One of Arkansas’ nicknames is “Land of Opportunity,” and with the current uptick in development, that moniker is well-deserved. From major facility renovations in Little Rock and new attractions in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley, to celebrating history in the Timberlands and Delta, Arkansas offers excellent choices for every group.
Central
Two staples of the Little Rock meetings scene will receive expansive updates. The former Peabody Hotel, now reflagged as the Little Rock Marriott, will undergo a $17 million renovation this year, including a complete redo of all meeting spaces, a new high-end restaurant and a Starbucks. Meanwhile, a $68.5 million renovation and expansion is slated for Robinson Auditorium. The auditorium will close in July and receive historical renovations to the building’s exterior, an overhaul of the interior theater and a new conference center on the north side of the facility, overlooking the Arkansas River. The grand reopening is slated for September 2016.
The River Market district is a top attraction for locals and visitors alike, with its famed Farmers Market, shops, nightclubs, outdoor trails and group venues like the River Market Pavilions. Groups can explore trails, assist in creating a fine bourbon at Rocktown Distillery, or tour the Clinton Presidential Center, a favorite for special events. Other event sites include the Governor’s Mansion and the grounds of the Old State House Museum.
“For a small crowd, one of my favorite options would be to host a private event on one of the River Rail Streetcars,” says Gretchen Hall, president and CEO of the Little Rock CVB. “You can cater on the trolleys and they will take you through the downtowns of Little Rock and North Little Rock as well as over the Arkansas River.”
Nearby in Conway, groups can enjoy the Baum Gallery of Fine Art or take in a symphony performance. Conway boasts the University of Central Arkansas, Central Baptist College and Hendrix College, so there’s a wide choice of meeting and event venues in addition to the Conway Expo Center.PageBreak
Northwest
For the last few years, the northwest corner of Arkansas has seen consistent development. The four-city metro area is home to Walmart, J.B. Hunt, Tyson Foods and the University of Arkansas. Since the 2011 opening of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, the area is focusing more on art, entertainment and activities.
“The only thing many people outside northwest Arkansas know about Bentonville is it’s the home of Walmart, the world’s largest retailer. That’s true, but we are so much more,” says Darrel Harvey, meeting sales manager for the Bentonville CVB.
The town has the Museum of Native American History, shops and art galleries. The new, 104-room boutique 21c Museum Hotel Bentonville mixes the art museum concept with lodging and features a collection of original artwork throughout the facility, and Bentonville has welcomed new bed-and-breakfasts and cottages to the lodging mix as well. The town broke ground on a new community center in December, which will offer banquet space for up to 200, and plans are under way for a new attraction: the Amazeum, an interactive family museum near Crystal Bridges. The Amazeum will offer 44,500 square feet of exhibit, meeting and learning space and is slated to open in 2015.
Rogers offers more than 2,000 rooms, including the Embassy Suites and John Q Hammons Convention Center, which can handle dozens of meetings simultaneously. The JQH center is located in the recently developed Pinnacle Hills district, and this summer a new attraction will open in the district: the Arkansas Music Pavilion, an amphitheater that will be a stop for national musical acts on summer tours.
Springdale is located between Rogers and Fayetteville, making it a convenient hub. The Holiday Inn and Northwest Arkansas Convention Center is the city’s main group facility, and Springdale has numerous off-site venues, including the Jones Center, a family activity center with more than 12,000 square feet of event space, a chapel and an indoor ice-skating rink; the Springdale Civic Center, offering 20,000 square feet of exhibit space; and Parsons Stadium, home of the annual Rodeo of the Ozarks.
During downtime, attendees can take an excursion aboard the A&M Railroad, complete with vintage train cars and spectacular views. Other activities include catching a baseball game at Arvest Ballpark, home of the Texas League-affiliated Northwest Arkansas Naturals, and touring Saddlebock Brewery.
Fayetteville is home to the University of Arkansas, the Clinton House Museum and the Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks. Near the University of Arkansas campus is Dickson Street, with nightclubs, restaurants, shops and the Walton Arts Center.
In addition to event space at the Walton Arts Center, the city also has the Fayetteville Town Center and the Clarion Hotel Fayetteville, with 5,300 square feet of meeting space. Currently under construction is the 115-room Hilton Garden Inn and Conference Center, slated to open in late summer with 8,500 square feet of flexible meeting space.PageBreak
River Valley/Ouachitas
Some of the state’s wildest history happened in Fort Smith, originally an 1817 frontier fort that grew in fame thanks to “Hangin’” Judge Parker and his swift, gallows-based brand of justice. Because of the city’s heritage of law and order, it was selected by the U.S. Marshal Service after a national search to be the home of the new U.S. Marshals Museum. The groundbreaking is slated for this fall, and the museum will open in 2016.
The museum will be another gem in the city’s treasure chest of historic sites, including Miss Laura’s Visitor Center, which was once a brothel; Judge Parker’s gallows, courtroom and more at the Fort Smith Historic Site; and the recently expanded Fort Chaffee Museum, where Elvis received his Army buzz cut.
Meeting facilities include the Fort Smith Convention Center, plus the adjacent Holiday Inn City Center and Courtyard by Marriott, both of which were recently renovated.
In historic Hot Springs, the Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa recently renovated its 8,250-square-foot convention center with cutting-edge lighting technology and restored the 5,600-square-foot Crystal Ballroom to its original elegance.
While getting a massage on Bathhouse Row is a must, there are other sites groups shouldn’t miss, such as the Gangster Museum of America, which commemorates this city’s colorful past. Another type of local color can be found at Garvan Woodland Gardens, which is perfect for outdoor events.
Nearby on Petit Jean Mountain is the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute, offering space for up to 2,000 attendees. Part of the University of Arkansas System, it is the only IACC-approved facility in Arkansas.
Timberlands
In south Arkansas, the cities of Pine Bluff and Texarkana offer a mix of history and outdoor appeal.
In Pine Bluff, groups can explore the trails at the Delta Rivers Nature Center or the rails at the Arkansas Railroad Museum. Even the city’s top meeting facility, the Pine Bluff Convention Center, has a must-see attraction: the Entertainer’s Hall of Fame.
The 1885 Ace of Clubs House is a top choice for off-site receptions or group tours in Texarkana, and the Four States Auto Museum will get any gearhead’s motor running.
Delta
Jonesboro and West Memphis share a deep Delta heritage. Crowley’s Ridge Nature Center near Jonesboro showcases the natural features of the area, complete with a hiking trail, observation tower and meeting space, while West Memphis hosts an annual blues festival and is a stop on the Arkansas Delta Music Trail. Meeting facilities include several spaces at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro and the Holiday Inn and Convention Center West Memphis.
Beth Bartlett is an Arkansas native who loves discovering new things in her home state.
