From the new pedestrian bridge in Omaha and the Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center in Lincoln to the sandhills near Grand Island and stunning vistas of Scotts Bluff National Monument in Gering, Nebraska offers so many reasons to go outside and play. And while the state’s natural diversity is tailor-made for unique events, attendees will also enjoy the multitude of downtime activities, from historic entertainment districts to museums dedicated to everything from quilts to Kool-Aid.
Greater Omaha
Omaha continues to grow into a hip and happening destination. The much-awaited Pedestrian Bridge over the Missouri River opened in September and is one of the largest pedestrian bridges in the world, according to Dana Markel, executive director of the Omaha CVB.
“It’s a new icon for our city,” she says. “It connects to over 100 miles of nature trails and will provide one-of-a-kind activities for visitors.”
A budding art and cultural scene can be found in NoDo, the city’s North Downtown entertainment district, which boasts an independent art film house, a record label and club, plus shops, galleries and restaurants, including the new club Slowdown, which was picked by Esquire magazine as a top new club of the year. While the new entertainment district is taking off, the Historic Old Market area is by no means standing still. A favorite attraction for groups, the district continues to add new shops to its roster of attractions, which includes hotels, 30 restaurants, art galleries, unique shops, nightspots, carriage rides and more.
In addition to development in entertainment, Markel says the city added 600 room nights in the last year, a remarkable feat for a relatively new meetings destination. The CVB has been in place for just five years, and Omaha is quickly gaining ground as a favorite meeting spot, partially due to its central location and also because the city is home to five Fortune 500 companies, Markel says.
“We have a strong corporate foundation,” she says, adding that national associations are the city’s prime meetings market, with an average meeting size of 1,500 people.
Omaha offers several excellent off-site venues, including the Durham Western Heritage Museum, a historic train station elegantly restored and available for groups of up to 800 people. Both the Old Market and NoDo districts are popular stops for receptions, from a microbrew tasting party at a local tavern to a reception for up to 2,000 people at the Strategic Air and Space Museum.
For team-building exercises, planners can inquire with the CVB about events involving the new pedestrian bridge; afterward, groups can head out to the picturesque setting of Lauritzen Gardens for a banquet.
The city’s top meeting venue is Qwest Center Omaha, with 250,000 square feet of space. Also available is the Omaha Civic Auditorium, with 122,000 square feet of meeting space.
Other properties include the Hilton Omaha, connected to the Qwest Center Omaha; Doubletree Hotel and Executive Meeting Center Omaha–Downtown; Holiday Inn Omaha Convention Center; Embassy Suites Hotel Omaha–Downtown/Old Market; Omaha Magnolia Hotel; Omaha Marriott; Crowne Plaza Hotel Omaha–Old Mill; and Holiday Inn Downtown Omaha, opening in January.
For antiquing, history and outdoor fun, groups can visit Fremont, just northwest of Omaha. Popular sites include the Fremont and Elkhorn Valley Railroad, Fremont State Lakes Recreation Area and historic downtown Fremont.
Meeting facilities in Fremont include the Christensen Field Complex, the new Events Center for Athletics and Conferencing at Midland Lutheran College, the Holiday Inn Express Fremont and the Wilderness Lodge and Conference Center.
Nearby in Sarpy County, the rolling hills and lush forests provide a perfect playground for attendees at the Schramm State Recreation Area, and a wine tasting at Soaring Wings Vineyard wraps up any day nicely.
The area has received new event space with the July opening of the Embassy Suites Omaha/La Vista Hotel and Conference Center, which offers 257 suites and more than 55,000 square feet of event space, and a new 246-room Courtyard by Marriott is slated to open by next spring.
Lincoln
When it comes to meetings, Lincoln has a strong sports tradition, and the town is witnessing an increase in its best market.
“We’re seeing more national events like the North American Senior Circuit Softball World Series, which brought 46 teams to town,” says Derek Feyerherm, director of sales for the Lincoln CVB.
While sports events can bring in up to 2,500 people, the average meeting size for Lincoln is between 300 and 600 attendees. For larger events like trade shows, the downtown lodging properties work together, allowing planners to use the Pershing Center for exhibit space and distributing breakout sessions through downtown, Feyerherm says.
The area’s largest convention center, the Lancaster Event Center, recently completed an expansion in September, adding 200,000 square feet of meeting and event space, giving the center an approximate total of 400,000 square feet. Additionally, the Holiday Inn Downtown Lincoln is undergoing a facelift both indoors and out, as the facade gets a makeover to better reflect its location in the Historic Haymarket district. The guest rooms and ballrooms are under renovation as well, with an expected completion date in spring 2009. A groundbreaking was held recently for the new 92-room Residence Inn by Marriott as well, and it is slated to open in early fall 2009.
