Northwest Arkansas
ExperienceFayetteville.com; @FayettevilleAR
Fayetteville delivers both energy and authenticity in a seemingly effortless way, according to Dell Hall, tourism sales manager for Experience Fayetteville. “Our niche is creating meetings that don’t feel confined. Whether it’s incorporating cycling, the arts, or the natural beauty of the Ozarks, events here feel connected to the place, not separate from it,” Hall says. “Planners can host a productive meeting and then immediately tap into outdoor experiences, local culture, and a vibrant downtown.”
Home to the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville has lively arts, music, and culinary scenes with creative opportunities for hands-on teambuilding. “Standout experiences are the Fayetteville Ale Trail, featuring nine breweries, and our dining experiences, which range from chef-driven restaurants to casual local favorites with a strong emphasis on regional ingredients,” Hall says. Soul Compass provides curated group experiences tailored to a variety of interests, including local history, wine and brewery tastings and tours, interactive trivia, shopping, and other adventures.
There are more than 2,400 guest rooms in the city. Full-service hotels with meeting space include the 234-room Graduate by Hilton Fayetteville, AR, with 13,154 square feet of function space; the 115-room Hilton Garden Inn Fayetteville, with 9, 226 square feet of event space; and the recently opened Stonebreaker Hotel, a 78-room boutique hotel and Victorian-era home with 6,500 square feet of indoor meeting and retreat space, a 5,000-square-foot barn reception space, and additional outdoor gathering spots.
Offsite venues include Fayetteville Town Center, with flexible space to accommodate up to 650 banquet guests or seat 1,500 theater style in the Ozark Ballroom; Walton Arts Center, which seats 1,201 in the main hall and has two additional black-box theaters, a multipurpose room, and an outdoor amphitheater; TheatreSquared, with two theaters seating 275 and 120, a rooftop terrace, and other gathering spaces; and Fayetteville Public Library, which includes an event center with 470 retractable seats and also can accommodate 1,300 reception guests, along with other spaces.
Venues on the University of Arkansas campus include the Touchdown Club, which can accommodate up to 300 for receptions; 10,000-seat Barnhill Arena; and 10,400-square-foot SEC Club at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
According to Experience Fayetteville,
there is significant demand for hotels and venues during the University of Arkansas’ move-in weekends, football weekends, and spring commencement.
