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• • BUFFALO • • There's never been a better time to come to Buffalo. The city's got a renovat- ed convention center and a ton of new restaurants, craft breweries, distilleries, and food trucks. There has been a revamping through the entire city by restoring its historic architecture, expanding cultural attractions, revitalizing its neighborhoods, and diversifying the culinary scene. And, to top it all off, Buffalo has got a nightlife scene that rocks with the kind of after-hours energy that will have you saying Buffalo is just right. The Buffalo Convention Center's 110,000 square feet of flexible meet- ing/event space creates the perfect venue to suit your needs. Soaring ceil- ings add volume to the 64,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space, which accommodates general session setups and up to 350 exhibit booths. This space may be sectioned into two halls with easy access to the loading docks. The Convention Center's Ballroom spans 12,367 square feet with banquet seating for up to 1,000 guests. Pre-func- tion areas extend the Ballroom space by 8,800 square feet. More than 46,000 square feet of flexible meeting space (21 meeting rooms) feature wireless and hardline capability in every meeting area. Planning a family reunion can be a little overwhelming at times. Buffalo's con- venient location helps coordinating your gathering in this region to be a great suc- cess. The city is 20-minutes away from the awe-inspiring beauty of Niagara Falls, perfect for an afternoon or daylong out- ing. The Queen City is also rich with his- tory. Sites like the Michigan Street Baptist Church and nearby Historic Colored Musicians Club can inspire conversations about your family's own history. Your family can take advan- tage of an array of free festivals and a host of public parks for a get-together. WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Visit Buffalo/Niagara – (800) 283-3256 www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/meetings • • ROCHESTER • • There are LIMITLESS reasons to host your next meeting or convention in Rochester, N.Y. Being the third largest metro in New York, Rochester is the cul- tural capital of Upstate New York. It is located on the southern shore of Lake Ontario, 45 minutes from the Finger Lakes, 90 minutes from Niagara Falls, and within a day's drive of 1/3 of the U.S. population. Rochester is easy-to-get to and even easier to get around. Centrally located, easily accessible and ready to host your next meeting or convention, the Downtown Convention District in Rochester, NY consists of the Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center and three major hotels steps away from the convention center. In addition to major convention venues, Downtown Rochester is home to a number of restaurants, shopping, nightlife, unique meeting venues, attrac- tions and events to make your next meeting extra special. A vibrant arts scene, top-rated golf, diverse cuisine, a craft beverage trail, natural wonders, and unique world-class attractions for all ages. The Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport is less than 15 minutes from downtown Rochester, and most hotels and event venues are conveniently located to one another. With affordable hotels, a conven- ient airport, world class dining and attrac- tions, all just a stone's throw away from the majestic Finger Lakes, Rochester can surely provide the perfect backdrop for your next meeting or event. WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Visit Rochester New York (585) 279-8300 www.visitrochester.com • • ALBANY • • Albany offers everything successful meetings require. It is convenient, cus- tomizable and culture-rich! First, atten- dees will discover it's easy to get here. The city is easily accessible via car, rail, or air. Next, you'll discover that Albany has all the place and spaces you have come to trust for your events. Plus, this destination has customized servic- es to help you plan your meeting, ses- sion by session. For larger events, the Albany Capital Center provides sleek, state- of-the-art meeting and convention space. Empire State Plaza Convention Center is absolutely perfect for groups up to 1,500. The MVP Arena, one of the Northeast's premier sports and special events arenas, has seating capacity of 6,000-17,000. The Egg Performing Arts Center offers theater- style seating and tradeshow space. And all four of these venues will be connected via enclosed walkways to make up the Capital Complex, the largest meeting space in Upstate New York at 159,000 square feet. Albany is also full of other hotel conference facilities, and creative spaces to choose from. Finally, when the meetings are over, there is a great city for your attendees to relax in, which includes fun seasonal events and more than 400 years of his- tory, art, architecture, and culture to discover. WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Discover Albany – (800) 258-3582 www.albany.org B M & T ••• July/August 2023 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 60 AREA GUIDES Buffalo downtown skyline view