What Others Are Saying

Elvis was once asked what kind of music he played. “I play all kinds” was his response. That sums up what you’ll find in Memphis: all kinds of everything for all kinds of people. If you’re looking to experience the best of the South, this is the place.

What is Southern? Come to Memphis and we’ll show you. It’s incredible food, from sizzling barbecue (wet or dry) to greens and cornbread to pot likker to fresh cobbler. It’s blooming azaleas in the spring and sweet accents all year-round. It’s friendly people. Mississippi River sunsets. It’s entire industries being born with Holiday Inns and FedEx, not to mention the first drive-in restaurant, the first self-service grocery, and the birthplace of rock ‘n' roll.

It’s also music, born in the cotton fields and in the back alleys. There’s Historic Beale Street, home to over 25 shops and clubs and free impromptu entertainment on every corner. Ranking second only to Bourbon Street as the nation’s most popular entertainment district, Beale Street is energetic and eclectic. B.B. King’s, Rum Boogie’s and the Hard Rock Café pack in visitors nightly.

And speaking of B. B. King, ever wonder where his famed “ES Lucille” guitar is kept? Right here in the Gibson Guitar Factory & Beale Street Showcase, where you can take a tour and shop. If you love rock ‘n roll, you’ll love Smithsonian’s Rock ‘n Soul Museum, with its seven galleries examining the history of Memphis music. Famed Sun Studio is the place where legends such as Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and more were recorded and their careers launched.

Stax Museum of American Soul Music is located at the original site of the legendary Stax Records in the heart of Soulsville, USA. This 17,000 sq. ft facility with more than 2,000 cultural artifacts, music exhibits, video footage and items of memorabilia is designed to preserve and promote the legacy of American soul music, particularly that of Stax Records.

Of course the granddaddy of them all is Graceland, the 14-acre legendary home of Elvis, which offers an amazing journey into the beloved star’s home and career. Tours of the mansion, airplanes, and automobiles are available.

For a real glimpse of all that is southern, stop by Center for Southern Folklore, a melting pot for everything Southern. Hear live blues, rockabilly and just about any other kind of music. Stroll through the gallery, see a film, and take a tour. Or have a seat and enjoy homemade peach cobbler, greens, and hot water cornbread. Good found abounds in Memphis.

History is a strong part of the South, and Memphis is no exception. The National Civil Rights Museum, is just one of the 60+ one-of-a-kind attractions that Memphis boasts that educates visitors on milestones in our culture. This impressive site is located in downtown Memphis inside the Lorraine Hotel, site of the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. Inside, you’ll find a deeply moving exploration of the sights, sounds and tensions of the Civil Rights Movement. Nearby is the Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum, offering a fascinating glimpse of how slaves escaped to the North. There’s also the Pink Palace Museum, Chucalissa Indian Village, Alex Haley House & Museum in Henning, Tennessee, Memphis Riverboats and more.

And you can’t come to the South without doing some cheering. Our beautiful AutoZone Baseball Park is home to the AAA Memphis Redbirds baseball team. The stadium has been praised as one of the top 10 facilities of its kind in the U.S. It offers superior dining and shopping and features 12,000 general seats, 1,500 club seats, 44 luxury suites, and a private plaza club. It is well suited for private functions and special events.

The NBA Memphis Grizzlies play in FedExForum, a $250 million arena right in the heart of the downtown. The five-level arena features 80 club boxes, 50 executive suites and seating for 18,400.

Good times. Good food. Good people. Great place to meet. Our city offers costs and rates that average half of nearly all first-tier and many second-tier cities. The multi-billion dollar downtown renaissance and the $92-million convention center expansion and renovation project have resulted in outstanding facilities and space. In fact, no other convention center in the country can offer an in-house performing arts center that connects to the exhibit space.

The Memphis Cook Convention Center now features 350,000 square feet of convention space and connects to the new 2,100 seat Cannon Center for Performing Arts. The area features 23,000 hotel rooms, 2,900 of which are within walking distance or just around the corner, including the landmark Peabody Hotel (don’t forget to catch the march of the famous ducks in the lobby), and scores of dining options in every price range. A trolley system runs down the main street, connecting the Convention Center on one end of downtown to Beale Street and the South Main Arts distinct on the opposite end, with all downtown hotels within a block of the trolley line.

And of course there is excellent hotel and meeting space across town as well, beginning with the Hilton Memphis. Located in the heart of the East Memphis business district, this 405-room hotel underwent an extensive $12 million renovation. Best of all, it is only 15 minutes from Memphis International Airport. This luxury hotel features more than 30,000 square feet of meeting space and can handle a meeting or reception up to 1,600 persons, which makes the Hilton Memphis a premier hotel and conference center in Memphis. Another excellent choice is The Embassy Suites Memphis, with 220 suites overlooking a lush tropical garden setting and waterfall. This outstanding hotel is easily accessible to shopping/dining and entertainment.

Memphis is conveniently located and easy to reach by plane, train and automobile. The Memphis International Airport, with non-stop trans-Atlantic service. Two major interstates (I-40 and I-55) intersect here as well.

Hollywood has taken a shine to Memphis. Scenes from several major movies have been filmed here, including “The Firm,” starring Oscar Winning Actor Tom Cruise; “Hustle and Flow,” starring Terrence Howard; “Cast Away,” with Oscar Winning Actor Tom Hanks; “Walk the Line,” starring Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix; “Black Snake Moan,” starring Samuel L. Jackson and Christina Ricci, and more.

If you want to have a meeting or convention that offers delegates a uniquely Southern experience with world-renowned attractions and entertainment, there’s simply no better place than Memphis.