The Sooner State is steeped in Native American and Old West history, offering planners the best of urban and rural with progressive cities, bustling suburbs, and down-to-earth smaller towns. Recognized by its distinct shape, Oklahoma offers convenient travel options by air and car, as well as a plethora of amenity-rich hotels and convention centers.
Ardmore
Website – Ardmore.org
Ardmore has more than 1,500 lodging rooms ranging from traditional hotel rooms and B&Bs to a premier 32-room lodge at Lake Murray State Park that also offers a 4,186-square-foot reception hall and eight meeting rooms. The 12,500-acre park also has 56 cabins and amenities including a golf course, 30 miles of hiking trails, a marina with boat rentals, and riding stables.
The Ardmore Convention Center has 13 meeting rooms and 50,000 total square feet of event space with a 24,272-square-foot exhibit hall that can seat up to 2,800 people for presentations. The nearby Holiday Inn Ardmore I-35 has 127 guest rooms.
Two casino resorts are near Ardmore, including the WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville with more than 1,500 guest rooms. The 65,000-square-foot WinStar Convention Center has a 15,000-square-foot ballroom, three executive boardrooms, and other venues. In addition to casino games, the resort offers live entertainment, two championship golf courses, and boutique shopping. The Choctaw Casino & Resort in Durant has more than 1,600 guest rooms and more than 100,000 square feet of meeting space, featuring a 57,398-square-foot event center, a 3,000-seat theater, 16 meeting rooms, and a 14,000-square-foot ballroom. The resort’s Choctaw Art Walk features more than 6,000 pieces of art including pieces by 31 Choctaw artists.
Edmond
Website – VisitEdmondOK.com; Facebook – @VisitEdmond
Planners love Edmond’s versatile meeting spaces easily accessed off I-35, both in downtown or in a rural setting, says Jennifer Seaton, tourism director, Visit Edmond. “Whether you are organizing an event for 10 or 1,000, you will appreciate our free parking, abundant nightlife, and restaurants for every taste. Your attendees will experience the comforts of a small town and the amenities of a big city. Plus we are a quick 30-minute drive from Oklahoma City’s Will Rogers World Airport.”
Planners can put a local spin on an event with a drive along historic Route 66, and find fun, historic photo opportunities at the famous Edmond landmark, the Blue Hippo, which also is featured on local swag.
Edmond has more than 300 pieces of public art that can be viewed by walking, biking, or driving tours. Ideas for unique teambuilding include the UCO Boathouse at Arcadia Lake, with ziplines, a ropes course, kayaks, SUP boards, and mountain bikes; Center Court, a newly opened tennis facility with 31,000-square-foot clubhouse; and a 12-court pickleball facility.
Recently opened, The Railyard is Edmond’s new food hall with eight dining experiences and common-area seating including the city’s largest covered patio that is available for groups, Seaton noted. Also new, The Icehouse Project is a mixed-use development with several restaurants and bars, emphasizing sustainable, farm-to-table dining, with a venue that can accommodate up to 50 people for events.
There are 987 hotel rooms and additional vacation home rentals in the city. According to Visit Edmond, the largest event space is the 158-room Hilton Garden Inn and Edmond Conference Center, which has more than 20,000 square feet of event space including 11 breakout rooms.
The University of Central Oklahoma offers additional indoor and outdoor event spaces, with auditorium, ballroom, and classrooms.
Enid
Website – VisitEnid.org; Facebook – @VisitEnid
Enid invites planners to “stake their claim” in this city. The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center tells the pioneer history of the area and also has indoor and outdoor event space. At Simpson’s Old Time Museum and Skeleton Creek Productions, visitors can explore the past and hold events on movie sets depicting the Old West.
