Dennis Tracy
Director of sales and marketing, Little Rock CVB
What are three great off-site venues you would recommend for groups meeting
in Little Rock?
-
Clinton Presidential Center: No. 1 is the Clinton Presidential Center--hundreds of events are held there each year. The library is one of only 12 in the U.S. so it’s a natural draw for planners. The space is framed by lots of glass so it feels very open and light. They did a really nice job, and it’s simply a beautiful space for events.
-
Heifer International: Virtually next door to the Clinton Presidential Center is Heifer International is Clinton Presidential Center, a global organization dedicated to eradicate hunger. They have a new visitors center, Heifer Village, for special events. It’s such a positive thing to hold events there, surrounded by exhibits explaining all the work they do. They’ve helped over 7 million families in 125 countries. It’s a very uplifting space.
-
Historic Venues: For the third venue, it would have to be something with Southern charm. I’d pick either the grounds of the old state capitol [Old State House Museum] or an elegant plantation home like Marlsgate Plantation, built in the 1850s and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Gathering under the huge trees at the Old State House Museum is also a great experience for groups. The old state capitol faces the Arkansas River, and it’s the site where President Clinton made historic acceptance speeches in 1992 and 1996. It’s a very picturesque space with a lot of history tied to it.