Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1515188
AREA GUIDES N E B R A S K A THIS GREAT PLAINS DESTINATION SURPRISES MEETING PLANNERS WITH ITS ACCESSIBLE MEETING SPACE AND ENDLESS LIST OF ENTERTAINING ACTIVITIES BY CLETUS RAMSEY There are an assortment of reasons meeting planners might considering bringing their group to various Nebraska destinations to meet. From accessible world-class conference centers to outdoor unique meeting venues, this destination can accommodate your event needs small or large. When the workday is done, attendees will be well entertained with the state's fun outdoor activities to engage in. These include riding horseback on an honest-to- goodness ranch. Witnessing a Native American powwow. Attending a con- cert under Nebraska's night sky. Spending time at a zoo or water park. Relaxing in state parks, recreation areas and golf courses with epic views, from sparkling lakes and rivers to wide-open plains to monumental bluffs. • • OMAHA • • Planning a convention or meeting is a delicate dance, balancing convenience, comfort and cost with new, memorable experiences. Omaha offers a seamless package, developed to lighten the plan- ning burden while providing unique activ- ities and a welcoming atmosphere for attendees. Discover a fresh destination that will delight and surprise your atten- dees, because you don't find hidden gems by mining obvious places. Omaha's convention center and arena, CHI Health Center Omaha, is more than your average convention center; it's 346,000 square feet of possibilities. The facility offers attendees room to roam – inside and out. Conveniently located near Omaha's award-winning airport, CHI Health Center Omaha is close to the river- front, more than 3,500 downtown hotel rooms and the Old Market Entertainment District. The convenience continues with a glass-enclosed skywalk connecting CHI Health Center Omaha to the 600-room Hilton Omaha. Directly across the street is a 333-room, full-service Marriott hotel. In addition to the convention center, Omaha offers distinctive off-site meeting options for unique events requiring a more creative approach. Some of these venues include the 40th Street Theater, AV Sorensen Community Center, Adam's Parks Community Center and the Bel-Air Banquet Room. While in town, conference attendees are encouraged to explore this destina- tion's rich African-American culture. Omaha is the birth place of civil rights leader Malcolm X and his birth-site is a historic landmark now and can be visited by travelers both business and leisure. The John Beasley Theater, founded by the highly acclaimed film actor, highlights live productions written by or featuring African American characters. The Great Plains Black History Museum is a non-profit community organization devoted to retrieval, interpretation, dis- semination and preservation of historic and contemporary material pertaining to the cultural development contributions of African-Americans in the heartland of America. • • LINCOLN • • First of all, Lincoln is easy to get to. And once you're there, it's easy to get around. This destination is less than a day's drive from key Midwestern cities like Omaha, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Kansas City and Chicago. On top of all of that the airport accepts connections from several loca- tions across the U.S. From hotel ballrooms and picturesque wineries to an award-winning zoo or a historic cave, Lincoln is brimming with the perfect spaces and places to host your next event. The Pinnacle Bank Arena is seated in downtown Lincoln's newly developed Haymarket. This state-of-the-art facility has seating capacities ranging from 3,800 to 14,000 with unlimited versatility. The arena totals 472,500 square feet and has an array of usable meeting space to serve an event of any size. The Midwestern African Museum of Art, Culture and Resource Center or MAMA welcomes the community and visitors to Lincoln to come experience the hidden beauty and rich history of Africa's art and culture. MAMA is the first estab- lished African museum in the Midwest. The museum also serves as a centralized location for enrichment through different programs that serve all ages. WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Lincoln CVB – (800) 423-8212 www.lincoln.org B M & T ••• January/February 2024 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 53 • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS Hilton Omaha 600 DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Omaha Downtown 414 Omaha Marriott Downtown At The Capitol District 333 Embassy Suites Downtown/Old Market 249 Wyndham Omaha. 221 EXHIBITION FACILITIES CHI Health Center Omaha Total Space 346,000 sq. ft. Largest Hall 194,300 sq. ft. Largest Ballroom 30,996 sq. ft. Meeting Rooms 24 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Visit Omaha – (866) 937-6624 www.visitomaha.com Downtown Omaha photo credit: Ohaha C.C