Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/533451
WHETHER YOU'RE HOLDING AN EVENT INDOORS OR OUTDOORS THIS CITY'S GOT YOU COVERED BY SOLOMON J. HJERBERT II It's time for a meeting experience unlike any other. Minneapolis is a city that offers something for everyone. It is a place where critically-acclaimed shows, restaurants and museums mesh with the natural beauty of lakes, trails and parks. Want to watch a professional sports game and take in a Broadway-quality show in the same day? You can do that. Want to buy the fashion-forward clothes from Europe tax-free so you can indulge in exotic foods from South America? You can do that. Want to take a tour of the city on four wheels, then ditch two of those wheels and blaze your own path through nature? You can do that. Want to have an unforgettable event in a world-class city? Well, you can do that, too. It's all here in Minneapolis. Whether you are planning a board meeting for 30, a shareholder meeting for 2,500 or a party for 10,000, the Minneapolis Convention Center is equipped with the amenities and services to ensure your event is successful. Between the 475,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space and the 87 meeting rooms, you'll find the Center's a w a r d - w i n n i n g Kelber Catering service and tech- nical cap-abilities are second-to-none. Meet Minneapolis President & CEO Melvin Tennant and his team stand ready to assist you in making your conference or other event in the city a memorable one. The Minneapolis Queen is a perfect way to experience the history of beautiful downtown Minneapolis. The Minneapolis Queen also makes the perfect venue for private events such as weddings, meet- ings, private parties and group tours. The 125-passenger Minneapolis Queen offers public tours and private charters on the Mississippi River cruising through historic Downtown Minneapolis. Minneapolis has 7,000 rooms down- town of varying price points and types, and nearly 5,000 of those are within half a mile of the Minneapolis Convention Center. The city prides its downtown on being compact, where everything is walk- able and you never really feel like you're too far away from any one thing. Even if one hotel can't hold your whole delega- tion, it's guaranteed that your attendees won't be more than a quick walk away from headquarters. Conference attendees have the option to explore the city's fine arts when not in a boardroom. Take in a show at the Guthrie Theater, one of the city's Tony Award-winning theaters. Discover new worlds at the Science Museum of Minnesota. Thrill to the arias of Rossini at the Minnesota Opera. Or visit the Walker Art Center, hailed by Newsweek as "possibly the best contemporary art museum in the country." Minneapolis is your ticket to groundbreaking art, architecture and performing arts. Minneapolis is a city that likes to cele- brate, and it's one of the best in the nation at doing it. The city has the largest 12-day state fair in the nation – The Minnesota State Fair – where over 450 different types of food can be found; deep fried, on a stick or even in a bucket. The Fringe Festival is an annual 11-day performance festival featuring theater, performance art, puppetry, spoken word, dance and visual arts. The festival is pre- sented in 20+ venues throughout Minneapolis each August. Compared to other metro areas, only one other U.S. city serves more nonstop markets per capita than the Minneapolis- St Paul International Airport. The recent arrival of Southwest Airlines offers greater affordability, and MSP's central location offers a speedy trip (15 – 30 min- utes) to the city. B M & T ••• March/April 2015 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 66 AREA GUIDES M I N N E A P O L I S Minneapolis city skyline Photo Credit: Minneapolis CVB MELVIN TENNANT • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS Hyatt Regency Minneapolis 645 Courtyard Minneapolis Downtown 265 Best Western Plus Normandy Inn & Suites 199 EXHIBITION FACILITIES Montego Bay Convention Centre Total Exhibit Space 475,000 sq. ft. Meeting Rooms 87 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Meet Minneapolis (888) 676-MPLS www.minneapolis.org Minnesota Black Chamber of Commerce (651)224-4320