Why Idaho for Your Next Meeting or Event?
The high-desert climate in the Treasure Valley, home to Boise, promises comfortable fall days to come. Several notable hotels are in the works for the Idaho capital, which will allow guests to take advantage of the city's eclectic dining scene, it's walkable downtown and its wealth of outdoor activities.
BOISE
New & Coming Soon
The Boise Convention & Visitors Bureau has been honored as an outstanding DMO/CVB in the Far West with a silver Stella Award. The bureau represents local entities including the Boise Centre, the city’s main convention facility.
A landmark building, which was a vibrant nightclub in the 1970s, debuts as the 39-room Avery Hotel later this year. The hotel’s two eateries — the 90-seat Avery and the 70-seat Tiner’s Alley gastropub — will be helmed by Michelin-starred chef/hotel-owner Cal Elliott, who grew up in the city.
The 29,000-square-foot Warehouse Food Hall, housing about 20 food and retail vendors, opened last July. Still under construction at the venue are the Treefort Music Hall (debuting next spring) and Cinema West Theaters (opening this fall).
Hendricks Group, the food hall’s developer, is behind the upcoming 122-room Hotel Renegade, which will open in 2024. Featured will be a restaurant, a rooftop bar, and a 2,700-square-foot event space with a patio.
Construction of a $3 million, two-story education complex is underway at the Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial at the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights. On-site will be a sculpture by local artist Ken McCall titled “Uplifted,” using text from the Universal Declaration for Human Rights as inspiration. At the November 2021 groundbreaking, Wassmuth executive director Dan Prinzing said, “We are committed to fulfilling our mission to educate, elevate and empower. The center is designed to be a lantern of hope in the state of Idaho and extend beyond.”
The new two-level Topgolf Boise features 60 climate-controlled outdoor hitting bays, a full menu of drinks and eats, and year-round programming.
Meeting Hotels
Properties with meeting space include the 303-room Riverside Hotel, 252-room Grove Hotel, 180-room Residence Inn Boise Downtown City Center, 112-room Hotel 43 and 110-room Inn at 500 Capitol.
To find and compare hotels, and send RFPs, visit Northstar Meetings Group's new venue finder.
Group Event Venues
Schuss
Just outside of town, but still in Boise County,
Bogus Basin beckons winter visitors for a day — or night — on the slopes. The mountain has 2,600 acres for day skiing, 165 of which are lit for night skiing, plus plenty of Nordic trails. Snowshoeing also is available, and there’s a mountain coaster for a bracing cold ride.
A favorite eatery in town, Bardenay Restaurant & Distillery, has an events annex called Beside Bardenay. The 3,500-square-foot space seats 75 for a plated event and holds up to 140 people for a reception. Planners in the know ask for access to the patio, as well.
About 30 minutes outside of town, oenophiles can enjoy the Sunnyslope Wine Trail, part of the Snake River American Viticultural Area. Amazingly, this wine region is on the same latitude as the Rioja in Spain and the Rhone Valley in France. Tours to the wineries make for a fun afternoon.
The Great Hall of the historic Boise Depot makes an elegant setting for seated soirées for up to 165 guests and receptions for 300 attendees.
Built in 1889, the Victorian Bishops’ House was lifted onto a truck in 1975 and moved to its current location near the Old Idaho Territorial Penitentiary. The home, which hosts special events for up to 100 people indoors and 125 outdoors, still features the original hardwood floors and its original woodwork has been restored.
The ultimate dinearounds in the city are on the menu from Indulge Boise. Customizable for 10 to 100 people, tour options include the culture and foods of the city’s historic downtown, a vegan dine and sip, a Sunday brunch tour, and a four-brewery beer tour.
Team-building workshops, competitive chef challenges and other private events are welcome at Season and Taste; cooking classes can be combined with a plated dinner.
When the schedule is clear, the Knitting Factory, a popular concert spot, opens up its space for special events. The venue holds up to 1,000 for concerts and seats 300 for dinner.
Transportation in & Around Boise
Boise Airport, approximately six miles from the city's downtown; transfer cost by taxi, $15; many area hotels offer complimentary shuttle service. Delta Air Lines now flies between Boise and Atlanta, giving Idaho a much-needed connection to the East Coast. And Alaska Airlines is launching a flight to Palms Springs, Calif.
From July 2 to Sept. 6, JetBlue will run nonstop flights between Boise Airport and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. The weekly flights will be Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
The city offers electric scooters from three rental companies: Lime, Bird and Spin. Find tips and regulations here.
Best Convention and Visitors Bureau, Far West: Boise CVB (Silver)
Top 10 Boise Restaurants
From western style cuisine to international delights, Boise offers a variety of dining choices sure to enhance your event.
- Chandlers Steakhouse - Seafood, Steakhouse
- Barbacoa Grill - Steakhouse
- Bittercreek Alehouse - American
- Goodword Barbecue Company - Barbecue
- Fork - American, Bar
- Bardenay Restaurant & Distillery - American Pub
- Capital Cellars - Wine Bar
- Luciano's - Italian
- 10 Barrel Brewing Co. - American
- Bombay Grill - Indian