Travel costs continue to impact budgets, and meeting planners are increasingly turning to smaller and secondary markets that deliver value, convenience, personality, and authenticity without sacrificing meeting quality.
As meeting planners’ priorities are shifting toward these destinations offering affordability, accessibility, and unforgettable attendee experiences, the team at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center (CMCC_) in Columbia, S.C., is here to work directly with planners to make sure their events come in under budget while going above expectations.
With so many mid-sized cities to choose from, why should planners bring their business and attendees to the heart of South Carolina? Here are the top five reasons:
- A manageable urban experience: The CMCC is South Carolina’s only downtown convention center, making it walkable to more than 60 restaurants and nightlife options, plus 2,000 hotel rooms across properties with a wide array of rates, amenities, and styles. Attendees will love being in the center of our walkable, buzzing downtown scene—and the affordable prices, mild traffic, and plentiful parking don’t hurt either.
- Our commitment to excellence: There’s a reason why Southern hospitality is so famous. Good old-fashioned kindness goes a long way, and our team puts an emphasis on treating clients and attendees with courtesy, respect, and warmth, as well as putting together special touches that add an unexpected layer to your event and really make it shine. We are in the business of delivering unforgettable experiences.
- Thoughtful flavors: Our chef customizes the majority of the menus for events we host throughout the year, ensuring our food is the right fit for your one-of-a-kind event (no matter the size). Approximately 60% of the ingredients used to prep meals in our facility are sourced from within 150 miles during the spring, summer, and fall growing seasons, reflecting the local flavors of our region.
- Flexible spaces: The CMCC is adaptable to the needs of most meeting planners. The facility’s 142,500-square-foot footprint includes a 23,700-square-foot column-free exhibit hall, a 16,700-square-foot ballroom, and an additional 18,560 square feet of meeting space that can be broken up into 19 different, fully customizable spaces.
- Things to do: After the meeting wraps, attendees can dine at James Beard Award-winning and MICHELIN-recommended restaurants, visit world-class attractions like the Columbia Museum of Art and Riverbanks Zoo and Garden (featuring the new Saluda Skyride), escape into nature along the Three Rivers Greenway or at Congaree National Park, pop by the recently revitalized Finlay Park, shop at our award-winning weekly downtown farmers market, or attend a local festival from our never-ending roster of signature community events.
“Our walkable downtown facility allows your attendees to truly experience Columbia while they are here for their event,” says Sarah Britt, director of sales. “Inside the venue walls, we’ve invested in the things that matter to really take your event experience to the next level—from fantastic Southern cuisine to the infrastructure that gives you the connectivity bandwidth you need.”
With three interstates that intersect the city and the Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE), getting to Columbia is easy, and once you’re here, it’s easy to get around. So, come as you are and discover all that makes the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center the ideal space for your next meeting or event.
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Sarah Britt, Director of Sales at Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center 
Originally from outside of Philadelphia, Sarah moved to Columbia to attend the University of South Carolina and was immediately sold. She has been with the convention center for 15 years.Contact: 803-545-0027 | sbritt@experiencecolumbiasc.com ColumbiaConventionCenter.com |