The city’s Stride Bank Center complex has 31,500 square feet of trade show exhibit space, a 5,000-seat arena, two ballrooms, and 5,500 square feet of meeting rooms. The center is adjacent to the 96-room GLō Downtown Hotel and Convention Center. Additional event facilities include the Enid Symphony Center, with a banquet hall and gallery space; 81 Ranch, with a main hall that can seat up to 350 guests; The Breeze, with indoor and outdoor venues for 250 guests; and Leonardo’s Children’s Museum, which offers full museum buyouts after hours and has an educational annex with conference seating for up to 75 guests.
Additionally, the Chisholm Trail Expo Center and Garfield County Fairgrounds have a variety of event spaces including banquet and meeting rooms, trade show areas, an arena, and an auditorium that holds 750. Northern Oklahoma College has a variety of classrooms and other spaces available. SpringHill Suites, La Quinta Inn & Suites, and Country Inn & Suites all have small event spaces.
Norman
Website – VisitNorman.com; Facebook – @VisitNorman
Centrally located within the state, Norman provides planners with opportunities to incorporate many local elements into an event, says Stefanie Brickman, communications manager, Visit Norman. “This could include visits or events at the University of Oklahoma, recently named one of the Top 25 most beautiful college campuses in the nation and home to world-class museums, the National Weather Center, and the Oklahoma Sooners athletics department,” Brickman says. “Additionally, Norman’s thriving arts community features monthly art walks through the Walker Arts District. We are also known regionally as a city of festivals that could add fun elements to any event, including Norman Music Festival, Medieval Fair, Jazz in June, and others.”
The presence of the university does mean planners should consult the school’s home football schedule; Brinkman advises. “Typically there are six home game Saturdays that fill our hotels.”
Norman’s restaurant, entertainment, and brewery communities have seen recent growth, Brickman says. “A ‘brew-through’ pub crawl is becoming popular with after-hours conference attendees. Every night of the week, live music may be heard in downtown Norman and in the Campus Corner arts and entertainment districts, and The Diner on Main Street is a popular location that’s been featured three times on The Food Network.”
Oklahoma’s third largest city offers planners more than 3,100 guest rooms including the newly opened 92-room NOUN Hotel that has 3,900 square feet of event space and is within walking distance of the University of Oklahoma campus and Campus Corner commercial district.
The Oklahoma Memorial Union on campus has more than 25,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including an auditorium and two ballrooms, as well as full-service catering.
The National Center for Employee Development Hotel and Conference Center has nearly 1,000 guest rooms and more than 65,000 square feet of indoor event space, and the 283-room Embassy Suites by Hilton Norman Hotel & Conference Center offers 42,111 square feet of total function space, including a 28,800-square-foot ballroom and 21 meeting rooms.
Oklahoma City
Website – VisitOKC.com; Facebook – @VisitOKC
“With an all-new convention scene on the rise, OKC offers the whole package for meetings and conventions of all sizes, with new hotels, a brand-new downtown convention center, a modern streetcar system, a 70-acre downtown park, a booming culinary and arts scene, and plenty of attractions within walking distance,” says Michael Burns, vice president of sales and services
for Visit OKC.
Additionally, Burns says the city is compact and easy to get around, and its lower cost of living translates into a less expensive meeting or event. “Everything from room rates and facility rentals to restaurants and entertainment is relatively inexpensive, especially given the variety of options here. We certainly are affordable and stack up well against cities of similar size. Meeting attendees will want to bring their families because of OKC’s affordability.”
Opened in early 2021, adjacent to downtown’s new Scissortail Park, the Oklahoma City Convention Center is a 500,000-square-foot facility with a 200,730-square-foot exhibit hall, two ballrooms, and 45,000 square feet of meeting space. The 605-room Omni Oklahoma City is next door to the center and has 76,000 square feet of event space, including a 20,500-square-foot ballroom.
Other hotels adjacent to the center include the 396-room Sheraton Hotel Downtown, with 30,000 square feet of event space and a reception capacity of up to 800 guests; and a 133-room Fairfield Inn & Suites that has meeting space for up to 78 attendees.
