Central Alabama
InBirmingham.com; @InBirmingham
Birmingham is a city where Southern charm meets modern innovation, offering meeting and event planners the best of both worlds, according to Dan Williams, CEO of In Birmingham, the Greater Birmingham CVB. “Our location is steeped in rich history, from the Civil Rights Movement to our deep roots in industry, and energized by a thriving food scene, award-winning attractions, and a vibrant arts and culture community,” Williams says. “Our niche lies in our ability to combine meaningful history with modern amenities. Planners can host an opening reception in a restored iron foundry, break for lunch in a Civil Rights landmark, and then wrap up the day with sunset views from our mountaintop park. Pair that with our central location in the Southeast, ease of travel, genuine Southern hospitality, and the fact that your dollar goes further here, and you’ll see why Birmingham is a destination planners trust to deliver unforgettable experiences year after year.”
Adding to an array of meeting, event, and concert venues in the city, the new Coca-Cola Amphitheater at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC) opened in June 2025 with a seating capacity of 9,300. In addition to the amphitheater, the complex has more than 220,000 square feet of exhibit halls and more than 70,000 square feet of meeting space, plus a 52,000-seat stadium, an 18,000-seat arena, 2,835-seat concert hall, a 1,000-seat theater, and additional indoor and outdoor event spaces. The complex is connected to the 757-room Sheraton Birmingham Hotel, which has a 25,000-square-foot ballroom with a theater-seating capacity of 2,000 guests, and to the 254-room Westin Birmingham, which seats up to 250 guests for banquets. Additional event hotels include the AAA Four Diamond Renaissance Birmingham Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa, with 258 guest rooms, 25,367 square feet of event space, and a reception capacity of 1,000; the 329-room Hyatt Regency Birmingham ̶ The Wynfrey Hotel, with 32,000 square feet of event space, including two ballrooms and additional meeting rooms; 295-room Hilton Birmingham Downtown at UAB, with 14,892 square feet of function space; the 99-room Grand Bohemian Mountain Brook, Autograph Collection, a AAA Four Diamond property, with nine event rooms in nearly 15,000 square feet of function space to host 412 event guests; and the 149-room Hampton Inn & Suites Birmingham-Downtown-Tutwiler, a historic property dating from 1914, with 6,266 square feet of event space. There are approximately 14,900 guest rooms in the Greater Birmingham area.
Unique offsite event venues include Finley Center at the Hoover Met Complex, a city-owned facility with climbing and tennis facilities, sports fields, an event lawn, and 155,000 square feet of function space suitable for trade shows, exhibits, banquets, and social events; the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, with galleries, exhibits, and a variety of event spaces, including a rotunda that can accommodate a 200-person reception; and the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, with outdoor venues and several event rooms of various sizes in the 60,000-square-foot Garden Center.
Fun attractions for excursions, family adventures, or group teambuilding include Vulcan Park, with panoramic views from beneath the feet of Vulcan, the world’s largest cast-iron statue; Birmingham Zoo, with indoor and outdoor event spaces and animals from around the world; and McWane Science Center, with hands-on activities and exhibits for all ages. Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, which has the world’s largest collection of vintage motorcycles and race cars, can accommodate 900 guests for events.
