COLUMBIA SC SPECIAL REPORTFORREST CLONTS, EXPERIENCE COLUMBIA SC

Columbia, SC:
Doing the Most for
Mid-Size Meetings

Farm-to-table dinner.

TUCKER PRESCOTT, EXPERIENCE COLUMBIA SC

COLUMBIA SC SPECIAL REPORT

Looking for a meeting destination with the amenities of alarge city, but minus the sky-high costs, traffic and otherheadaches that all too often come with it?
By Maria LenhartColumbia, S.C., hits this sweet spot. This vibrantmid-size capital city is a place where groups
will find not only affordability, walkable districts, ample parking and a warm welcome,but high-quality venues, accommodations,dining, entertainment and cultural attractions rivaling
those in more populous destinations.
Columbia is not only easy to get around in, but easy toget to. Located in the heart of South Carolina, it’s a convenient drive for statewide and Southeast U.S. regional
meetings and even for those drawing attendees up
and down the East Coast, from the Northeast to south
Florida. With several major interstate highways—I-20,
I-77 and I-26—running through Columbia and I-95 not
far away, the city is an ideal choice for a wide range ofdrive-to meetings.
Air accessibility is excellent as well. Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) offers over 36 daily flights fromeight nonstop destinations. The airport, located within
a 15-minute drive to the city center, is clean, bright andnavigable with easy parking.

Personal bestGroups meeting in Columbia do not get lost in the crowd
but receive personal attention throughout the event.
The team at Experience Columbia SC is on hand to help
meeting planners attract attendees and ensure everyone has the best possible time. Along with welcome signage at tables in hotels, meeting venues and the airport,
it’s not unusual for the mayor or other elected officials to
be on hand to greet the group.
Blog/social media content and photos are readily available for planners to email to attendees prior to
the event, getting everyone pumped up about visiting
Columbia.
The many other available services from Experience
Columbia SC include swag items (complimentary or forpurchase), visitor guides for all attendees and expert tips
on specialty tours and the best spots for board dinners,
offsite receptions, spouse and kids’ activities and more.
Convention stars
The crown jewel of Columbia’s meeting facilities is theEARL JONES, EXPERIENCE COLUMBIA SC

COLUMBIA SC SPECIAL REPORT

state’s only downtown convention center, the GBACaccredited Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center(CMCC). Located in the Vista district, the CMCC offers
142,500 square feet of meeting space and is within walking distance of 60 restaurants, bars
and nightlife options and less thana mile from 2,000 hotel rooms. The
convention center’s industry-leading sanitation protocols made it
possible to reopen in June 2020and safely host groups in person
ever since.
Columbia’s approach to providing a personal, welcoming experience for groups is embraced by
the CMCC staff, experts at making
guests feel engaged with the events they’re attending.
When a group of music educators was in the building,
sheet music window clings were installed, and attendees
were invited to guess on social media which songs theyrepresented. Similarly, while hosting school librarians, theteam pulled together literary quotes, made them into
mirror clings and installed them in the building’s bathrooms, encouraging attendees to take a mirror selfie with
their favorite quote.
While convention centers aren’t typically known for
innovative food and beverage service, the CMCC is a notable exception. About 80 percent of the food products are
sourced from within 150 miles during the spring, summer
and fall growing seasons. Under the guidance of a headchef trained at high-end hotels, the center’s catering team

crafts menus that reflect the style of the events while also
incorporating local flavor. Superior quality plated meals
are provided for 1,000-plus people and can be preparedto meet any dietary needs or restrictions.
Recent renovations at the CMCC
include new flooring in the exhibit
hall, allowing the space to be utilized
as an upgraded exhibit floor as well as
ballroom flex space.
Among other large venues is Central Energy, which opened in 2019 in
the historic BullStreet District. The
former energy facility accommodates
up to 500 guests for galas, auctions,weddings, meetings, concerts, luncheons and more. Roll-up garage
doors, a stage, a state-of-the-art sound system, a kitchen,
exclusive catering service and ample parking are amongits features.
Also, in the BullStreet District, Segra Park is a multi-use
facility home to the city’s minor-league baseball team,
the Columbia Fireflies. In the off season, the ballpark
accommodates 9,000 people for sporting events andup to 15,000 for concerts and other entertainment. Sixteen luxury suites and a 7,000-square-foot Club Lounge
accommodate business meetings, receptions and more.

Groups meeting inColumbia do not
get lost in thecrowd but receive
personal attention
throughout theevent.

Hotel updates
Columbia’s dynamic hotel scene features an array ofproperties that are either new or newly renovated. Theseinclude the city’s largest downtown hotel, the Marriott

JOSHUA AARON, EXPERIENCE COLUMBIA SC

COLUMBIA SC SPECIAL REPORT

Meeting setup at Central Energy.