The Chickasaw Nation announced plans for a major resort-style development expected to open in 2024 adjacent to the recently opened First Americans Museum. Situated along the Oklahoma River near downtown, the planned $300 million OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark will feature a 404-room hotel, 39,000 square feet of conference space, retail outlets, a 1,500-seat amphitheater, and other indoor and outdoor attractions. Also, the Dream Hotel Group has announced plans to open two new properties in 2024; a 220-room Dream Hotel and 174-room Unscripted Hotel will be the centerpiece of a new, large mixed-use development.
The Oklahoma History Center has several indoor and outdoor spaces for events. Additionally, at the Girl Scouts’ Camp Trivera guests can zipline, canoe, hike, try rock climbing, gather by the campfire, or watch a live show beneath the stars. The property has 18 facilities, including an auditorium that seats 350. The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum features a 16,500-square-foot special event center plus additional indoor and outdoor spaces. Riversport in the Boathouse District can host corporate events and dinners for up to 500 guests with teambuilding offerings including whitewater rafting, dragon boats, and rowing.
Additional hotels with event space include downtown’s historic Skirvin Hilton Hotel, with 225 guest rooms and 18,500 square feet of event space; 216-room Embassy Suites Oklahoma City Northwest, with 20,000 square feet of function space including nine meeting rooms; Renaissance Waterford Oklahoma City Hotel, with 197 guest rooms and suites and more than 10,000 square feet of event space for up to 300 guests; and the 135-room 21c Museum Hotel Oklahoma City, with 14,000 square feet of exhibit and event space to accommodate up to 350 guests.
The recently opened Champion Convention Center has 30,000 square feet of function space, including 16 event rooms, plus an additional 5,000 square feet of pre-function space. A 161-room Hilton Garden Inn is adjacent to the center and there are an additional 1,000 guest rooms within three miles.
Quapaw
Website – Quapawtribe.com; Facebook – @OGahPah
In the northeast corner of the state, Downstream Casino Resort, operated by the Quapaw Nation of Oklahoma, features The Pavilion Event Center, a 25,000-square-foot live music venue and flexible event space suitable for between 80 and 1,000 people, an executive boardroom, and five meeting rooms, three of which can be combined to make a 3,000-square-foot hall. In addition to casino games, the resort also has a full-service spa, golf course, and 374 guest rooms and suites.
Stillwater
Website – VisitStillwater.org; Facebook – @VisitStillwater
Home to Oklahoma State University, Stillwater is known as “America’s Friendliest College Town.”
Located an hour from both Oklahoma City or Tulsa, Stillwater offers on-campus venues including the McKnight Center
for the Performing Arts, which features a 1,100-seat concert hall, 222-seat recital hall, and 1,000-seat outdoor amphitheater; 3,500-seat O’Brate Stadium; and 55,000-seat Boone Pickens Stadium, with 99 luxury suites.
Hotels with event space, include the 69-room boutique Atherton Hotel on campus, with space to host up to 50 people for a reception; Holiday Inn & Suites Stillwater-University West, with 120 guest rooms and a 1,600-square-foot ballroom; Holiday Inn Express & Suites, with 74 guest rooms and 1,400 square feet of function space; and the 77-room La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham, with meeting space for up to 50 people.
The 85,000-square-foot Payne County Expo Center has a 15,000-square-foot expo hall, a community building that can accommodate up to 300 for dinners, and additional meeting and event spaces. Tumbleweed Dancehall and Concert Arena offers turnkey event productions for up to 2,500 guests.
Bartlesville
Website – VisitBartlesville.com; Facebook – @visitbartlesville
Bartlesville is home to the only skyscraper completed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Downtown’s Price Tower, designed by Wright, includes an art gallery and restaurant, both available for events, plus the 19-room boutique Inn at Price Tower. The tower building has more than 5,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space and an 11th-floor executive conference room.
Nearby, Woolaroc, the 1925 ranch home of oil baron Frank Phillips, features a 1,680-square-foot event center that can accommodate up to 125 people for meetings or events. Set on a 3,700-acre ranch and wildlife preserve, Woolaroc also is home to a world-class art museum featuring Western art and artifacts.
