Center (CCC) is in a compact, walkable district. The 600,000 sf center is connected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame and across the street from the 700 room Westin Charlotte. The CCC offers 280,000 sf of exhibit hall space divisible into four halls, and offers 154,000 sf of breakout space, including 50 meeting rooms and two ballrooms. It is also steps from Uptown’s arts and culture attractions, sports venues and nightlife hubs.

Charlotte is the largest city in North Carolina and the 15th-largest in the U.S., with more than 2.7 million residents in the region. The “Queen City” has seen 18 new hotels open recently, tremendously increasing its room inventory. Included among them are JW Marriott Charlotte, located in Uptown; the UNC Charlotte Marriott Hotel & Conference Center; AC Hotel by Marriott Charlotte Ballantyne; Grand Bohemian Hotel Charlotte, Autograph Collection; and Hyatt Centric Charlotte SouthPark, which have all opened in the last few years.

Butts says that there have been “over a dozen projects under construction in Mecklenburg County, and more than 40 total projects in various planning stages of the development pipeline, including the highly anticipated Moxy Hotel Charlotte and the InterContinental Hotel at Carolina Theatre.”

A few years ago, the CCC completed a $126.9 million expansion, which has increased the total leasable space from 550,000 sf to 600,000 sf, including 14 new meeting rooms, two customizable 10,000-sf spaces and an over-street pedestrian walkway to the 700 room Westin Charlotte hotel and the Brooklyn Village LYNX light rail station.

The Bojangles Entertainment Complex is an historic auditorium/coliseum complex that opened in 1955 as Charlotte’s first major civic auditorium, and dedicated sports and concert venue. About three years ago, a 35,000 sf connector opened officially, unifying the complex’s two venues, Ovens Auditorium and Bojangles Coliseum. Centrally located in the connector space is the new 4,400 sf East CLT Room, a private space that can host seminars and meetings for 420 guests and an elegant dinner for 260 guests.

“Planners and attendees alike love experiencing Charlotte’s extensive, dynamic sports and recreation scene,” Butts says. “Charlotte is also home to the Whitewater Center, which is the only attraction of its kind in the world.” Located only 20 minutes from the Convention District, the U.S. National Whitewater Center offers more than 30 different recreational activities. Utilizing the facility’s 1,300-acre footprint, groups have access to multiple indoor and outdoor venues and meeting spaces, full-service catering, activities and programming to create unique opportunities for teamwork.

Seattle, WA

Located in the heart of downtown Seattle, the Seattle Convention Center Summit Building (SCCS) adds 248,450 sf of exhibit space, 62 meeting rooms, and a 58,000 sf ballroom to the center’s offerings. The addition doubles the building’s current capacity, and introduces a new 30 story residential tower and 16 story office building, along with a number of public spaces.

Each component of the building embraces natural light, and major spaces are connected vertically by two large atriums. The glass-enclosed stairs along Pine Street positions the interior circulation patterns at the edge of the building, creating dramatic west-facing views to the Pike Place Market and Puget Sound, while open-air terraces on all levels are designed to accommodate a variety of events.

Besides offering a wealth of culture, arts and entertainment, Seattle offers more than 70 hotels within walking distance of the SCCS buildings. In addition, the city is celebrating a new international arrivals facility at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, which brings in a new multilevel, 450,000 sf facility complete with an aerial walkway above the existing tarmac for arriving international passengers.

Nashville, TN

Whether you’re looking for an urban setting or a resort setting, you’ll find it in Nashville, where there are two large convention centers. The Music City Center (MCC) is centrally located downtown just steps away from hotels, restaurants, museums and live music venues. The second convention center, Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, is located just minutes outside of the city. It offers guests a wide selection of restaurants and bars, and is situated just steps away from The Grand Ole Opry House.

Nashville’s rich musical heritage provides the ultimate experience of entertainment offerings of all genres of music. Not just country music, but rhythm & blues, jazz, rock, gospel, Americana and pop — where music is inspired, written, recorded and performed. Nashville is also home to more than 180 live music venues, which include the historic Ryman Auditorium, once home to the Grand Ole Opry, and the famous Bluebird Cafe, where Nashville songwriters play their music through intimate writers’ rounds.

There has been an evolution in both quality and quantity of hotel rooms in recent years in Nashville — from boutique to five-star properties, such as the recently opened Four Seasons Hotel Nashville, as well as the Conrad Nashville and 1 Hotel Nashville. Other new properties include The Joseph, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Nashville; Grand Hyatt Nashville; W Nashville and Virgin Hotels Nashville. Southall Farm & Inn and the Ritz-Carlton, Nashville are scheduled to open in 2025.

In addition to the elevated properties, the ‘Music City’ has an outstanding array of unique venues and attractions for off-site functions. One distinctive location that has elevated the downtown experience is Fifth + Broadway. This mixed-use development opened in early 2021 and houses the National Museum of African American Music and the Assembly Food Hall, which is a great location for private parties and entertainment. Nashville’s culinary scene also is hotter than ever with hundreds of new establishments opening across the city in recent years.

Joanna Zygmont, who coordinates events at Technolutions, recently orchestrated the company’s Slate Summit, an in-person conference with a special keynote, networking and entertainment, and topical sessions presented by users within the community. This year, Technolutions hosted more than 3,200 attendees in Nashville.