In addition to these properties, the city also offers other meeting facilities, such as the Embassy Suites Lincoln and the Cornhusker, A Marriott Hotel.
For off-site events, Lincoln is full of choices. The Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center offers 6,400 square feet of space, surrounded by 800 acres of pristine prairie land. To incorporate local culture into an event, the center offers programs on green construction and prairie conservation, and will also arrange guided tours through the park’s trails. Also available is the new International Quilt Study Center and Museum, located at the University of Nebraska, which displays the world’s largest publicly owned collection of quilts. The center also offers a reception hall and classrooms, plus high-tech, motion-sensitive exhibits on this unique art form. Another top venue is the Governor’s Mansion, a perfect choice for an unforgettable reception.
East of Lincoln is the Lied Lodge and Conference Center in Nebraska City. Attendees can work in the 14,000-square-foot conference center, then go play on the numerous attractions of the surrounding 260-acre Arbor Day Farm, which also includes a golf course designed by Arnold Palmer.
South of Lincoln is the charming town of Beatrice, packed with historic sites like the Oregon Trail Marker and the Homestead National Monument.
Columbus/Norfolk/South Sioux City
While South Sioux City may be part of a tri-state metro that includes Sioux City, Iowa, and North Sioux City, S.D., the Nebraska side has a unique meetings vibe all its own next to the Missouri River.
“We have the best location with the best view, plus the best people,” says Donna Goodier, director for the South Sioux City CVB. “Our main conference hotel, the Marina Inn, faces the river and offers guests spectacular views.”
The Marina Inn also recently completed a multimillion-dollar renovation, updating all 181 rooms plus the 45,000-square-foot conference center. Next to the hotel is a new YMCA, available for group events and team-building exercises, or attendees can relax amid the beauty of Ponca State Park, which has an interpretive center and meeting space on 860 acres of wooded beauty.
Columbus offers a mix of history and family fun, making it perfect for groups that want to add a few days onto their stay.
The Platte County Museum holds a cabin built in 1857 by one of the town’s founders, and there are several historic buildings to enjoy, including the very popular Glurs Tavern, the oldest tavern west of the Mississippi. Glurs still serves up food and drink, and is a favored off-site venue for attendees.
Other attractions include the Pawnee Plunge waterpark, live horse racing at Agricultural Park and stock car racing at the U.S. 30 Speedway.
Meeting properties include the New World Inn and Conference Center, which will be opening a new waterpark this October.
In Norfolk, the town’s convention center complex continues to grow. The Norfolk Lodge and Suites, adjacent to the Divots Conference Center and the DeVent Center, is adding another 30 rooms, giving the property a total of 100 guest rooms; the expansion is slated for completion in March 2009. Additionally, the Time Square Events Center recently opened and can accommodate up to 400 people, according to Lora Young, director of the Norfolk/Madison County CVB.
Since Norfolk’s most famous favorite son is Johnny Carson, several off-site venues tie in with the king of late night talk. The Johnny Carson Theater holds just over 1,200 people for a large group event, and the Elkhorn Valley Museum, which features an exhibit on Carson, is available for receptions and events.
Central Nebraska
History and nature hold sway in the Platte River Valley, home to Grand Island, Kearney, Hastings and North Platte, from the spring migration of the sandhill cranes to the celebration of an unusual bit of culture: Kool-Aid.
In Grand Island, association, agricultural and government meetings are the top markets, and the ideal meeting size is currently 100 to 400 people, although that’s about to change, according to Tricia Beem, assistant director of convention sales for the Grand Island/Hall County CVB.
“Grand Island was named as the new home of the Nebraska State Fair, starting in 2010,” she says, “so the Heartland Events Center complex will grow to include new multipurpose and exhibit buildings.”
Although Beem doesn’t yet have specifics on the size of the expansion, she says the area would gain significant meeting and event space in addition to the current space of 180,000 square feet, and the new direction will open up the town for larger meetings.
Grand Island features historic off-site venues, including the 1937 Grand Theater, an Art Deco masterpiece that also meets high-tech meeting needs; Plum Street Station, a historic restored passenger depot that accommodates up to 160 people and has a courtyard for events and receptions; and the Liederkranz, a 1912 building that covers a full city block, including its own courtyard and six-lane bowling alley.
