For years, Little Rock was one of the best-kept secrets in meetings destinations. Now the secret is out: Arkansas’ capital city has evolved into a top-notch business site, giving planners a hearty selection of history, culture and accessibility, all against the verdant backdrop of the Natural State.
“People who haven’t been here may have the perception that Little Rock is little, but we’re a big surprise,” says Alan Sims, vice president of sales and services for the Little Rock CVB.
The city thrives on a combination of preservation and progress. Fresh development continues to pop up, such as a 100-room Marriott slated to begin construction this year near the Clinton Presidential Center and the completion of a multimillion-dollar renovation to the Statehouse Convention Center. Little Rock also takes its role as guardian of some of the nation’s most meaningful historic moments seriously, such as the 1957 Crisis at Central High School, a standoff between the governor and federally mandated integration that became a defining moment for the civil rights movement. This important history is preserved and shared at the museum across from Central High, still a bustling center of student activity.
Preservation and progress not only co-exist here, they also blend together when it comes to the great outdoors. The Arkansas River flows through Little Rock, and the Arkansas River Trail features walking and riding paths along both banks. Four pedestrian bridges cross the river, including the Big Dam Bridge, the world’s longest bridge built specifically for bikes and foot traffic. The bridge is used often for group events.
The perfect balance of nature and urban life is one of the perks of Little Rock life, according to Sims.
“You can rent a bicycle in the River Market district, and 15 to 20 minutes later, you’re out in nature,” he says. “It’s hard for people to imagine that until they visit. It’s one of the things making us unique.”
While Pinnacle Mountain State Park, perfect for day hikes, is only 15 minutes away from downtown, the rest of the country is also easily accessible. Little Rock National Airport is just five miles from downtown and is served by seven airlines, making it a direct flight from several major cities, including Chicago, Dallas and Atlanta. The city’s central location in the state and the country gives Little Rock a great advantage, according to Sims.
“The weather is mild, we’re one location away by air, and the value and charm of Little Rock make it special,” he says.
Sims also notes a growing trend of providing unique experiences over just shopping for budget prices.
“When the bottom of the market fell out a few years ago, many groups were looking only for low prices, but now they’re gravitating back to experiences,” he says. “They’ve tried the big destinations, and today they’re searching for something different.”
Those experiences are provided through intriguing attractions and venues, such as the William J. Clinton Presidential Center, where groups can hold events and even set up photo sessions in the library’s meticulous replica of the Oval Office. The Clinton Presidential Center was a major factor in Little Rock’s selection as a “Best Value City” by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine in 2011, and its anchor location in the River Market entertainment district has boosted development and tourism throughout the metro area.
The facility offers more than 20,000 square feet of event space, including a Great Hall for the ultimate banquet event or the smaller Garden View Room, which features more than 2,600 square feet of event space and three glass walls that highlight the Scholar’s Garden. There’s even an on-site, full-service restaurant available for events.
According to Sims, the presidential apartments at the Clinton Center are also occasionally available for special group events, especially smaller groups. While openings for these events are rare, Sims and the CVB work with the center to fulfill planner’s requests.
“We identify what a group wants, and what would make their event unique,” he says. “We don’t say ‘no,’ we just focus on how we can make it work.”
The River Market district is a popular spot for group events. The eleven-block Riverfront Park offers an amazing selection of outdoor venues, including three pavilions, the Sunken Plaza, a sculpture garden and Riverfest Amphitheatre. Groups can arrange concerts, receptions and other events, and Sims notes that the latest trend is to also give attendees more downtime to explore the shops, museums, art galleries and cafes of the River Market district on their own.
The district is a quick trolley ride from the Statehouse Convention Center, which offers 220,000 square feet of event space and is attached to the AAA Four Diamond Peabody Little Rock, home of the famous Peabody Ducks, and the Robinson Center, which offers a 14,900-square-foot exhibit hall and meeting rooms and is attached to the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Little Rock. The Peabody Little Rock and Statehouse Convention Center recently underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation.
Aside from the Peabody and the DoubleTree, hotels with meeting facilities in Little Rock include the Crowne Plaza Little Rock, the historic Capital Hotel and the Holiday Inn Presidential. In North Little Rock, planners can utilize Verizon Arena or Burns Park, and hotels with meeting facilities include the Hilton Garden Inn North Little Rock and Comfort Inn and Suites-McCain.
For an ideal retreat option, groups can also head to DeGray Lake Resort State Park, roughly 60 miles southwest of Little Rock in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains. The park features a 94-unit lodge, a convention center accommodating up to 300 people and numerous outdoor recreational pursuits.
Other unique Little Rock experiences include history tours through Mt. Holly Cemetery, known for its Victorian statuary, or through The Old Mill, located in North Little Rock. The mill is a historic re-creation of a 19th century grist mill. While the mill is a fascinating peek into another time, the building is more famous for its acting career than history; it was featured in the opening scenes of the classic 1939 movie Gone With the Wind, and is now believed to be the only structure used in the film that still stands today.
Tours and special events can also be held at the Central High School Museum, and those wanting to walk the same halls as the Little Rock Nine at Central High can arrange after-hours tours of the school when classes are not in session. Another top pick for events is the Historical Arkansas Museum, which features an atrium with 30-foot ceilings that provides a stunning setting for receptions and a 120-seat theater for lectures or interpretive talks on different facets of Little Rock’s rich heritage.
Planners can play to attendees’ expectations or mix in a surprise. What’s a visit to a river city without being on the river itself? The Arkansas Queen riverboat in North Little Rock is available for charter trips and can do regular excursions or meal cruises for up to 300 guests. A riverboat is a given, but no one expects a submarine in Arkansas, which makes an overnight stay on the USS Razorback even more fun. Receptions and other group events can be held at the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum, where the sub is docked.
Beth Bartlett is a freelance writer based in Arkansas.
