Considered one of the nation’s leading bioscience research centers and a major medical hub with renowned hospitals and medical schools, Memphis has what it takes to host exceptional medical meetings and conventions. Institutions such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Regional Medical Center (The MED), Baptist Memorial HealthCare System, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center and specialty medical companies such as Smith & Nephew attract scores of medical professionals annually.
And what do they find when they visit the city of Good Abode? Everything they need, starting with exceptional meeting space.
The Memphis Cook Convention Center is the nation’s only such facility to offer an in-house performing arts center that connects to the exhibit space. Meeting space includes:
• 350,000 sq. ft. of exhibit and meeting space
• 31 break-out meeting rooms
• 28,000 sq. ft. ballroom which can serve banquet for up to 2,000 delegates
• 2,100 seat Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, perfect for general assembly sessions and special presentations, with near-perfect acoustics
Outstanding Accommodations
There are 2,900 hotel rooms within walking distance of the downtown convention center. Of these, 2,000 rooms are committable to citywide conventions. Citywide, 23,000 rooms are available.
The Marriott Downtown Hotel, attached to the center, offers 600 guest rooms. The grand and historic Peabody Hotel has banquet and meeting facilities as well as 464 guest rooms. New downtown properties include the Downtown Doubletree, Hampton Inn and Suites on Beale Street, the Springhill Suites at Court Square, the Residence Inn by Marriott, and the acclaimed new Madison Hotel. The $40 million Westin Beale Street Hotel features 203 rooms and is located directly across from FedExForum, home of the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA.
Just outside downtown is the East Memphis Business Center, where you can relax in the comfort of the DoubleTree Hotel, Embassy Suites East or Hilton Memphis.
A Good Dose of Fun
And after the meeting, there’s plenty to do. Home of the blues and the birthplace of rock 'n' roll, Memphis rocks. Historic Beale Street boasts shops and clubs and free impromptu entertainment on every corner. Walk to the Gibson Guitar Factory & Beale Street Showcase and tour and shop. Visit the seven galleries inside the Smithsonian’s Rock ‘n Soul Museum. Close by is Sun Studio, where legends such as Elvis Presley and Carl Perkins first recorded. Stax Museum of American Soul Music houses more than 2,000 artifacts and exhibits. And don’t forget Graceland, the 14-acre legendary home of Elvis. Memphis offers 60+ one-of-a-kind attractions, museums, theme parks, 200+ festivals and special events, NBA Memphis Grizzlies, AAA Memphis Redbirds baseball, Mississippi RiverKings hockey, Memphis Motorsports Park and more.
Memphis is committed to serving all the business needs of convention and meeting planners with a convenient and affordable package. For more information, contact John Oros at (901)543-5300, email joros@mcvb.org, or visit www.memphistravel.com. The Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau is located at 47 Union Avenue, Memphis, TN, 38103.