With a surprising and rich mix of traditional Southern charm, cultural, business-oriented communities and one-of-a-kind attractions, Upcountry South Carolina is a place where planners can say goodbye to those “same old meeting” blues with group activity options such as BMW performance track racing and tours of innovative art galleries, renowned gardens and Revolutionary War battlefields.
From the urban buzz of Columbia and the industrial muscle of Greenville to the creative spirit of Spartanburg and the historic sites of York County, this region of South Carolina is quickly becoming a favorite destination for meetings.
Columbia
Business is booming in the state capital of Columbia, as the city focuses on urban enhancement and development, from simple streetscaping to constructing a new stadium.
“We’re growing in every direction,” says Dave Zunker, vice president of media, marketing and development at the Columbia Metro CVB. “New hotels are being built, and others are renovating.”
The Vista entertainment district, which features dining, shopping and attractions, is getting a new, more-polished and visitor-friendly look, as has the downtown district on Main Street, according to Zunker.
“Main Street has undergone a facelift, with new lighting, roadways, even new trees,” he says.
Perhaps the biggest news in town is the opening this July of the 222-room Hilton Columbia Center hotel, the main property near the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.
With all the activity, plus a new baseball stadium coming next spring, it’s no wonder Columbia is seeing bigger meetings.
“Our comfortable range is 200 to 750 people, and we’re starting to book larger meetings of 1,000 to 1,500,” he says.
Another factor in the city’s growing success is the University of South Carolina, which has long-range plans in motion to build an urban technology center with a focus on fuel cell research.
While the future is filled with exciting developments, today’s Columbia has plenty to please meeting planners.
The Riverbanks Zoo and Garden features natural habitats, scenic river overlooks and botanical gardens that have been rated one of the 20 best public gardens by HGTV. A popular site for receptions, the zoo also has 14,700 square feet of meeting space.
For the inner child in every attendee, EdVenture Children’s Museum offers unique event space among 300 fun and fascinating exhibits, as well as five meeting rooms.
Art devotees will love the Columbia Museum of Art, with 17 galleries showcasing works from early renaissance to contemporary times. The museum continues the creative touch with meetings and receptions for planners who prefer the company of Picasso or the lush beauty of the great outdoors.
The Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center is the city’s largest gathering facility, with 142,000 square feet of event space, while the Columbia Conference Center offers 19,300 square feet of function space.
Hotel options include the Columbia Marriott, with 27,000 square feet of meeting space; the Radisson Hotel Columbia and Conference Center, with 20,000 square feet of meeting space; and the upcoming Hilton Columbia Center, which will offer 5,000 square feet of meeting space.
Spartanburg
From the area’s rich history to current developments, the creative spirit lights the way for Spartanburg and makes the city a top pick for planners who want something exciting and different.
“We’re very creative as a community,” says Jules Bryant, executive director for the Spartanburg CVB. “And that extends to our meetings business as well.”
One of the newest sensations with groups is the Hub-Bub, a grassroots art initiative located in a renovated historic building. Planners are adding a hip new edge to off-site events at the venue, with evenings featuring independent film, music or literary receptions. The first floor of the working art gallery will open as a French restaurant this summer, so attendees can have dinner before viewing the artwork or enjoying a concert.
“Some groups fold their activities into events already scheduled at Hub-Bub,” Bryant says. “There’s always something fun going on, so planners will often just get a block of tickets.”
The arts and culture scene will also get a boost with the October opening of the Chapman Cultural Center, located at Renaissance Park, one of the central features of downtown Spartanburg’s revitalization. The 86,000-square-foot, three-building campus will house schools for art, music and dance, as well as a 500-seat theater. The facility will be home to the area’s theater company, as well as a history museum. Several areas of the center, including the theater, will be available for group rental.
Popular group outings include clay shooting at the River Bend Sportsman’s Resort or a trip to the BMW manufacturing plant and BMW Zentrum Museum, located between Spartanburg and Greenville on Interstate 85. The Zentrum provides a high-tech exploration of automotive power, from a look at the past to new trends for the future, and the facility also offers state-of-the-art meeting space with its 60-seat conference room and a 250-seat auditorium, as well as tours through the plant.
History buffs can explore the historic Cowpens National Battlefield, a must-see Revolutionary War site, or the Walnut Grove plantation, which provides visitors with a peek into frontier life.
The CVB will also plan unique spouse and family activities, according to Bryant. Recently, the bureau organized a tour through a nationally known jewelry designer’s studio.
“We’re big enough to have all the amenities a planner wants, yet we’re small enough to cater to any meeting’s needs, one on one,” Bryant says.
Spartanburg can handle meetings of 1,000 people with ease, and plans are on the drawing board to renovate and expand the available meeting space in the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium to accommodate larger groups.
Other major meeting spaces include the Spartanburg Expo Center, the Summit Point Conference Center and the Marriott Spartanburg at Renaissance Park, which offers 30,000 square feet of flexible event space, including an 11,340-square-foot ballroom.
