Why Idaho for Your Next Meeting or Event?
Boise, one of the fastest-growing U.S. cities, continues to impress planners and attendees alike. The Idaho capital offers an eclectic and sophisticated dining scene, a walkable downtown, a wealth of outdoor activities, and new developments in the works that will bring four new properties to the city.
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.
The Avery, a 39-room boutique hotel, is being developed downtown. The property, which will be built in the landmark Blues Bouquet building, will have a restaurant and bar helmed by acclaimed chef and native son Cal Elliott. An opening date has not been announced.
Also in the planning stage is the 124-room Hotel Renegade, to be built at the corner of Grove and 11th streets. The eight-story building will include a restaurant, meeting space, a wellness center and fitness rooms. The hotel will have two watering holes, one on the ground floor, and another on the rooftop, as well as an outdoor patio.
A dual-branded Marriott AC hotel and SpringHill Suites, each with 130 rooms, are expected to be added to the city’s group options. An opening date has not been announced.
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 29,000-square-foot Warehouse Food Hall, which will house about 20 food and retail vendors, is scheduled to debut this year.
Boise Airport was the nation’s 61st-busiest in 2020, and in fall 2021, the Federal Aviation Administration reclassified the facility as a medium hub airport. Among the latest improvements and additions to the growing airport are a lactation room and a family restroom. A new pet-relief area within the terminal makes it so travelers and their four-legged companions don’t have go through the security checkpoint twice.
Notable 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.
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