NORTHEAST
With four levels, each with its own distinct functions, the Baltimore Convention Center makes it easy to plan and implement events of all types in this colorful and historic city. Level 1 has the exhibition space, 300,000 square feet in total that divides
into seven separate halls. Level 2 includes two lobbies, offices, access to the Skywalk and Inner Harbor. Level 3 provides 50 meeting rooms that can accommodate anywhere from 85 to 1,600 people, while an outdoor terrace and covered pavilion are ideal
for special activities or relaxation. Level 4 is a magnificent 36,672-square-foot ballroom divisible into four, the largest of which can host up to 700 for a banquet.
The center also is committed to implementing innovative client, sustainability
and community-based programs to ensure that all events are successful while also reducing their carbon footprint and working toward the betterment of the city as a whole.
In the heart of D.C.’s convention and entertainment district, the Walter E. Washington Convention Center features grand staircases, lofty ceilings, airy natural lighting and modern finishes. Exhibit space totals 700,000 square feet across 77 rooms, and
the center just completed a $16.5 million renovation of its food and retail outlets, including a new 17,000-square-foot flexible-use catering space known as the Downtown Dining District. In 2022, the center became the first such facility in the world
to achieve Well Health-Safety certification.
Built in 1997, the Atlantic City Convention Center hosts more than 500,000 visitors annually. At almost 1 million square feet, it is one of the East Coast’s largest centers and houses the following spaces: 5 exhibit halls ranging in size from 29,400 to
199,500 square feet; 45 meeting rooms of from 672 to 11,880 square feet in size, and more than 32,000 square feet of prefunction space. The center conveniently is connected to the AC Regional Rail Terminal running from Philadelphia to Atlantic City.
Three floors of endless space combinations, plus in-house food and beverage, in-house A/V and an experienced staff have been hallmarks of the Rhode Island Convention Center for nearly 30 years. In Providence, the facility has 100,000 square
feet of exhibition space, 20,000 square feet of ballroom space, 23 meeting rooms, 30,000 square feet of prefunction space and a superb in-house catering team. Six hotels, a shopping mall, two dozen restaurants and the scenic Providence River are within
a short walk.
SOUTHEAST
A treasure in the heart of Tampa, Fla., the Tampa Convention Center has 600,000 square feet of event space in a spectacular waterfront setting. The center currently is undergoing a $38 million renovation and expansion, including a new two-level addition
with 18 new meeting rooms overlooking the river. These rooms include air walls for increased flexibility for event managers and planners.
Throughout these renovations, sustainability is a top priority. The center has invested in new HVAC
technology to increase efficiency, eliminate the need for oil disposal and reduce energy usage. The facility partners with community programs to donate unused supplies to schools, extra construction materials to Habitat for Humanity, and excess
food to charities.
At the core of the Miami Beach Convention Center, Exhibit Hall ABCD provides 491,651 square feet of contiguous space, able to host many configurations: exhibits, theater-style, classroom or banquet. Eight main spaces include the impressive, sunny 60,000-square-foot
Grand Ballroom and the 19,714-square-foot Sunset Vista Ballroom, which includes an expansive prefunction area and an outdoor terrace providing vibrant views over Pride Park. Having garnered LEED Silver Certification, the center is committed to supporting
sustainability and climate-change actions.
The numbers are impressive at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, but they only tell part of a story that includes top-drawer service and beautiful design. With a total of 7 million square feet (4 million in the West Building and 3 million in
the North/South Building), the center has 2,053,820 square feet of exhibition space, 479,190 square feet of meeting space in 74 rooms and a total of 232 breakout rooms. The facility’s Valencia Ballroom has more square footage — 62,182 — than the
White House and can hold events for up to 6,000 people.
Just a quarter-mile from Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the Georgia International Convention Center has a total of 400,000 square feet of space that includes 150,000 square feet of exhibit space, 90,000 square feet of pre-function space, 16,000 square feet of meeting space, and the largest ballroom in the Metro Atlanta area at 40,000 square feet. The facility has three new affiliated convention hotels — the 403-room Atlanta Airport Marriott Gateway, the 204-room Renaissance Atlanta Airport Gateway and the 147-room SpringHill Suites Atlanta Airport Gateway.