Greenville and Clemson
Along with its traditional Southern charm, Greenville is known for its international flavor, due to the local presence of global companies like BMW, Mitsubishi and Kyocera.
“We call it the ‘surprise factor,’” says Ryan Herron, director of sales for the Greenville CVB. “There’s a huge international influence on our restaurants and shops. Our downtown is a very vibrant scene, something that’s unique to the area, and people are always truly surprised and pleased to find it.”
While most visitors enjoy the main downtown area, Herron says development along the tree-lined Main Street into the West End historic district is drawing crowds as well. The 355-foot-long, curving Liberty Bridge provides a stunning view of Reedy River Falls and the public gardens below, and nearby is West End Field, the town’s new baseball stadium, which offers a pavilion area for groups. The Peace Center for the Performing Arts, which features concerts and plays in a concert hall, an outdoor 1,500-seat amphitheater and a 400-seat theater, is a popular spot for receptions and off-site events.
The combination of attractions, breathtaking parks and irresistible shops and restaurants made the town an obvious choice when Southern Living magazine selected Greenville as one of its three favorite cities in the October 2006 issue.
Another popular group destination is the BMW Performance Track, according to Herron. The track is located at the BMW complex between Spartanburg and Greenville, and provides unique thrills for attendees with a need for speed.
“You can choose from 10 different cars to drive, and they have different tracks, from off-road or slalom to a track equipped with sprinklers so drivers can experience the challenges of wet-weather driving,” he says.
Attendees take part in a safety class beforehand, and all track activities are performed in a controlled environment.
Several new properties will open within the next couple of years, according to Herron. The Peacock Hotel, a high-end boutique property featuring a spa, will debut in 2008, while other upcoming projects include a Courtyard by Marriott, a Homewood Suites and a Sheraton.
Meetings-ready properties currently include the Westin Poinsett, the Hyatt Regency Greenville, the Embassy Suites Greenville Golf Resort and Conference Center, and the Hilton Greenville.
Among the destination’s major group facilities, the Carolina First Center will finish a $22 million interior and exterior renovation early next year. Other options include the BI-LO Center, an arena that seats up to 15,000, and Timmons Arena, which seats up to 5,500.
Just 30 miles west is the town of Clemson, home to Clemson University. The area features many historic homes and sites, along with the striking beauty of the South Carolina Botanical Gardens. The Walker Golf Course is adjacent to some of the gardens and is one of only two courses in the country that can accommodate physically challenged golfers.
Meeting facilities include the IACC-approved Conference Center and Inn at Clemson University. The property overlooks the Walker Golf Course and features 89 guest units and the 57,000-square-foot Madren Conference Center.
Rock Hill and York County
Rock Hill and the communities of York County are a treasure trove of cultural sites, from the vast and compelling Historic Brattonsville, a 775-acre living history village and Revolutionary War battlefield, to the Museum of York County, which features mounted African animals and an impressive collection of African crafts, and the Catawba Cultural Center, which is located on the tribal reservation and preserves and promotes the history and culture of the Catawba people. A popular group event is the “Evening with the Catawbas,” a cultural immersion program featuring a meal, drumming, dancing, and storytelling.
With so much history on tap, people are just now beginning to discover York County, according to Margaret Young, director of sales for the Rock Hill/York County CVB.
“We’re an undiscovered jewel,” she says. “We have incredible heritage, plus great attractions for groups.”
Among its main lures is Carowinds, a 108-acre entertainment park featuring thrill rides, family rides, stage shows, and a water park. Whether attendees just want to chill with Spongebob Squarepants or challenge themselves with stuntman training at the DropZone Tower, there’s something for everyone.
Another group attraction, NarroWay Productions, entertains attendees with dinner theaters and original inspirational productions.
The average size meeting for the area is from 250 to 600 attendees, and Young says the destination sees a lot of regional association business.
“We are right in the middle of the two Carolinas and only 20 minutes from the airport, so we’re very accessible, yet small enough that planners receive lots of attention,” she says. “So many times, small meetings may get lost in the shuffle, but not here.”
Meeting facilities in York County include the Baxter M. Hood Center, which recently wrapped up a property-wide renovation and offers 40,000 square feet of event space; the Ramada Inn and Conference Center of Rock Hill, formerly the Holiday Inn Rock Hill, with four meeting rooms; the Winthrop Coliseum, with 10 meeting rooms and more than 13,000 square feet of exhibit space; the McCelvey Center, with a 560-seat theater; and the Carowinds park, which offers a 13,000-seat amphitheater and a 700-seat meeting facility.
For More Info
Columbia Metro CVB 803.545.0000
www.columbiacvb.com
Greenville CVB 864.421.0000
www.greenvillecvb.com
Rock Hill/York County CVB 803.329.5200
www.visityorkcounty.com
Spartanburg CVB 864.594.5050
www.visitspartanburg.com