Columbia, which offers 24,000 square feet of flexible
meeting space and accommodates groups ranging fromfive attendees up to 800. The Marriott is about to complete a renovation of all 300 guest rooms and suites.
Located just steps from the convention center, theHilton Columbia Center is recently renovated and offers
six meeting rooms totaling 6,000 square feet.
The city’s newest property is the Cambria Hotel Downtown Columbia, which opened in June 2022 just a few
blocks from the convention center with 144 guest rooms
and 1,662 square feet of meeting and event space. The
pet-friendly property offers upscale amenities and isdesigned with inspiration drawn from Columbia’s artsand cultural scene.
Hotel Trundle, opened in 2018 as Columbia’s first downtown boutique property, is set to unveil its new Flutter
Wing in spring 2023. Designed to offer a fusion of Airbnb
and hotel experiences, the wing will feature a block of fiveguest rooms, including a spacious bridal suite and outdoor patio. Guests will have a private entrance and enjoy
amenities such as a complimentary drink upon check-in,
hot breakfast and locally roasted coffee.
The Doubletree by Hilton Columbia completed a$5.7 million renovation in 2019 of all 237 guest rooms,
23,000 square feet of meeting space and public areas.
The updated contemporary design took inspiration fromnearby Congaree National Park, evoking the natural landscape to create a sense of place and local character.
Other group-friendly choices include The Embassy
Suites, which offers 18,000 square feet of meeting spaceand close proximity to Riverbanks Zoo and Garden and its
wide array of unique venue options. Outside of the downtown area, the Marriott Delta Columbia Northeast accommodates groups of up to 250 with its 16,215 square feetof meeting space and onsite catering facilities.
Extraordinary venues
Columbia really shines when it comes to options fordining, entertainment and places to hold memorable
special events.
Whether it’s tried-and-true Southern comfort food,contemporary cuisine or specialties from around theglobe, Columbia’s restaurant scene is varied and exciting.
Downtown is abundant with atmospheric group-friendly
options in restaurants and private event spaces. Locatedin a historic building that was once an RC Cola bottling

CRUSH RUSH, EXPERIENCE COLUMBIA SC

COLUMBIA SC SPECIAL REPORT

plant, Cola’s Restaurant emphasizes locally sourced ingredients and has two private dining rooms seating up to50 people. Another choice is The Pastor’s Study, whichaccommodates up to 99 guests for catered events in acharming 19th-century space perched above Main Street.
With Columbia laying claim to having the oldest
pimento cheese recipe on record, it’s not surprisingthat variations of this savory Southern staple are on themenu at many local restaurants. In honor of this, Experience Columbia SC offers the Pimento Cheese Passport,
which holders can use at participating restaurants andbars to qualify for special prizes.
One of Columbia’s most versatile offsite venues is Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, which includes Sea Lion Landing,a place where guests can have nose-to-nose encounterswith sea lions and harbor seals through a giant panoramic window. The space features an amphitheater
and, with the adjoining entry plaza, accommodates up to400 guests. The zoo’s many other options include NdokiLodge, an African-themed suite with views of forest foliage and occasional wandering denizens of the zoo.
Historic houses and gardens abound in the city, withseveral of them available for events from Historic Columbia. Among the treasures is the Robert Mills House andGardens designed and named for the architect whodesigned the Washington Monument and other nationallandmarks. The expansive estate shaded by 125-year-old
magnolia trees offers several secluded gardens and acharming carriage house seating up to 50 guests.
Some of the city’s most atmospheric and interactive
settings for special events are to be found at its downtown museums. At the South Carolina State Museum,a range of available spaces includes the Boeing Observatory and Terrace, a dramatic setting for small dinners
and receptions with views of the Columbia skyline andCongaree River. Large groups can congregate in the new
glass-walled Planetarium Lobby or the expansive MainLobby, where exposed brick, a grand wooden staircase
and other architectural features honor the building’s pastlife as the first electric cotton mill in the U.S.
With such features as a chandelier by renowned glass
artist Dale Chihuly, the stunning atrium of the Columbia
Museum of Art is a favorite setting for receptions for up
to 400 people. The adjoining Boyd Plaza accommodates
up to 1,000 people for outdoor events.
EdVenture Children’s Museum is another popular
choice, available for groups as large as 1,500. It includes
everything from breakout rooms to interactive galleries
and a 12,000-square-foot terrace accommodating a stage
or dance floor and overlooking the river and Gervais
Street Bridge.

For more information, contact:
Danna Lilly, Vice President, CVB
Experience Columbia SC

dlilly@experiencecolumbiasc.com(803) 545-0022