MIDWEST
In Ohio, the LEED Silver-designated Greater Columbus Convention Center has 373,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space, 75 meeting rooms, 114,000 square feet of ballroom space and a number of innovative features, including the first indoor, LED-lit,
hydroponic SmartFarm in a convention center, yielding 2.5 tons of produce yearly; complimentary hygiene products for attendees, and in-house food merchants utilizing compostable service ware and sustainable water-filler stations.
But that’s
not all. The center’s South Cafe & Marketplace offers a number of restaurants and shops. In addition, the GCCC has developed a comprehensive and sustainable cleaning, training and safety guide to ensure sanitary conditions at the facility.
Overlooking the scenic Ohio River in downtown Owensboro, Ky., the Owensboro Convention Center is GBAC certified, meaning the facility has established a comprehensive cleaning and maintenance program to maintain a hygienic indoor environment. The center
has just under 102,000 square feet of space, including a 44,000-square-foot exhibition hall, an 8,900-square-foot pier spanning the river and more. Complete in-house services include food and beverage, audiovisual, Internet access and electrical.
In the heart of downtown Milwaukee, the Baird Center (formerly the Midwest Express Center) is undergoing a major expansion scheduled for completion in early 2024. The overhaul will double the size of the facility, to 1.3 million square feet, growing the exposition
hall to 300,000 contiguous square feet. Other additions will include 24 new meeting rooms, for a total of 52, and six addition loading docks. The expansion also will create a spectacular rooftop ballroom with outdoor terraces and panoramic city views.
SOUTHWEST
Located in the heart of Denver’s compact, easy-to-negotiate downtown, the Colorado Convention Center has a total 2,200,000 square feet of space, including nearly 600,000 square feet of exhibit space and 63 hotel-quality ballrooms, of which the new Four
Seasons Ballroom can host up to 3,500 people while the Mile High Ballroom can accommodate up to 5,000 for a reception.
Other on-site features include the 5,000-seat Bellco Theater, with a full schedule of concerts and entertainment events.
An expansion of the facility currently is under way, with plans to create a new 80,000-square-foot column-free multipurpose room and outdoor rooftop terrace with sweeping views of the city skyline and mountains.
Downtown in the heart of the capital of the Lone Star State, the Austin Convention Center sits comfortably amid a high density of hotels with more than 12,000 guest rooms (and some 48,000 rooms in the city overall). The facility stretches over six blocks
and amounts to 881,400 square feet, its five contiguous exhibit halls offering 247,052 square feet of column-free space. Having earned LEED Gold certification, the center runs on 100 percent renewable energy from Austin Energy’s Green Choice Program.
A recent $3 million improvement project at the El Paso Convention Center has resulted in a new digital marquee, way-finding signage, carpeting, furniture, paint and lighting, and new bathrooms were installed or renovated throughout the venue. The center,
which spans 133,100 square feet, regularly hosts a wide variety of events ranging from competitive sporting contests and trade shows to business conventions and banquets. Outside, guests are welcome to enjoy a colorful plaza with open space able to
host receptions and more.
FAR WEST
With more than 400,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space, the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center in California has proven itself an ideal venue for all types of special events, conventions and trade shows. A total of 34 meeting rooms
includes three ballrooms, such as the 46,000-square-foot Pacific Ballroom, which can change its shape, size and atmosphere to create a limitless variety of guest experiences, including receptions for up to 5,000 people and banquets for up to 3,280.
Also
on-site, three Exhibition Halls with 224,000 square feet of contiguous space can be used for all types of conventions, trade shows, consumer shows and special events. For memorable outdoor gatherings, the glittering 14,789-square-foot Terrace
Plaza can host up to 3,000 people for a reception.
Seattle has two big convention facilities that together constitute the Seattle Convention Center. The Arch building, within easy walking distance to the city’s most iconic attractions, has 78 meeting rooms, 44,628 square feet of ballroom space
and 205,700 square feet of total exhibit space. The newly opened Summit building spans four blocks in the middle of the city’s business and entertainment district, with 62 meeting rooms, the 99,250-square-foot carpeted and column-free Flex Hall and
a 58,000-square-foot ballroom.
With 478,000 total square feet of event space, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland can accommodate gatherings of almost any size. Top-tier audiovisual capabilities, abundant natural light and public spaces adorned with some $2 million of extraordinary art are welcome touches here, but the center also is known for the support and personalized attention given to planners. Certified LEED Platinum, the OCC features a rain garden that filters rainwater from the roof before it flows to the nearby Willamette River.