The South’s newest trend cities have all the essentials plus lots of extras to make events extraordinary.
In the ever-evolving landscape of the South, a new wave of trend cities is on the rise, quickly becoming the go-to destinations for meetings and events. These cities seamlessly blend Southern charm with modern flair, offering a dynamic mix of exceptional hospitality, state-of-the-art venues, and flexible event spaces for every type of gathering. From intimate corporate retreats to large-scale conferences, these cities have all the essentials and extras to make any gathering a stand-out success. With their unique ability to attract groups from across the country, it is no wonder these Southern gems are steadily climbing the ranks as top choices for planners everywhere.
Must-have event spaces
Nashville, Tenn., has received numerous accolades as a top destination in recent years, and the awards and attention continue, notes Adrienne Siemers, chief sales officer for Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. One of the reasons it continues to be viewed as an attractive destination is its wealth of traditional event space options. “We are fortunate that Nashville is a two-convention-center city, offering a choice of an urban setting within the heart of downtown Nashville or a resort setting approximately 15 minutes from the airport,” Siemers adds.
Nashville is home to the 2.1 million-square-foot Music City Center, a downtown venue just steps from hotels, restaurants, museums, and the city’s famous strip, as well as Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, located just minutes from Nashville International Airport (BNA). Gaylord boasts nine acres of indoor garden atriums, restaurants, bars, and other family-friendly activities, along with 2,800 hotel rooms and 3.3 million square feet of space across the complex.
Charlotte, N.C., is the largest city in the Carolinas and the nation’s 15th-largest city, as well as the second-fastest growing large city in America, notes Mike Butts, executive director of Visit Charlotte and vice president of sales for Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority. Planners and groups alike can appreciate Charlotte Convention Center, which underwent a $126.9 million expansion, adding an additional 50,000 square feet of meeting room and pre-function space, bringing the total square footage to approximately 600,000. “These enhancements increase the total individual breakout spaces to 54, which include 50 meeting rooms and the ability to divide the 35,000-square-foot ballroom into four 7,700-square-foot breakout spaces,” Butts adds.
Louisville, Ky., attracts serious attention with two world-class venues built for meetings and events. Kentucky Exposition Center includes 1.2 million square feet of space, and Kentucky International Convention Center houses 200,000 gross square feet of space, including a 40,000-square-foot ballroom and plenty of ancillary space. “Kentucky International Convention Center is positioned across the street from three hotels, with another one-and-a-half blocks away; while it’s not nearly as large as Kentucky Exposition Center, it works very well for conventions and meetings,” says Doug Bennett, executive vice president of Louisville Tourism.
In Tampa, Fla., Tampa Convention Center features 200,000 square feet of exhibit space, a 36,000-square-foot ballroom, and 52 breakout rooms in a convenient location in the heart of downtown and just 15 minutes from Tampa International Airport (TPA). “The Tampa Convention Center is award-winning, having been recognized by several organizations for being one of the best,” says Santiago C. Corrada, president and CEO of Visit Tampa Bay. “It is also beautifully situated on the water and is continuously remodeling and improving. They just added some beautiful waterfront meeting rooms and renovated many spaces.”
Countless hotel offerings
According to projected estimates for 2024, Tampa Convention Center generated nearly $148 million in economic impact to the city while hosting more than 358,000 attendees, Corrada shares. He attributes part of Tampa’s popularity among event planners to the convention center’s proximity to more than 3,000 hotel rooms—all within walking distance. “We have a fabulous hotel package with a recent JW Marriott addition, a new Hyatt downtown, and great Hilton products. There are many different options connected to downtown and where the convention center is located, and meeting spaces in those hotels as well,” Corrada adds.
Austin, Texas, offers a variety of hotel brands and options, with approximately 14,000 guest rooms located downtown and more than 50,000 in the greater metro area, says Steve Genovesi, executive vice president of sales for Visit Austin. “We have seen a big increase,” he adds. “We have another opening in 2026, with many hotels reinvesting in their products, which is always great to see. They are close together, so we have hotels that work together to host what we call a ‘mini-wide.’ Planners considering two or three hotels for hosting can section off their program to host it all in specific hotels.”
With approximately 13,475 downtown hotel rooms and 57,769 in its metro area, Nashville has a diverse range of accommodations—from budget-friendly to boutique style to elevated properties—to fit the needs of any budget, Siemers says. In fact, Nashville’s demand has increased by 62 percent in the last decade; currently, 17 hotels and 2,064 rooms are under construction, she notes, and an additional 65 hotels are in the planning stage, which will account for 10,964 hotel rooms once completed. “In recent years, the city has expanded its offerings of luxury accommodations, including 1 Hotel Nashville, the Conrad Hilton Nashville, Four Seasons Hotel Nashville, The Joseph, and more,” Siemers adds. “The city’s historic gem, The Hermitage Hotel, was just awarded two Michelin keys. The St. Regis Hotel is also slated to break ground in 2025.”
Innovative event spaces
In addition to convention and hotel meeting space, Nashville offers several nontraditional venues, creating a unique meeting or event setting. For example, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has spacious options for meetings of all sizes.
Meeting planners in Charlotte can add excitement to an event by booking NASCAR Hall of Fame. “It is connected to Charlotte Convention Center by an overstreet walkway, so it is a convenient and unique location for a signature event,” Butts says. “In this 86,500-square-foot facility, you can host a Great Hall reception surrounded by racing memorabilia, dine by a NASCAR Hall of Famer’s car, plan an intimate gathering in the Legends Room, or test your group’s competitive edge during pit-crew challenges.”