Birdwatchers can see the cranes at the nearby Crane Meadows Nature Center or head over to Kearney for a peek at Rowe Sanctuary.
For fans of something a little speedier than a sandhill crane, Kearney has just the ticket: Chevyland USA, a sweet collection of classic cars, and drag racing at Kearney Raceway Park. Groups can keep the motor running with a reception at Trails and Rails Museum or slow down for some local color at the Museum of Nebraska Art.
Meeting facilities include the Kearney Convention Center and its surrounding hotel properties: the Hampton Inn, Wingate Inn, Holiday Inn Express, and Holiday Inn Hotel and Convention Center.
Associations and meetings of up to 2,000 attendees are the bread and butter of Hastings, but the town’s official beverage is Kool-Aid. The Hastings Museum, a popular off-site venue, now has an interactive Kool-Aid exhibit, celebrating the hometown history and creation of this popular fruity drink. Also available is Motorsport Park Hastings, a racetrack that groups can rent for the entire weekend.
The town’s main hotel and convention venue, the Quality Hotel and Convention Center, is currently undergoing room upgrades that are slated for completion by the end of the year. Other meeting facilities include the Adams County Fairgrounds and Hastings City Auditorium.
North Platte’s newest attraction, the Golden Spike Tower and Visitors Center, opened earlier this year and has quickly become a must-stop for attendees. The eight-story, 360-degree tower oversees a giant railroad yard, and will fascinate every inner child who dreamed of a train set under the Christmas tree. The area also has lots of historic sites, including the Buffalo Bill Cody home, located on Buffalo Bill State Historical Park.
Facilities include the Quality Inn and Suites/Sandhills Convention Center, the Holiday Inn Express North Platte and La Quinta Inn and Suites North Platte.
Farther East, York County is another meetings option in the region, with communities such as Benedict, Gresham, Henderson and York.
Among the county’s facility options for large events are the York City Auditorium, hosting up to 2,000 people; Stone Creek Event Center; and Benedict Community Center. Meetings-friendly hotels include the Camelot Inn and Suites and the Holiday Inn, both in York.
One of York’s top natural lures is the Kirkpatrick Wildlife Basin, where thousands of ducks and geese can be viewed from March to May on their annual migration. The county also offers activities such as hiking and biking along the trails at Beaver Creek, golfing on three area courses and fishing at Recharge Lake.
Aside from outdoor recreation, the county features attractions such as the Yorkshire Playhouse, which has staged live productions for more than 30 years, and Lee’s Legendary Marble Museum, featuring one of the state’s largest collections of vintage handmade and machine-made marbles.
Western Nebraska
Natural beauty commands the stage in Gering. The town sits in the shadow of Scotts Bluff National Monument, 3,000 acres of prairie land and scenic sandstone bluffs. The scenery is so stunning, planners may have a hard time getting attendees inside for business.
The main convention facility is the Gering Civic Center, with 25,000 square feet of space, and preliminary discussions have begun regarding the future expansion of the center; an announcement may be forthcoming by spring 2009. Also available is the Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites, and the Hampton Inn and Suites Conference Center.
After work is done, groups can play a few rounds of golf at Monument Shadows, with majestic bluffs overlooking the green, then get that cowboy hat out for an open-air cookout. Afterward, they can stay outdoors for a concert or event at the Five Rocks Amphitheater or go for a hike at the Wildcat Hills Nature Center.
For More Info
Beatrice/Gage County CVB 402.223.3175
www.visitbeatrice.com
Columbus Area CVB 402.564.2769 www.visitcolumbusne.com
Fremont and Dodge County CVB 402.753.6414 www.fdcvb.org
Gering CVB 308.436.6886 www.geringtourism.com
Grand Island/Hall County CVB 308.382.4400 www.visitgrandisland.com
Greater Omaha CVB 402.444.4660 www.visitomaha.com
Hastings/Adams County CVB 402.461.2370 www.visithastingsnebraska.com
Kearney Visitors Bureau and Development Council 308.237.3178 www.visitkearney.org
Lincoln CVB 402.434.5335 www.lincoln.org
Norfolk/Madison County CVB 402.371.2932 www.visitnorfolkne.com
North Platte/Lincoln County CVB 308.532.4729 www.visitnorthplatte.com
Sarpy County Tourism 402.332.5771 www.gosarpy.com
South Sioux City 402.494.1307 www.visitsouthsiouxcity.com
York County Visitors Bureau 402.362.4575 www.yorkvisitors.org
