What Others Are Saying

Today, the belt has tightened. From corporations to small businesses to homemakers across the country, we’re all taking a closer look at the choices we make. Value matters more than ever before. This is why Memphis, Tennessee is the perfect location for people to loosen their belts for a hearty helping of Blues, BBQ and Sweet, Sweet Southern Hospitality.

The Blues

As the home of the blues and the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll, you can walk down Beale Street with a cold drink in your hand and hear some of the best music in the south. A good time can happen just about anywhere. It’s that kind of city. But if you find yourself drawn to any of the clubs on Beale, the only problem you’ll have is figuring out which one to check out. BB King’s, Alfred’s, Rum Boogies or the New Daisy Theater—no matter the venue, the music is world class. Add a pair of the NBA’s most affordable tickets to see the Memphis Grizzlies and you’ll probably have more fun in one night than most folks can handle.

BBQ

More and more these days, great food is becoming a reason to travel in its own right. In Memphis, we’ve known this for some time. In fact, FoodTV and the Travel Channel have been documenting our legendary reputation for BBQ for years. And just about every episode on either channel has started with a stop at The Rendezvous. The back-alley dining room started in 1948 with a slab of ribs and old coal chute, but has blossomed into a barbeque icon over the years. Rendezvous now ships its famous dry-rub ribs all over the world, but it’s not without its own local competition. The Neely Brothers are closing in as they successfully expand their business and reputation thanks to Patrick Neely and his wife, Gina, whose show, Down Home with the Neelys, has taken FoodTV by storm.

Sweet Southern Hospitality

Whether you’re eating the world’s best fried chicken at Gus’ or taking in a warm spring evening at AutoZone Park, home to our Triple-A baseball team, the Memphis Redbirds, you’ll find a common thread: good people. It’s what makes our city a great place to visit. It’s arguably the most basic and most important thing we could offer you. And it’s what you’ll find from the Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau staff, among the industry’s most respected. It’s what you’ll find when you make the decision to meet, sleep, eat and have a good old time in Memphis, Tennessee.

The other basics:

Of the 21,000 rooms available in the city of Memphis, 2,700 are within walking distance of the downtown convention center. The Marriott Downtown Hotel, attached to the Cook Center, contains 602 guest rooms, while the grand and historic Peabody Hotel offers banquet and meeting facilities, as well as 468 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 new $40 million Westin Beale Street Hotel features 203 rooms and is located directly across from the FedExForum

As the nation’s only such facility to offer an in-house performing arts center that connects to the exhibit space, the Memphis Cook Convention Center offers:
• 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

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.