Louisville has a plethora of nontraditional meeting venues to entice attendees and incorporate the local culture. The city is home to 12 bourbon distilleries downtown, with most offering private event spaces. While a popular tourist attraction, Muhammad Ali Center offers an event level for hosting meetings and events. “It is the top level of the center, overlooking the Ohio River, and it features beautiful terraces with a capacity of more than 1,200 guests,” says Bennett. “Churchill Downs also has half a dozen different spaces that can be rented, based on size and budget. The Kentucky Derby Museum is another incredible venue that accommodates private events.”
Local flavor & experiences
Nontraditional venues not only provide a different meeting experience but also showcase the cities’ broad experiences for visitors and groups. The cities are brimming with activities and experiences to weave unique local flavor into an attendee’s visit.
Tampa’s attractions include the Florida Aquarium, Zoo Tampa, Busch Gardens, Tampa Bay History Center, and Tampa Theatre, many of which can be enjoyed inexpensively by purchasing the Tampa Bay CityPASS or Tampa Riverwalk Attraction Pass. “Whether you are an adventure seeker or wanting to experience something more authentic, we have it,” Corrada says. “Whatever you want to engage in, you have the option here. You can go from one of the most urban centers in all of Florida, the third-largest city in the state, to rural settings within 15 minutes and be canoeing or kayaking down a river and seeing wildlife.”
Living up to its name as “Music City,” Nashville offers one-of-a-kind experiences to add a memorable flair to a gathering or event. From the toe-tapping history at the Country Music Hall of Fame and legendary live performances at the Grand Ole Opry to soulful storytelling at National Museum of African American Music, there is no shortage of ways to infuse an itinerary with local flavor. “The authenticity and creativity of Nashville’s entertainment scene set the city apart from other destinations,” Siemers says. “Excitement naturally surrounds a meeting in Nashville, but it can also drive attendance.”
Many authentic activities and experiences can easily be woven into the meeting agenda. In Nashville, planners can bring in hit songwriters and musicians into the program to leave attendees with a lasting experience, Siemers adds.
In Austin, planners can book tours of the city, guided by local musicians or comedians, or arrange a food trucks tour, murals tour, or breweries tour to immerse attendees in the Austin vibe. “A visit to Austin is not complete without a visit to one of our famous music venues,” Genovesi adds. “The Broken Spoke is one of our famous country-western bars, offering dance classes for groups. Planners can also take advantage of our database of local musicians and book someone for their event.”
Accessible & centralized locations
Accessibility is a common attribute of trend cities. These destinations make the journey and the experience smooth and stress-free. “Austin is centrally located, so it’s easy to get here,” Genovesi stresses. “Our airport is also one of the fastest-growing airports in North America. Post-Covid, we’ve added both domestic and international flights, so air access to Austin is super convenient.”
Nashville is within a 2.5-hour drive of 12 million people and within a two-hour flight of 75 percent of the U.S. market, Siemers notes. “In addition, Nashville is one of eight cities in the United States with direct flights to the five major Canadian cities, and we just added a flight to Winnipeg,” Siemers adds. “Nashville also offers direct-flight service to London via British Airways.”
Tampa International Airport is one of the most internationally recognized airports and one of the best airports in North America, Corrada says. “Our airport has lots of connections domestically, and it is always expanding. The airport is also conveniently located to downtown and the convention center. Once downtown, there are so many transportation options, including a free streetcar with multiple stops, including the convention center and many area hotels. Meeting here is a delight because everything
is so convenient and easy.”
Louisville is conveniently accessible via multiple interstates, and ideally suited as a drivable destination from many metro areas, Bennet shares. “We are 300 miles from Chicago, 240 miles from St. Louis, and approximately 100 miles from Cincinnati. We are also very drivable from Nashville, which is approximately two-and-a-half hours south on I-65. Atlanta is only a six-hour drive from here. We have easy accessibility by interstate to get here by car, but we also have great options for anyone preferring to fly.”
Located near the center of the nation’s East Coast, Charlotte is easily accessible by car—less than four hours’ drive from Atlanta and less than 10 hours from Washington, D.C., Nashville, Tampa, Indianapolis, and New York City. Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), just seven miles from Center City Charlotte, services more than 160 nonstop destinations worldwide and offers more than 700 flights daily, Butts says, noting the airport is the seventh-busiest airport worldwide and nationwide for arrivals and departures, and is American Airlines’ second-largest hub.
Getting around “The Queen City” of Charlotte is just as easy, Butts says. Charlotte currently has 2,200 bikes in the share program, rentable e-scooters available throughout Uptown, and rail stations connecting various parts of the city and beyond—not to mention the city’s walkability. Most attractions, hotels, and restaurants in Uptown Charlotte are within a 10-minute walk. Charlotte’s compact, walkable cityscape, accessibility by air, train and car, and affordability make Charlotte an ideal meeting destination,” Butts says. “A warm and welcoming spirit is part of our city’s DNA. Meeting attendees will find much to explore here, including distinctive neighborhoods, a vibrant arts and culture scene, delicious cuisine, and outdoor adventure. There has never been a better time to host your meeting in Charlotte.”