“Nashville obviously is a city with lots of entertainment options, restaurants and things to do,” Zygmont says. “It’s also nice that it’s centrally located within the U.S. since our attendees come from all over the country. If possible, meeting planners should try to incorporate some live music into their event. It will give attendees a reason to stay and not duck out to a honky-tonk on Broadway to catch a show.”

Raleigh, NC

There are many reasons to host a meeting in Raleigh. It is centrally located on the East Coast, almost 100 million Americans are within a half-day drive of Raleigh and they are fortunate to be home to one of the best airports in the U.S. The city provides a robust network of intellectual capital in a diverse group of industries. The key industry clusters and connections to the area universities create an opportunity for speakers and unique off-site breakout experiences. Attendees of meetings and events are able to fully engage in the culture of the city while there for a meeting by visiting James Beard Award-winning restaurants, live music venues, shopping, relaxation and more. There is something for everyone.

Raleigh is currently working on a development project for a more than 500 room upscale convention hotel. In recent years, a number of new luxury and boutique hotels have opened or undergone renovations.

Attendees of meetings and events can become immersive in Raleigh, by taking advantage of the diversity of things to do while they are there. There are many unique and signature experiences that leave memorable impressions. However, the most memorable aspect of Raleigh would be the people who call Raleigh and the greater area home, who are very welcoming and inviting and appreciative of the positive impact that meetings and events bring to the city.

Jennifer Suber, event coordinator for All Things Open, recently planned a technology conference in Raleigh, which brought in thousands of attendees from all over the world. “The proximity of the Raleigh Convention Center to downtown restaurants and attractions was the biggest draw,” Suber says.

Austin, TX

Austin is still considered a relatively new city for conventions, but has a long tradition of attracting leisure visitors. The city’s central location in the U.S. is ideal for easy air access and the walkable entertainment districts offer visitors a convenient opportunity to explore the city.

There are so many memorable experiences attendees can have in Austin. No visit to the Live Music Capital of the World is complete without enjoying live music at any of the endless number of live music venues around the city. Austin also features beautiful outdoor experiences, amazing dining options, exciting sports events and much more.

Some of Austin’s newest unique venues perfect for a group off-site event include Moody Center, Moody Amphitheatre at Waterloo Park and Q2 Stadium. Brad Spies, managing director at CoinDesk, held a more than 20,000-attendee crypto, blockchain and Web3 Festival in Austin called Consensus that utilized about 250,000 sf of exhibition space at the Austin Convention Center (ACC), and included six satellite venues with special programming, off-site dinners each night at iconic Austin restaurants, two music shows each night and much more.

“Austin is such an approachable, fun city with a huge base of tech and culture communities, terrific venues and restaurants, and a phenomenal infrastructure for large scale events,” Spies says. “Austin offers an unbelievable platform to create bespoke events, so be sure to take advantage of the different venues, restaurants and local businesses that can all add up to a totally unique experience.”

Baltimore, MD

What makes Baltimore a truly unique place is its authentic culture and resilient community. Baltimore’s walkability and affordability are also reasons why the city is great for meetings. Convention attendees will be able to experience all the culture that the city has to offer by taking in a show at one of their performance venues like Baltimore Center Stage or the Hippodrome Theatre; checking out a game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards or M&T Bank Stadium; taking a walk through one of the city’s incredible museums or winding down at a local watering hole to enjoy Baltimore’s live music scene.

The Baltimore Convention Center (BCC) is just steps away from the picturesque Inner Harbor, which is home to restaurants, shopping, the National Aquarium and other cultural institutions. Baltimore is a city known for its neighborhoods, each with a distinct personality — from the cobblestone-lined waterfront of Fell’s Point to kitschy Hampden; from historic Federal Hill to trendy Harbor East; from the cultural hub of Mount Vernon to Canton and Pigtown. There are also the Station North, Bromo Tower and Highlandtown arts and entertainment districts. Steeped in rich history and culture, Baltimore is no stranger to reinventing itself, keeping a keen eye on the future while honoring its legacy.

All across Baltimore, former industrial zones and historic buildings are coming back to life, thanks to a wave of new development and innovative re-use sweeping the city. Spanning the housing, entertainment, business and transportation sectors, these exciting new projects will bring endless one-of-a-kind experiences to Baltimore. As an added bonus, many of these remodels are just a short drive away from the BCC, so meeting attendees don’t have to travel far to experience all that’s new.

Other notable projects include Port Covington, a 25-year project that will include up to 18 million sf of new mixed-use development, 2.5 miles of restored waterfront and 40 acres of parks and green space. In addition, the Warner Street District master plan will transform a previously underutilized industrial zone into an energetic and walkable corridor bridging the Horseshoe Casino and M&T Bank Stadium. The planned district will include a new Paramount music venue, Topgolf facility, Yards Social Bar and more than 34,000 sf of retail space.

America’s oldest public market, Lexington Market, has undergone a massive makeover. The newly opened and fully modernized communal gathering space upholds the institution’s more than 200 year spirit of entrepreneurship and vibrancy, while celebrating Baltimore’s diverse array of local and minority-owned businesses.  C&IT