Downtown’s Price Tower, also designed by Wright, includes an art gallery and restaurant, both available for events, plus the 19-room boutique Inn at Price Tower, a member of Historic Hotels of America. The tower building has more than 5,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space and an 11th-floor executive conference room.
The Bartlesville Community Center has a variety of event spaces for groups of up to 500 and is adjacent to Unity Square, an urban park with four rentable event spaces. Other event spaces include Father Lynch Hall, with space to accommodate up to 280 people; the historic downtown Frank Phillips Home, which has a variety of indoor and outdoor event spaces; and The Room at the Top, a historic downtown building suitable for galas, receptions, exhibits, and corporate functions.
The Hilton Garden Inn Bartlesville has 100 guest rooms and 9,330 square feet of event space with four meeting rooms. The 85-room Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott and the 67-room Hampton Inn have small meeting rooms.
Broken Arrow
Website – VisitBrokenArrowOK.com; Facebook – @VisitBrokenArrow
The fourth largest city in the state, Broken Arrow provides planners with unique locations and amenities for events, teambuilding activities, and excursions, says Lori Hill, tourism director for Visit Broken Arrow. “The Rose District is a $4 million public and private investment in the heart of Broken Arrow’s Main Street, which USA Today named the state’s most charming Main Street in 2018. The historic district is filled with unique dining and shopping experiences with more than 75 shops and restaurants.”
Teambuilding options in the city cover a wide range, Hill says, including Pinot’s Palette, a paint-and-sip experience; The Succulent Shop, where participants can create their own potted plants; Lumberjack Attack for axe throwing; and escape rooms at Jack of All Games.
For planners looking to add local entertainment to their agenda, Broken Arrow is home to the state’s longest-running festival, Rooster Days. “And we are home to the Auburn Cord Duesenberg, where classic car fans from around the world travel to buy and maintain their cars, some of which are valued in the millions,” Hill notes.
The city’s largest event facility is at Stoney Creek Hotel & Convention Center, which has 177 guest rooms and 42,000 square feet of event and meeting space, including nine breakout rooms and a 12,000-square-foot ballroom. The Clarion Hotel’s largest space can seat up to 200 for banquets. A Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn Express have smaller meeting spaces.
A recently opened venue in the Rose District is Arts@302, part of the Brown-Kimbrough Center for Arts, Inspiration & Creativity, which offers indoor and outdoor event spaces, including a 2,000-square-foot gallery and several classrooms. Additional venues include the 1,500-seat Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center; Central On Main, with space to host up to 350; and Museum Broken Arrow, with a gallery, meeting rooms, and terrace space. Event spaces at Northeastern State University include a 388-seat auditorium and a banquet room.
Muskogee
Website – VisitMuskogee.com; Facebook – @VisitMuskogee
Long a community at the crossroads of cultures, Muskogee began as a Native American gathering spot and later a frontier trading post, thanks to its location at the confluence of three rivers. Today, the city is still a regional center and offers unique attractions to add local flavor to any event, including a replica Renaissance village and a World War II submarine.
The Muskogee Civic Center can accommodate up to 1,000 people in a 9,000-square-foot main hall. It also has six meeting rooms that can seat up to 550 guests. Other event facilities include Muskogee Little Theatre with a 271-seat performance hall, a multiuse space to seat up to 80, and a 2,000-square-foot Grand Lobby that can seat up to 160 for dinners; and Muskogee Golf Club, with outdoor event spaces and a private dining room that seats up to 80 guests. Bacone College, touted as the state’s oldest continually operated institution of higher education, offers a variety of classrooms and other spaces. Pecan Creek Winery has indoor and outdoor space for smaller events, and Muskogee Brewing Company can accommodate up to 150 people for events.
