What Others Are Saying

Maybe it’s the rhythm of the mighty Mississippi River.

Or the tangy blend of Southern hospitality and gritty determination.

Or the very talented people who have called our city home—Elvis, B.B. King, Al Green, Isaac Hayes, Justin Timberlake—whatever the reason, when it comes to music, there’s simply no place like Memphis. And there’s no other city that can offer convention or meeting attendees a wider menu of musical styles.

Memphis is where the blues were born, and it all began on Historic Beale Street, home to more than 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, birthplace of rock ‘n roll, is the place where legends such as Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Rufus Thomas 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.

As impressive as these attractions are, they really only scratch the surface when it comes to entertainment in Memphis. With such a rich musical heritage, the city offers countless live venues nightly where visitors can hear the old and new. But there’s so much to the rhythm of Memphis: outstanding food (best barbecue in the world), history (cotton, river lore, and more), and Southern culture (stop by the Center for Southern Folklore and see what it’s all about.)

Another one-of-a-kind experience is the impressive National Civil Rights Museum which dramatically chronicles the tragedies and triumphs of the Civil Rights Movement. The National Ornamental Metal Museum is the only institution in the United States devoted exclusively to the preservation and promotion of fine metalwork. The Memphis Zoo is one of only four in the nation to have giant pandas (ours are Le Le and Ya Ya), plus the grand Peabody Hotel and the world-famous march of the Peabody ducks.

Our beautiful AutoZone Ball 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.

For conventions and meetings, Memphis sounds great. 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-milion 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.

For convenience, Memphis rocks, easily accessible by plane, train and automobile. The Memphis International Airport which offers daily non-stop trans-Atlantic service. Two major interstates (I-40 and I-55) intersect here as well.

Hollywood has taken note of what a great location Memphis provides. Scenes from several major movies have been filmed here, including “The Firm,” “Hustle and Flow,” “Cast Away,” “Walk the Line,” “Black Snake Moan,” and more. It’s simply hard to beat the moderate climate, friendly people, wonderful food, one-of-kind attractions and southern ambiance that make us this soul-filled city.

“Memphis is an outstanding location for a convention or meeting,” said J. John Oros, Executive Vice President and COO, Convention Development for Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Everything is here—great music, great food, great attractions, great people—we’re big enough to offer something for everyone, but just the right size to be friendly and hospitable. We’re still a well-kept secret, which makes us an even smarter choice.”