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CONVENTION CENTER SPECS
Total exhibit space: 410,000 square feet
Ballrooms: Three, including the 74,000-square- foot Battelle Grand
Greater Columbus Convention Center, Nearby Hotels&Attractions
CelebratingNew Infrastructure andNewExperiences
WHETHERIT’SADAYLONGMEETING or a weeklong convention, Colum- bus offers attendees a tightly con- nected network of meeting facilities, hotels, and arts and entertainment districts to stay near and explore while in town.With a recent sizeable investment in the city’s hospitality infrastructure and attractions, Columbus is quickly emerging as a destination of choice for trade shows, conventions, and meetings. In 2012, the city celebrates its bicentennial (dubbed “200Colum- bus”), while still focusing on the future. In addition to recent- ly debuting more than $200 million in new hotel properties and renovated meeting space, the destination is proud to promote its ever-growing arts scene and new dining and attractions options. Columbus is also now home to the largest multipurpose
ballroom in the state, the 74,000-square-foot Battelle Grand ballroom, conveniently located inside the 1.7-million-square- foot Greater Columbus Convention Center (GCCC). And this fall, the 532-room Hilton Columbus Downtown will open with a direct connection to the center along with
80 pcma convene February 2012
22,800 square feet of meeting space. These additions come at the perfect moment, as the city will host the fourth internationalEcoSummit 2012, a meeting of more than 2,000 of the most respected minds in ecological science and sustainability, this coming fall. Meeting attendees will find no
shortage of leisure activities near the convention center, especially within the High Five, Columbus’ five-mile stretch of five vibrant arts and enter- tainment districts along High Street.
Since much of the stretch is within walking distance of the GCCC, the High Five is ripe for client entertainment or a night out with colleagues. Of particular note are the Short North Arts District, known for its funky galleries, hip restau- rants, and lively bars, and the Arena District, a popular hub for nonstop nightlife and live music. Columbus is also home to a growing list of top-ranked attractions, including the
HOT HEADQUARTERS: The $140-million Hilton Columbus Down- town, opening this fall, will include 532 guest rooms, 22,800 square feet of meeting space, and a direct connection to the adja- cent Greater Columbus Convention Center. In all, 2,100 rooms spread over seven hotels are adjacent or connected to the center, and 3,800 total hotel rooms are available downtown.