Unique to Muskogee, the Castle of Muskogee sits on a 20-acre replica of a Renaissance village and is the site of the annual Oklahoma Renaissance Festival. The village offers seasonal event spaces, with a Great Hall that can seat up to 906 people, a 756-person capacity Garden Room, a 275-person capacity Chalice Hall, and a 65-seat pub. Other area attractions with event spaces include the museum and grounds of War Memorial Park, home to the U.S.S. Batfish submarine; Three Rivers Museum; and the Five Civilized Tribes Museum, dedicated to preserving and sharing the history, art, and culture of the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee (Creek), and Seminole peoples.
Best Western Plus The Inn & Suites has 2,500 square feet of event space. Other hotels with limited meeting spaces include Holiday Inn Express, Home2 Suites by Hilton, Fairfield Inn & Suites, and Hampton Inn.
Tulsa
Website – VisitTulsa.com; Facebook – @VisitTulsa
“Tulsa offers big-city amenities while maintaining our hidden-gem convenience as the ‘world’s largest small town,’” says Renee McKenney, president of Tulsa Regional Tourism. “In Tulsa, you’ll discover arts, history, and culture thriving in world-class destinations such as Philbrook Museum and the historic Greenwood District. We have an eclectic food and brewery scene, with James Beard Award-winning establishments, and a legendary and diverse music scene.”
McKenney suggests an excursion to Greenwood Rising, a state-of-the-art history center that honors the legacy of Black Wall Street before and after the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921; a visit to or an event at the Philbrook Museum of Art, which has indoor and outdoor facilities for groups of up to 300 guests; and a stop at Tulsa’s Gathering Place, an urban park along the Arkansas River where locals and visitors gather, play, and relax. “Also, three iconic music history institutions are right in or around downtown Tulsa,” she says, noting the newly opened Bob Dylan Center, the Woody Guthrie Center, and Leon Russell’s Church Studio.
Tulsa has 13,090 guest rooms with a new downtown hotel set to open early this year, according to Visit Tulsa. The Brut Hotel will feature a full-service spa, rooftop restaurant, and indoor and outdoor event spaces to host up to 120 reception guests or up to 80 guests for a classroom-style session.
Convention hotels in Tulsa include Renaissance Tulsa Hotel & Convention Center, with 300 guest rooms and 18 meeting rooms in 50,000 square feet of function space; River Spirit Casino Resort, with 483 guest rooms and 35,000 square feet of indoor meeting space, plus additional outdoor function space; Osage Casino Downtown Tulsa Hotel, with 102 guest rooms and 20,000 square feet of meeting space; and the historic 102-room Mayo Hotel with 20,000 total square feet of event space, including the 500-person capacity Crystal Ballroom.
Additional hotels include DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown, with 417 guest rooms and nearly 24,000 square feet of event space; DoubleTree by Hilton Warren Place, with 370 guest rooms and 20,767 square feet of event space; Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, with 483 guest rooms, 14 meeting rooms, and 35,000 square feet of space; the 444-room Hyatt Regency Tulsa, with 38,000 square feet of function space; and Marriott Tulsa Southern Hills, with 378 guest rooms and 43,000 square feet of meeting and event space.
Expo Square is a 240-acre exhibition and trade center complex that includes multiple versatile event facilities. These include the 448,000-square-foot SageNet Center; the Pavilion, a historic Art Deco arena that seats up to 4,200; the 58,500-square-foot Exchange Center, with three meeting rooms to accommodate up to 7,312 people; and Central Park Hall, which has 43,000 square feet of total event space with a second-floor mezzanine that overlooks the main exhibit floor.
Cox Business Convention Center in downtown has more than 275,000 square feet of space for galas, receptions, trade shows, concerts, and conventions. It has 43 meeting rooms, the 30,060-square-foot Tulsa Ballroom, and a video production studio. The center is connected by a skybridge to the DoubleTree Downtown.
The BOK Center has a 19,200-seat arena with 37 suites and 20 VIP lounge boxes. The historic Magee Center is a 105,000-square-foot facility for concerts or events with a theater-seating capacity of up to 3,721 people.
