Columbus, GA, Is the Perfect Setting for Your Next Event
VisitColumbusGA is rolling out the welcome mat for groups looking to host a meeting or event in one of the city’s many venues.
Sponsored by: VisitColumbusGA
Trade associations, student groups, political parties and religious organizations all have found their ideal meeting destination in Columbus, GA.
Peter Bowden, president and CEO of VisitColumbusGA, says Columbus is enjoying renewed interest as a meeting and convention destination catering to the specific needs of groups of all sizes, thanks to a significant investment in hotel infrastructure over the past several years.
“We’ve designated four Meeting Districts citywide – Uptown, Victory, MidTown and Northlake,” Bowden says.
These campuses offer a variety of group meeting options, plus hotels, restaurants and all the amenities to support those diverse needs.
“Our nearly 200,000-square foot Convention Center in the Uptown historic and Entertainment District is a unique space in an old munitions factory; a perfect example of re-adaptive use for historic buildings,” Bowden explains. “But not every client needs that.
“Our goal is to provide options for clients, knowing every meeting planner’s needs are specific to their meeting size and attendees’ expectation,” he continues.
“For example, the Uptown District also has a 10,000-seat arena that is appropriate for some groups. Or maybe they want something that’s more intimate, so we have lots of options for them to consider.”
Columbus Offers a Sense of Place
Columbus State University’s Cunningham Conference Center in MidTown boasts ample event space and support services. Northlake includes acres of gardens, as well as an historic event center on the banks of the Chattahoochee River. And the Victory District has the National Infantry Museum and other unique gathering spaces.
While there is easy access by air, Bowden says, “Columbus is also a drive market. We’re connected by major arteries and highway systems throughout the Southeast.”
Columbus hosts the annual Georgia Thespian Conference, bringing up to 7,000 high school theater students to venues throughout the city. The Republican Party recently held its state convention here, relying on coordination among the VisitColumbusGA team, the Convention Center and other crucial partner organizations.
Meeting planners can also incorporate immersive experiences into their events.
“We offer a variety of things for attendees to do when they are not in session,” Bowden says. “This could be team-building activities like the zip line across the Chattahoochee River or navigating the world’s longest urban whitewater course, or tours such as how the city has repurposed its infrastructure. There are a lot of things that are uniquely Columbus that you wouldn’t find or be able to do in other cities.”
VisitColumbusGA Offers One-Stop-Shop Approach
The VisitColumbusGA team puts service first.
“From pre-planning, to marketing, to the event itself and post-marketing, meetings and conventions are successful here because of this team, and the relationships we have with hotels, venues and vendors. We make it a good experience for the meeting planner,” Bowden adds.
“Here at VisitColumbusGA, we provide a one-stop shop approach,” he continues. “We’re able to coordinate all those needs and help navigate them on behalf of the client, so they can focus on their business.”
Learn more about hosting your event in Columbus at visitcolumbusga.com.
