Central Arkansas
LittleRock.com; @LittleRockCVB
What sets Little Rock apart is how seamlessly everything connects, says Gina Gemberling, president and CEO of the Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB). “Little Rock offers a rare balance that planners are actively seeking: accessibility, affordability, and a genuine sense of place. Our walkable downtown places convention venues, hotels, restaurants, and riverfront experiences within steps of one another. Attendees can move from meetings to meaningful experiences without the friction of navigating a larger city. Beyond logistics, the people and culture make the experience memorable. Little Rock blends rich history, a growing culinary scene, and a strong sense of community. It feels welcoming, approachable, and authentic, which keeps planners and attendees coming back.”
Little Rock continues to invest in its downtown core, Gemberling says. “A new visitor experience center is in development, designed to better connect attendees to the city from the moment they arrive. The River Market’s Ottenheimer Hall is set to undergo a transformation that will further elevate its role as a central hub for dining, events, and gathering. Phase two renovations at B. Finley Vinson Plaza, adjacent to Robinson Center, began in late 2025, enhancing this important riverfront space for
both community use and event activations. More than $10 million in capital improvements have been made at Statehouse Convention Center and Robinson Center to ensure their meeting spaces remain modern, flexible, and aligned with planner needs.”
The 220,000-square-foot Statehouse Convention Center has a ballroom seating 1,300 banquet guests, 82,892 square feet of exhibit space, seven meeting rooms, and additional registration and pre-function spaces. It is directly connected to the 418-room Little Rock Marriott, which has an additional 44,747 square feet of function space. The LEED Gold-certified Robinson Center has nearly 25,000 square feet of meeting space, including a ballroom seating 500 banquet guests, a 2,222-seat performance hall, and a 5,477-square-foot terrace overlooking the Arkansas River. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Little Rock, connected to Robinson Center, offers 288 guest rooms and 12,736 square feet of function space.
Other hotels include the historic Capital Hotel, which features a ballroom seating 150 guests and several smaller event spaces, and offers a hotel buyout option. Hilton Garden Inn Little Rock Downtown has 3,102 square feet of event space. Residence Inn Little Rock Downtown, Hampton Inn & Suites Little Rock-Downtown, and Homewood Suites by Hilton all have smaller event spaces and are within a few blocks of the convention center. Little Rock offers 7,200 guest rooms, with nearly 2,200 in the downtown area.
Downtown’s River Market District has a market hall, an amphitheater, and two open-air pavilions. It is adjacent to the Museum of Discovery, which can accommodate 600 for events. The Clinton Presidential Center has more than 10,000 square feet of event space and is part of the 33-acre Riverfront Park, which connects to the 15-mile Arkansas River Trail via a pedestrian bridge. Unique event spaces at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, a LEED Silver-certified facility located in a downtown park, include the glass-walled Cultural Living Room, which can accommodate up to 300 for receptions, along with a 330-seat performance hall, an atrium, an event lawn, and additional smaller spaces.
