Between downtown developments and exciting outdoor options, Birmingham continues to blossom into a well-rounded meetings destination.
Local hotel updates include a $5 million renovation at the Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa, upgrades at the Birmingham Marriott and last year’s opening of the new-build Westin Birmingham in downtown’s stylish and growing Uptown district.
The 100-room Grand Bohemian is under construction in the nearby suburb of Mountain Brook and scheduled to open in spring 2015 as part of the Kessler Collection. The Grand Bohemian will offer more than 12,000 square feet of function space, a 2,800-square-foot art gallery and two private dining spaces with farm-to-table catering options and a rooftop bar.
Planners can mix and match these venues with Birmingham’s unique culinary culture and legendary history to create alluring group events.
Barry Hoehn, director of sales at the Greater Birmingham CVB, reports that the city continues to draw an assortment of meetings and conferences, and that corporate, religious and sports groups are especially well-represented within the mixture.
“There is lots of downtown development between the hotels and the new ballpark,” Hoehn says. “Plus the University of Alabama, Birmingham is growing by leaps and bounds, and that brings in a lot of business. Groups also like that Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport is only seven minutes from downtown.”
From up-and-coming to familiar classics, the following Birmingham venues and experiences can contribute to a welcoming and well-rounded attendee experience.
PageBreak
Uptown District
The arts and entertainment hub continues to grow up around the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex, which sees more than 1.2 million attendees pass through its doors annually. With the opening of several new restaurants over the past few years, Birmingham’s downtown convention core has become quite the walkable destination for conference attendees. Many of the facilities, including the Sheraton Birmingham, are linked to the convention center by skywalks, and the new Westin is right next door.
Groups can grab a great burger at Mugshots or dine at the Todd English P.U.B. to sample the menu created by the four-time James Beard Award-winning chef in a relaxed and casual environment. Available for private bookings, the P.U.B. (Public Urban Bar) has a total seating capacity of 260 guests and an extensive beer selection.
Southern Kitchen & Bar
The Southern is another new group dining option convenient to the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. Upscale comfort food like fried pickles, chicken and dumplings, succotash, gouda grits, seafood from the Gulf of Mexico and an indulgent ribeye mac and cheese dish are combined with easy-to-sip cocktails and an energetic nightlife atmosphere.
Hoehn says the city’s large and growing selection of independent restaurants and acclaimed chefs is a boon for planners. With carefully crafted menus and private function spaces, they indicate a major improvement in a portion of the convention package that Birmingham had lacked previously.
Kelly Ingram Park & Railroad Park
Gov. Robert J Bentley declared 2014 the Year of Alabama Parks, following the successful pattern of the previous Year of Alabama Food and Year of Alabama Music.
Alabama’s 22 state parks encompass 48,000 square feet of land and water, and this year is the 75th anniversary of the Alabama State Parks system, which was commemorated by the launch of the new Pocket Ranger mobile app.
Within Birmingham city limits, Kelly Ingram Park and Railroad Park offer accessible public green spaces for visitors. Kelly Ingram Park sits within the city’s historic Civil Rights District and spans four acres adjacent to the 16th Street Baptist Church, where Martin Luther King led various marches, sit-ins and protests in the 1960s.
Railroad Park stretches for 19 acres parallel to First Avenue. Outdoor event spaces can accommodate groups of up to several thousand people and include lawn areas, park overlooks and terraces with views of the downtown skyline.
PageBreak
Hoehn recommends the Sloss Furnaces as another outstanding outdoor experience for groups. The iron-production industry was integral in the rapid growth of Birmingham in the 1880s, and the plant is now recognized as a National Historic Landmark, hosting workshops, private events and metal work exhibitions, while fostering a connection with Birmingham’s industrial past.
Groups can book unusual event spaces beneath the smokestacks, including the furnace apron, which can seat 300 people, the base of the 70-foot water tower and the spray pond, which sets events against a backdrop of waterworks. The casting shed can accommodate 900 seated guests and includes a stage for keynotes and performances.
Home to two 400-ton blast furnaces and numerous other structures, Sloss is also rumored to be haunted and regularly attracts ghost hunters and paranormal experts. Planners looking for a bit of spine-tingling excitement can arrange themed tours.
Regions Field
The Birmingham Barons, a minor-league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, recently completed construction on a new downtown stadium complex, playing the first game there last April. The stadium is walkable from downtown hotels and the convention center, making it an immediately popular attraction with locals and attendees alike.
During the season, planners can schedule a baseball game outing following a day of meetings, or utilize the various venue spaces year-round. Options include 23 luxury suites, a banquet facility and a 1,200-person Parkside Picnic Area.
